As Jamaica prepares for its annual Reggae Month celebrations in February, the chairman of the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA) has revealed significant concerns about the event’s developmental stagnation. Ewan Simpson expressed mixed emotions regarding the festival’s trajectory, acknowledging its resilience through pandemic disruptions while lamenting its failure to evolve into the global phenomenon it potentially represents.
The month-long celebration, established by the Jamaican Government in 2008, will commence on February 1st with a special tribute concert at Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts. This inaugural event, titled ‘Honouring The Crown Prince: A Tribute to Dennis Brown,’ will honor the legendary reggae singer born on that date who passed away in 1999 at age 42.
Under the theme ‘Rhythms of Resilience,’ this year’s programming includes the traditional recognition of both Brown’s and Bob Marley’s (February 6) birthdays, alongside symposiums and weekly live performances. The Edna Manley College will serve as primary venue for most events, including Reggae Wednesdays throughout February and four specialized JaRIA master classes.
Simpson identified a critical challenge: many artists and creative sector participants fundamentally misunderstand Reggae Month’s purpose, viewing it primarily as financial opportunity rather than cultural celebration. He noted that certain stakeholders have inadvertently contributed to this perception.
In organizational changes, the annual JaRIA Awards will not occur during February for three strategic reasons: avoiding calendar conflict with similar ministry events, allowing volunteer staff to focus exclusively on the 24 scheduled Reggae Month productions, and providing adequate time to secure sponsorship funding.
The festival has navigated substantial operational challenges in recent years, transitioning to virtual formats during COVID-19 restrictions before returning to normalcy in 2023 following government mandate lifts.