This is the third of an eight-part series on reggae bands from around the world.

CHILEAN band Gondwana has helped carry the reggae banner in Latin America for some time. This year, the nine-piece unit celebrates its 25th anniversary.

Gondwana is working on two projects. One is a double DVD that includes their anniversary concert plus a documentary about its journey.

“This DVD will be released in March 2014. At the same time we’re working on our new CD with new songs,” said founder and bass player I Locks Labbé.

Revolution, Gondwana’s last album, came out in 2011 and was released in Chile, Argentina, Mexico and the United States.

Labbe says reggae has grown considerably in Latin America during the last 10 years, with a number of homegrown acts in the various countries. Several major acts have toured there.

“Reggae music in Spanish had a massive impact with several local bands emerging. At this moment we have a constant reggae activity, with Latin bands and Jamaican, English and American artistes, too,” he told the Jamaica Observer via e-mail.

It was a British band, The Police, that first drew Labbe to reggae.

He watched them in concert on television in 1987.

“I immediately decided to form a reggae band. The history of Gondwana, the first reggae Chilean band, started in 1987,” he recalled.

Two years later, he said Chile hosted its first international reggae concert headlined by UB40.

“After that we got a lot of reggae artistes coming to Chile. Steel Pulse, Damian Marley, The Wailers, Gentleman, Anthony B, Yellowman, Junior Kelly, Ky-Mani Marley and lots more,” Labbe said.

Gondwana once had a distribution deal with RAS Records, an independent company based in Washington, DC.

Their strongest markets are Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Costa Rica and Mexico.

They have also performed on major festivals in Europe and the United States.

I Locks Labbe is Gondwana’s only original member with other long-standing musicians being Keno (keyboards), Gato (saxophone) and Pez (guitar).

Lead vocalist MC Jona, drummer Yayo Loyola, Leo Dread on percussion and vocals, Pancho Contreras on trumpet and trombonist Hugo Prado complete the line-up.

Most of the band are from Chile’s major cities. One member is from Argentina.

On November 17, Gondwana are scheduled to perform at The Social in Orlando, Florida. Two days later, they play the Bayside Rocks Music Fest in Miami.