Kingston, Jamaica – In a landmark announcement, Evelyn Carridice, sister of the late reggae legend Bunny Wailer, has revealed plans for Trench Town to officially inaugurate Reggae Month in February 2026 with a community-centered cultural celebration. The event will specifically highlight the Livingston family’s monumental contributions to both The Wailers musical collective and Trench Town’s enduring musical heritage.
Scheduled for Sunday evening, February 1, 2026, at Joe Higgs Park under the Trench Town Rocks banner, the ceremony will feature the official historical designation of Second Street, Trench Town as The Wailers’ Birthplace. This recognition will be presented by the Livingston family, represented by Evelyn (Donna) Carridice and Pearl Livingston (Claudette Livingston), daughters of Thaddeus Livingston, alongside their brother Danny Livingston, the last surviving son of the siblings.
The event, organized in partnership with the Trench Town Development Association (TTDA), positions Trench Town as a vibrant cultural ecosystem where musical heritage, family legacy, and sound system culture intersect. The Trench Town Culture Festival will follow several days later on February 4.
Ms. Carridice elaborated on the historical significance, explaining the continuum that begins in Nine Miles, St. Ann and culminates in Trench Town as the formative ground for The Wailers. “Nine Miles is where Bunny Wailer first met Bob Marley, and where Thaddeus Livingston knew Cedella Booker,” she stated. “Thaddeus Livingston’s background as a Revival preacher, ganja farmer, and urban entrepreneur created a blended, multi-family household structure that incorporated Bob Marley into the Livingston family environment.”
The government-owned building at Second Street served as the domestic and communal space where Neville Livingston (Bunny Wailer), Bob Marley, and Peter Tosh evolved from individuals into the iconic group The Wailers. While Bob Marley’s biological lineage traces to the Norval Marley–Cedella Booker line, the Thaddeus Livingston household provided the physical and structural foundation that enabled The Wailers’ formation.
Historical records show that at the time of Thaddeus Livingston’s passing, 10 Darley Crescent was the sole property named in his Will, with Bob Marley acknowledged for assisting Thaddeus Livingston in obtaining full ownership of that property, which also served as an additional meeting place for The Wailers.
The February 1 opening will also highlight sound system culture as its third pillar, featuring a principal presentation by Jah Love Sound System with reggae icon Ilawi, in partnership with Sound System Club under Paul Scott’s leadership. The evening will acknowledge Sizzla Kalonji’s King Tafari sound and Skankadon Sound System, represented by Paul Scott, husband of Evelyn Carridice, appearing in representation of the Livingston family. Pearl Livingston will perform during the celebrations.