“Global Reggae: Jamaican Popular Music A Yard and Abroad.”

The Institute of Caribbean Studies and the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of the West Indies, Mona announce an international conference on “Global Reggae: Jamaican Popular Music A Yard and Abroad.” The conference, to be held February 18-24, 2008, at the University of the West Indies, Mona , Jamaica and other venues on the island, is the third in a series focusing on Caribbean culture. The first, held in 1996, honoured the distinguished legacy of Professor the Hon. Rex Nettleford, Vice-Chancellor Emeritus of the University of the West Indies. The second, held in 2002, celebrated the work of the Barbadian griot/historian, Professor Kamau Brathwaite. This third conference, to be held in association with the Recording Industry Association of Jamaica (RIAJam), the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission, the Bob Marley Foundation, and the Jamaica Tourist Board, pays tribute to the generation of musicians who have created reggae – Jamaica's distinctive contribution to world culture. Icons such as: Count Matchuki, Don Drummond, Count Ossie, Mrs. Pottinger, and Prince Buster.

CONFERENCE RATIONALE

The conference and the associated reggae concerts will consolidate and disseminate knowledge on the global impact of Jamaica's distinctive musical contribution to world culture. This conference builds on the foundation of the 1995 symposium that was held at the University of the West Indies, Mona, co-sponsored by the Reggae Studies Unit and the Bob Marley Foundation, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the birth of Jamaica's premier cultural ambassador , the Hon. Robert Nesta Marley. The Global Reggae 2008 conference will provide an opportunity for musicians, scholars, cultural practitioners and entrepreneurs from Jamaica and around the world to reflect on and document the global impact of reggae.

Conference keynote speakers from each continent will share their perspectives on the ways in which Jamaican reggae has been appropriated and adapted in a variety of cultural contexts. This international conference will also examine the local impact of the reggae music industry in Jamaica and assess ways in which the Jamaican economy can benefit more directly from the investments of intellectual property in this vibrant multinational industry. You can obtain more information about the conference, concerts and poster sessions by clicking Schedule or by clicking Conference Call .

The conference is designed to convene the academics, music business leaders and the artists to collectively explore the achievements and to shape the future of Jamaica's globalised reggae. The major objective for this event are to create forum for:

1) the exploration of the history and the development of reggae themes and ideas;

2) exposing all persons who may be interested to more detailed knowledge of the business aspects of the Reggae music industry;

3)showcasing young and upcoming talent both local and international to a wider audience; and

4) honouring and celebrating excellence in Reggae internationally.



Exploring the history and the development of reggae themes and ideas (theory)

The sessions in this track will encourage discussion on the development of the music form in its various local and international contexts. It is expected that a high level of analysis will be applied to texts and themes within to uncover histories, meanings and motives of the music.

Expose all players to the business of Reggae(business)

The continued development of the management and business capacities of the sector is an integral component of the conference. These business and professional development sessions will present various techniques, methodology and models for professional skill development, the general improvement of the sector.

Showcase young and upcoming talent(practice)

The performance sessions will be geared towards exposing conference attendees to upcoming talent. These sessions should help performers to be encouraged and to receive comments on best practices to enhance their craft.

Honour excellence in Reggae(awards)

This honouring excellence is the culmination of the conference activities. The activity is facilitated by the Recording Industry Association of Jamaica/RIAJam, which has as its objective to be the industry authority on matters of reggae globally.

The international academic conference on global reggae, the business forum, the reggae concert sessions and the reggae awards altogether constitute a cultural package that is the first of its kind in the world for Jamaican music. Never before has there been staged such a comprehensive cultural exposition showcasing the role of Jamaican popular music in the internationalisation of Jamaica culture. The publication and archiving of these activities are absolutely fundamental. The materials produced in a variety of media will constitute an essential learning resource for local and international students at many levels of of the educational system- from secondary to tertiary. The on-going sale of multi-media packages arising out of the academic conference, business development forum, concert sessions and awards will generate substantial funding to consolidate the resource base of the Reggae Studies Unit

Conference keynote speakers will be invited from:

* North America
* Latin America
* the United Kingdom
* Europe
* Africa
* Japan
* The Pacific

Visit: http://www.mona.uwi.edu/conferences/2008/globalreggae/index.php

PM declares February 'Reggae Month' (Fevereiro é declarado o mês oficial do Reggae)

Rita Marley addresses a press conference during the launch of February as 'Reggae Month' at Jamaica House yesterday. At left is Prime Minister Bruce Golding. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

The Music Industry got a boost when Prime Minister Bruce Golding launched the observation of Reggae Month yesterday at the Office of the Prime Minister during a press briefing.

He said he has instructed the Governor-General, Professor Kenneth Hall, to issue a proclamation to declare February as Reggae Month.

He lauded the briefing as one of the most pleasant tasks he has had to perform since taking office. He says reggae has been a medium of economic advancement and Reggae Month can be used to draw world attention to our music. Golding added that Jamaica Trade and Invest will be promoting Brand Jamaica and central to this campaign is our music.

"Reggae is so powerful; people across the world embrace it. It is the medium we have used to declare our position against oppression and suffering. It is a consistent declaration of love," he continued to the delight of industry players in attendance, including Rita Marley, Dean Frazer, Lloyd Stanbury, Isaiah Laing, Clifton Dillon and Barbara Blake-Hanna.

As part of the celebrations, a Global Reggae Conference will be hosted at the University of the West Indies under the guidance of the Reggae Studies Unit head, Professor Carolyn Cooper. There will also be the annual Bob Marley lecture on his birthday, February 6. Cooper says through this effort the unit hopes to be able to start a fund so that students at the university can bridge the gap between academics and our music.

Activities

Rita Marley will also be heavily involved in the activities for the month, as she will put on 'Africa Unite-Smile Jamaica Youth Symposium'. She will also give Jamaica a taste of 'Africa Unite-Smile Jamaica Concert'.

Other activities for the month include: Bob Marley Creative Expressions Day, One Love football match, Reggae Film Festival, African Film Festival and the Reggae Academy Awards, which will be hosted by the Recording Industry Association of Jamaica. Chairman of the Reggae Academy, Lloyd Stanbury, says the awards will be determined by musical excellence and not record sales.

Golding says he believes Reggae Month will be a formative month because it will help to make February 2009 a grand experience when the country will celebrate the 50th year since the birth of reggae.

He says the music can be a means of advancement but it can also be a destructive force if not used properly. Nonetheless, he said there should be no ambiguity about the roots of our music.

His effort was praised by Rita Marley, who said those who started reggae toiled for it to be accepted and she believes they have partially achieved their mission.

"It is a privilege and an honour for the Government to recognise February as Reggae Month. If Bob was here he would say 'One Love!'," commented Rita Marley.