Reggae Month, observed annually in February to celebrate the impact of the musical genre on Jamaica’s social, cultural and economic development, was officially launched on Sunday (January 30).

The launch was held at the Go for God Family Church in Kingston and hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport.

The ministry is aiming to promote global recognition and designation of Jamaica’s cultural products and traditions, while providing wider access for creatives, festivals, events and occasions across the world.

Addressing the launch, Olivia Grange, minister of culture, gender, entertainment and sport, said the ministry has supported “a little under 2,000 persons in grants” during this financial year.

“We still have a little [funds from the budget] left and that is going to be used to provide some capacity strengthening to the various organisations that support the sector, [until] the end of this financial year,” Grange said.

She said the ministry would also continue to support creatives and the relevant stakeholders who have contributed to the growth of the sector.

“It is because of their collective creative genius why we can, today, celebrate Kingston as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)-declared Creative City of Music, and why reggae music has been widely regarded as the most potent musical force on the planet,” she said.

In the meantime, Carolyn McDonald-Riley, director of the Tourism Linkages Network, who delivered remarks on behalf of Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett, said the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the loss of income in the entertainment sector.

“However, we look forward to brighter days ahead in full revival of the sector. There is a clear synergy between reggae music, the heartbeat of our culture, and tourism, the heartbeat of our economy. As we launch Reggae Month today, during the significant year of Jamaica’s Diamond Jubilee – Jamaica’s 60th anniversary – we must recommit to collaborative efforts that can reignite and better capitalise on our nation’s great music and culture,” she said.

Grange said the ministry was also working for a “more inclusive Jamaica, where the spoils of economic growth are all distributed fairly and create opportunity for all”.