With Reggae Month three weeks away, Ewan Simpson, chairman of the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA), says a full slate of activities are planned for February. But in an interview with the Jamaica Observer, he admitted its progress is stalled by a lack of enthusiasm.

“I am happy that the celebration of the month has continued unbroken despite pandemics and other disruptions. However, I am disappointed that the celebration has not shown growth into the global month-long festival it has the potential to be,” said Simpson. “I am not certain that artistes and other players in the creative sector understand what the month is intended to achieve. Many see it as a grand pay day and, to some extent, some stakeholders have inadvertently or otherwise postured to cause this misperception,” he added.

This year’s Reggae Month, being held under the theme ‘Rhythms of Resilience’, starts on February 1 with a live concert at Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts — Honouring The Crown Prince: A Tribute to Dennis Brown.

This event salutes the legendary singer, who died in July 1999 at age 42.

Brown was born on February 1.

The Jamaican Government declared February as Reggae Month in 2008. The birthdays of Brown and reggae king Bob Marley (February 6) are a major part of its activities, as well as symposiums and weekly live shows.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Reggae Month was reduced to virtual show. It was later scaled-down in 2021 and 2022. There was a return to normalcy in 2023 after the Government lifted restrictions.

The Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts will host most of this year’s events, including Reggae Wednesdays on February 4, 11, 18, and 25. Four JaRIA master classes are scheduled there for the 6, 13, 20, and 27.

Simpson told the Observer that the annual JaRIA Awards will be held this year, but not in February.

“We have tried to give the awards its own calendar space for three reasons. One, the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment, and Sports has begun to stage awards in the month and there is no value in competing for limited space. Two, the small team of volunteers at JaRIA have to produce the 24 events we deliver each Reggae Month and the awards need our full focus, so it is best to do so after Reggae Month. And three, we need time to galvanise all the sponsorship support possible — which is very difficult to achieve,” he said.