On Key - Commemorating reggae with an Int'l Day

Andrew Clunis, Freelance Writer

INTERNATIONAL Reggae Day is set for July 1, 2000. Many people ask, what is International Reggae Day (IRD) and why is there need for this commemorative gesture?

Well, it is an effort at reminding Jamaicans and the world of the magnanimous potential of the music which was created in the ghettos of Kingston. The main focus of the inaugural International Reggae Day is airplay. The event is proposed as an annual event with a different facet of the Jamaican music industry being explored each year. Organiser Andrea Davis says the idea is to solicit and encourage airplay for good quality reggae music both locally and internationally.

One would suspect that International Reggae Day could have stronger sentiments imbued, but these might come to the fore as the event is moulded. International Reggae Day could be anything the Jamaican music industry wants it to be, but then people would have to shed their shells and start offering ideas and participating, which, the organisers would most certainly entertain.

Sadly, the response from the local music public has been poor. Many people have questioned the organisers' claim to fame, but one should hardly think that this is about glory.

Put it this way, if we can allow individuals to treat institutions like our music awards the way they do, why shouldn't Ms. Davis be given a chance with (IRD)? This retarded kind of thinking is crippling Jamaica in all spheres of life. It's like the boss who wants experienced workers but is prepared to train none.

Why hasn't the Ministry of Tourism, Sport and Entertainment, through either the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) or the entertainment unit, endorsed IRD? We understand that the organisers have been trying for three months to have a meeting with the authorities without success. If IRD was being staged by a foreign body, or even by the top dogs of the entertainment industry, would there have been such nonchalance by the JTB?

One can only encourage Ms. Davis and her team to push on even with the limited support they're getting. If Jamaicans do not look at our music as a real resource, pretty soon we'll be talking about reclaiming it, because the world has seen its value.

The main event for IRD will be held at the Bob Marley Museum. It will be an all-day session featuring music, art and craft and traditional foods. The Alpha Boys Band and L'Acadco will perform. Attempts will be made to fully utilise telecommunications technology, to synchronise the celebrations in Jamaica with those taking place in other parts of the world.

International media response has been good with attendance confirmation coming from Trinidad, Barbados, the Virgin Islands, the Netherlands, England, Germany and New Zealand among others. There will be live and delayed web broadcasts and the organisers have established a website at www.dereggaemall.com, to provide information on IRD as well as the Reggae Hall Of Fame. So far, only three record labels or companies have committed to IRD. They are Shocking Vibes, Taxi and the new Tres Belle Productions. What about the heavyweights like VP Records, Tuff Gong, Dynamic Sounds, Sonic Sounds et al.

Considering the problems reggae music is facing one would have thought that all the major players would have jumped at an opportunity to put the music in focus internationally and share in a forum where solutions can be found. By not participating, are we saying that no idea germinated by regular Jamaicans is worthwhile?

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