It is often said that Reggae is a spiritual music. So far, the events celebrating Reggae Month this year are proving that the above statement is more than a cliché. The music fraternity collectively, led by the musicians and artistes, have rallied together to freely contribute their talent, time and resources in the staging of all the events held to date.

A few members of the media, with their own personal axes to grind, have been attempting deviance amplification of the obvious weaknesses in the lead-up promotional campaign. Those who belittle and ridicule our sterling efforts should be exposed for their tangential and parasitical relationship to the industry. The artistes however, have positively responded in a philanthropic manner, to the paucity of private sector sponsorship received for the month’s celebration activities. In fact, this has become the real big, yet untold, story of Reggae Month 2010. I guess doing good is neither sensational nor newsworthy to some.

For instance, at the Dennis Brown tribute which was staged at 135 Orange Street, popularly called ‘Big Yard’, on Sunday, January 31, all the performers, the sound systems, the suppliers of technical equipment and temporary infrastructure, provided their services gratis.

Mostly through ghetto telegraph, the free concert achieved overwhelming support and the musical treats were appreciated by the patrons. The audience packed the streets, stretching all the way down to St William Grant Park at Parade. It was estimated by the police that the attendance was in the region of eight thousand people.

In this regard, I wish to single out the following musicians and artistes, Lloyd Parkes and We the People Band, Sangie Davis, Bongo Herman, Stranger Cole, Tinga Stewart, Derrick Harriott, Horace Andy, Errol Dunkley, Big Youth, George Nooks, Ken Boothe, Tappa Zukie and John Holt and Beres Hammond, who both did an incredible – once in a lifetime – spontaneous stint together on stage, which left us all mesmerised for days after.

On Wednesday, February 3 at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts’ amphitheatre, the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association staged the first in their series of weekly shows featuring Maroon drumming, folk music, Mento and Ska. The event started with a tribute in dance to Professor Rex Nettleford. This was performed by a duo from Professional Moves Dance Theatre, Sodanne Browne and Conray Richards. They deserve special commendation because they agreed at very short notice and without remuneration, to perform this most moving piece in tribute to our cultural guru and icon who had passed just the previous evening. It always lifts my heart to see young people display a social conscience. Volunteerism is the fabric on which this nation was built. “Be not selfish in your doings, pass it on.” (Bob Marley and the Wailers).

Nexxus Performing Arts Ensemble, Charles Town Maroon Drummers, Gilzene and the Blue Light Mento Band, drummers Philip Supersad and Calvin Mitchell, Ibo Cooper and the EMC Music School, as well as the hot and vivacious songbird, Cherine Anderson, all contributed to making the night a wonderful one, filled with fraternity, love and good music.

Last Friday, February 5, I saw Keith Lyn performing at the Jamaica Association of Vintage Artistes and Affiliates’ tribute to Bob and Dennis. The man’s voice and dancing skills seemed as strong as they were in the 1960’s, leaving me to wonder how he has accomplished this consistency.

Wednesday February 10 was another night to cherish for all ages. On this evening, all the elements seemed to come together. This show was dedicated to Dub, Dub Poetry and Rockers. As was the case with the other two events, all the performers gave their services free of cost, to the venture of chronicling our musical history, heritage and evolution through narrative and performances. Special mention must be made of Oku Onoura who has not been on the live circuit for many moons, but thought that the objectives of the programme were sufficiently laudable to honour us with his presence as the original dub poet. His set however, was too short. I certainly hope that audiences in Jamaica and around the world will get more opportunities to see the inimitable Oku in the near future. He indicated to me that he is working on some new material.

Most of all though, Sly Dunbar and an aggregation of stalwart musicians including Lloyd ‘Obeah’ Denton, Robbie Lyn, Daniel ‘Axeman’ Thompson, Winston ‘Bo-Pee’ Bowen, Alvin on percussions with singers Winston ‘Electric Dread’ McAnuff and Prilly Hamilton of Inner Circle and Third World fame, dug deep into our Dub and Rockers catalogues to the absolute delight of the audience. They simply would not let the musicians leave the stage and the more they played, the sweeter they sounded. Unique Vision, History Man, Ras Takura and Uprising Band also volunteered their services and delivered excellent performances to round out the night. I urge you all to look and listen out for Racquel Jones — she is the real thing and in my view, has a bright future in show business.

Except for Wisynco and some companies within the music industry, the one downside of Reggae Month activities is the lack of adequate sponsorship support from the private sector. On Friday, February 12, both RJR Group of Companies and Irie FM led the way by making significant commitments to assist with advertising the events being organised for the rest of the month.

It is not too late for others to come on board or to attend. There are still two weeks of events left in Reggae Month, including the weekly concert at Edna Manley on the 17th with Ken Boothe, Barrington Levy and Freddie McGregor, highlighting Rocksteady and Reggae; the International Reggae Studies Conference from February 17-20; the Jamaica screening of the documentary on the life and career of Danish Reggae star, Natasja, and Jamnesia, both on the 20th. We hope others will join in now that the music industry has demonstrated its independence and determination to make Reggae Month a successful celebration of this great musical legacy which belongs to all of us Jamaicans.

Email: che.campbell@gmail.com