Reggae Month, the February-long celebrations, is catching on globally.

First observed in 2008, it is now staged as far as Australia, South Africa, Nigeria and Florida.

According to Ibo Cooper, chairman of the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA), the body which promotes Reggae Month, this year’s events in the Corporate Area will take on added significance given the designation of Kingston as a Creative City by UNESCO in December.

“An integral part of the bid submitted by local authorities to the Creative City forum in Japan was the work of JaRIA and Reggae Month. It is therefore imperative that we stage events which are in keeping with the vision expressed in that document. This is even more important given the four-year reporting cycle during which time account must be given of the programmes taking place in the creative city, or face the possibility of losing the designation,” Cooper explained.

One of the main events of Reggae Month is Reggae Wednesdays, a weekly free concert. This year JaRIA has taken the decision to move the concert to Mandela Park in Half-Way-Tree.

“Reggae Wednesday was first staged at the Edna Manley College, then we moved to Emancipation Park, then on to the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre. This year we are taking it to a more central location, still keeping it free to the public and hoping to attract a wider audience. This year the first week will look at the genesis of the music. Week two — which will be Ash Wednesday — will focus on the spiritual side of reggae. The third Reggae Wednesday will be deemed progression, which gives a stage to some of the young bands and artistes. In recent years we have used the final week for what we call ‘Reggae Run Weh’, which showcases the blend of the music and fashion. We are continuing that this year. This year will also see a major collaboration with the

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The BBC will be sending down a crew to record some of the events for rebroadcast. We are very happy for this,” said Cooper

Other Reggae Month activities are the Reggae University — a series of workshops and fora — to be staged at Edna Manley College each Tuesday and Thursday, and the JaRIA, Honour Awards which will cap the celebrations. In addition, there are events endorsed by the JaRIA, including the Dennis Brown Birthday celebration on the Kingston Waterfront, the Bob Marley birthday celebrations, and the Trench Town Music Festival.