Let's Take a Musical Trip to Jamaica

 Due to various experiences, I have been drawn to civil rights activism in musical form. Growing up in the Caribbean, I was exposed to music with strong political themes. Reggae music, in particular, played a significant role in shaping my worldview and interest in the intersection of music and social justice. Given the profound impact that this genre has had on my life, I felt compelled to delve deeper into its history and significance.

Reggae music, a genre heavily associated with Jamaica, has a distinct sound that is widely recognized globally. Bob Marley, who passed away in 1981, remains the most well-known reggae musician due to his massive following, political and spiritual themes, and his association with reggae music. The Jamaican government officially established February as Reggae month in the capital city of Kingston on January 9th, 2008, where various celebrations, events, performances, lectures, and documentaries are presented to honor this beloved musical genre. Many of these festivities are associated with Bob Marley, including a Bob Marley Photo Exhibition and the Annual Bob Marley Lecture.

To better understand the origins of Reggae music, I decided to research its definition and roots. According to experts at vocabulary.com, the term "reggae" is derived from the Jamaican English word "rege-rege," which refers to both "a protest or quarrel" and "ragged clothing." The word first appeared in the title of Toots and the Maytals' song "Do the Reggay" in 1968. (see above video)

                       

To assimilate the origins of reggae music, we need to delve deeper into the historical roots of the Mento genre, which played a vital role in shaping the sound of reggae. Mento, an African folk music, gained immense popularity in Jamaica and evolved through the assimilation of various cultures during Jamaica's colonization in the 1500s and 1600s, eventually becoming the fundamental building blocks of reggae music. Mento features a guitar, rhumba box, banjo, double bass, and hand drums.

Mento music, a traditional Jamaican genre, has been known for its lyricism that addresses social issues such as economic struggles and politics. Despite the serious themes, most mento songs have a playful and lighthearted tone, often incorporating subtle humor and innuendos. Mento music has been a fixture at Jamaica's social events, celebrations, and parties. Interestingly, there are some similarities between Mento music and Calypso, another popular genre of music. One of the most famous Mento songs, "Man Smart, Woman Smarter," is often mistaken for Calypso and was famously performed by Harry Belafonte. Belafonte, born to Jamaican and Martinique immigrant parents in Harlem, introduced Afro-Caribbean styles to the American music scene in the 1960s, contributing to the development of reggae. His music served as a soft introduction, paving the way for the widespread acceptance of these musical styles. Belafonte's contributions had a significant cultural impact and contributed to the technical development of Afro-Caribbean music in America, influencing future generations. It is worth noting that Harry Belafonte, one of Martin Luther King Jr.'s closest friends, was also an activist in the civil rights movement.  

During the 1950s, the mento music genre underwent a notable transformation. It assimilated various elements of American jazz music and subsequently borrowed from R&B, ultimately giving rise to ska music in Jamaica. This process involved adopting jazz's harmonic structures and incorporating horn sections, resulting in a fusion of mento's traditional sound with American jazz's rhythmic and melodic characteristics. The genre's evolution resulted from the cross-cultural musical exchange between Jamaica and the United States, ultimately leading to ska music's emergence. Ska served as the vanguard to rocksteady and Reggae, which followed later.    

                  

Jamaica gained independence in 1962, and since then, its music and civil rights movements have advocated for human rights. Reggae music, which gained popularity in the late 1960s, significantly promoted this cause.  The unique feature of raw vocals in reggae music distinguishes it from other genres like ska. This characteristic is evident in the works of notable Reggae artists such as Bob Marley, Lee Perry, and many others. Reggae music and other integrated genres share a common thread: their voice for advocacy. Bob Marley, a renowned Reggae artist, played a crucial role in promoting and demonstrating this cause, and his musical contributions to advocating for human rights in Jamaica should be acknowledged. In my opinion, Bob Marley's music belongs to a genre of its own.     

                      

Reggae is known for its slow tempo and distinct one-drop drum beat. Although it shares similarities with its predecessors, reggae's unique drumming style and emphasis on the off-beat distinguish it from other genres. The one-drop beat is a crucial hallmark of reggae music, emphasizing beats two and four and de-emphasis beats three. This results in a sense of space and groove that is characteristic of reggae. (Displayed in the video below)                  

                   

Ska and reggae are two music genres that have undergone significant changes over time, leading to the emergence of several new subgenres. These subgenres, such as dancehall, ragga, dub music, and reggaeton, have gained popularity in their own right, each with its distinct sound and style. However, despite their differences, they share a common origin in ska and reggae music. The evolution of these subgenres has kept the relevance and influence of ska and reggae in the music industry. Instead, it has expanded the scope of their influence and ensured their continued relevance in contemporary music.

                   

Reggae music has proven to be a formidable tool for activism, inspiring social change and political movements. Its message of peace, love, and unity has resonated with people around the globe, making it one of the most impactful music genres in recent history. Reggae music's profound positivity and love have reverberated through time, rendering it a timeless expression.

                   

"Reggae." Vocabulary.com Dictionary, Vocabulary.com, https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/reggae. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

"Reggae." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 19 Mar. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reggae. Accessed 21 Mar. 2024.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reggae

"Rastaman Vibration." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 25 Feb. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rastaman_Vibration. Accessed 21 Mar. 2024.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rastaman_Vibration

"Mento." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 6 Nov. 2023, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mento. Accessed 20 Mar. 2024.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mento

Bays Barry T and P. Renée Foster. Reggae Rastafari and the Rhetoric of Social Control. University Press of Mississippi 2002.  Accessed 21 Mar. 2024.https://search.worldcat.org/title/reggae-rastafari-and-the-rhetoric-of-social-control/oclc/55153777

Hayward, Mark. "Harry Belafonte, race, and the politics of success. (2000).https://escholarship.mcgill.ca/concern/theses/zp38wf572