THE British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) will next month air a series of programmes on television, radio and online to mark Jamaica’s 40th anniversary of Independence.

According to the Jamaica Information Service (JIS), the series, titled Senon of Jamaica, will run for a week and will bring into focus the island’s politics, sport, music and people. It will also capture Jamaica’s history, character and world-wide influences.

“The programme of activities includes a series of popular Jamaican films and live talk show specials on related issues affecting the country and a profile piece on Jamaican-born poet, musician and political theorist Linton Kwesi Johnson,” the JIS said.

On Saturday, August 3, a programme called I Love Jamaica will air on BBC Two, giving viewers the A to Z to the country.

“The programme will hear from Jamaicans, ‘Jamacophiles’ and those who have been a feature in the Jamaican story,” the JIS said. “From the sounds and fashions, to the icons and the cuisine, the programme celebrates the very best cultural exports from the island in the sun.”

On Sunday, August 4, BBC Two will start airing a series of films, one of which is The Story of Jamaican Music, which offers an in-depth revealing look at the musical genre from the sixties to the present day. The three-part series chronicles how reggae has conquered the music world and rocked successive generations. The programme will feature early innovators such as Prince Buster, Jimmy Cliff, Bunny Wailer and U-Roy, through to more recent artistes such as Maxi Priest.

The Reggae evolution is also explored in BBC Radio Two’s Island Rock- 40 years of Jamaican Musical Independence, which started broadcasting in June and will run through to July 31.

Also on August 4, Dr Robert Beckford, theologian and historian, will present on the BBC Two Blood and Fire programme, a history of Jamaica’s struggle for independence and political autonomy.

The programme captures the rebellion, tribalism and rivalry that formed part of the Independence process.

Jane Root, BBC Two controller said: “I felt strongly that we should mark this special anniversary on BBC Two to reflect Jamaica’s cultural richness and diversity. I’m really excited about these programmes as they will offer viewers a guide to the events and people who have shaped the Jamaican story since its Independence, and also capture the impact of the island’s many influences far beyond its shores.”

The anniversary will also be highlighted on the BBC’s newly launched digital arts channel, BBC Four. Programmes include Life and Debt – a storyville special, about Jamaica and the impact of debt on small countries; and an examination of the island’s cultural output in a talk show special.

All programmes will be accompanied by significant online presence; bbc.co.uk/reggae will offer users a colourful array of facts and presenter chats.