FLORIDA, United States – South Florida will have a reggae flavour throughout February, celebrated as Reggae Month in that region which has one of the largest Jamaican communities in the United States.

Several of the events are being coordinated by Inner Circle, the Grammy-winning band based for over 35 years in Miami. Ian Lewis, its bass player and co-founder, believes the increase in sponsorship shows Reggae Month’s growth.

“It shows us that there is interest in what we’re doing. This is the third year, but definitely we want to adapt the words of Shaggy, we don’t want to be local, we want to be global, that’s what our aim is,” he told Observer Online.

Reggae Genealogy, staged by Island SPACE Caribbean Museum, officially launches Reggae Month in South Florida on February 2 at Broward Mall in the city of Plantation. This event traces the evolution of Jamaican music through performances from ska singer Eric “Monty” Morris, rock steady act Jerry Maytals (formerly of The Maytals) and the oBessa Band (former backing band for Toots and The Maytals), reggae singers Ernie Smith and Wayne Armond and Shuga, who represents dancehall.

Inner Circle, founded in Jamaica in 1968 by Lewis and his brother Roger, are one of three acts who will receive Lifetime Achievement Awards during Reggae Genealogy. Singer Wayne Wonder and music producer Donovan Germain are the other honourees.

Other Reggae Month events include Rastafari Day on February 15 at NoMi Village in North Miami. Six days later, Third World headlines Reggae Jam at Fort Lauderdale Beach.

The Blue Miami in Fort Lauderdale and Kekon in Davie will host events on February 9 and 16, respectively.

Fort Lauderdale Beach is the site for a Family Fun Day on February 22, with Reggae Month closing the following day with Praise On The Green Gospel Extravaganza at Shirley Branca Park in Miramar.