by Howard Campbell
MIRAMAR – With patrons rocking to the songs of Bob Marley, Burning Spear and Dennis Brown, Reggae Month in South Florida received off to a rollicking begin right here on February 1 at Miramar Metropolis Corridor Plaza.
Miramar mayor Wayne Messam, vice mayor Alexandra P. Davis and singjay Kabaka Pyramid, who shall be a part of the occasions, have been current on the two-hour launch which additionally acknowledged the beginning of Black Historical past Month.
The ‘month’s actions will get occurring February 4 on the Blue Martini in Fort Lauderdale with the Dennis Brown Tribute, a salute to the Crown Prince of Reggae. Grammy winners Interior Circle and the Imaginative and prescient Band will be part of Brown’s daughter Marla, in paying homage to one in all reggae’s best artists, who died in July, 1999 at age 42.
Davis, who’s from Jamaica, initiated Reggae Month in South Florida 5 years in the past. She instructed South Florida Caribbean Information that the occasion has developed, celebrating the area’s numerous populace with salsa, soca and Afrobeats sharing the limelight with Jamaican music.
Given South Florida’s huge Jamaican/West Indian group, Davis confused the significance of teaching the youngsters of immigrants about their heritage.
“My son was born right here, so I didn’t need him to lose his tradition. Our kids ought to know their tradition even when they haven’t set foot within the nation of their forefathers,” she stated.
Kabaka Pyramid, who received the 2023 Greatest Reggae Album Grammy Award with The Kalling, lived and went to highschool in South Florida. He’s happy with the progress of West Indian consciousness right here.
“After I go round di place an’ see di flyers for di occasions like Black Historical past Month, I really like that ‘trigger 5, six, seven years in the past I by no means noticed that. We like to see di progress,” stated the roots artist.
Key Reggae Month Occasions
Different key occasions for Reggae Month embody the inaugural Reggae Genealogy concert and forum, scheduled for February 10 at Broward Mall in Plantation. Followers and college students of the music will hear about its origins, achievements and individuals who helped form Jamaican popular culture.
On February 24 is the South Florida Reggae Month Jam at The Loop on Fort Lauderdale Seaside. Singers Ernie Smith and Paul Anthony are featured acts.
