For the Reckord | Poster contest promoting Jamaican music internationally

The current exhibition mounted at the National Gallery is proof of the continued international growth of Jamaica’s fame and, specifically, the popularity of our music. Figures tell the story. displayed in the exhibition, which comprises entries in the sixth International Reggae Poster Contest (IRPC), are 101 posters from the 1,060 entries, by 592 designers from 68 countries.

Those attending the gallery’s monthly ‘Last Sundays’ event also learnt that since the contest was launched in 2011, there have been six competitions, 25 international exhibitions, and more than 6,000 posters submitted from 90 countries.

Entries were made in two categories – professional and student – and the current exhibition’s overall winning poster is by Vinicio Sejas of Bolivia. Its main features are the image of a lion’s head with a red, green and gold cassette tape across the eyes and the caption ‘ One Love!’

According to the main speaker at the event, Greek visual artist Maria Papaefstathiou, “This flowering of creativity confirms that Jamaica has touched the consciousness of the entire world.” Her statement echoed that of IRPC board member Dr Carolyn Cooper. Quoting the Third World band, Cooper said that it was remarkable that “such a big music can come out of a little island”. She continued, “These posters reflect the global reach of reggae … and I hope as you look around and enjoy them, you’ll feel pride in what we’ve accomplished as a very small nation.”

The organisers state, that the contest is a celebration of the global impact of Jamaica’s popular music, called, for the purposes of the contest, reggae. It encompasses all the popular genres of Jamaican music, including ska, rocksteady, dub and dancehall, as well as the island’s unique ‘sound system’ culture.

The IRPC has two major objectives: the launch in Kingston of a Reggae Hall of Fame to function as a museum and performing arts centre and the raising of funds for the Alpha Boys’ School in the form of an auction held at the end of each exhibition, with the proceeds going to the school’s music department.

Papaefstathiou said that the IRPC was conceived by Jamaican artist Michael ‘Freestyle’ Thompson (1958-2016), who wanted a vehicle that the arts could use to promote global understanding. He contacted her, and she embraced his vision and as a result, developed an abiding interest in Jamaica and its culture.

The power of poster design has continued to flourish, she told the audience, adding that in fact, it has never been as powerful as it is now. Though in the world of design and art, there are many poster competitions, she said, with entrants tackling topics like peace, justice, love, poverty and migration, “there is only one poster competition on reggae”.

The wonderful thing about the entries, which come from all over the world, Papaefstathiou said, is that the message is clear to anyone speaking any language. The posters “challenge the viewer…and are a call to action”, which is why the contest has attracted so many designers – like reggae music itself, she emphasised. She added that the exhibition was a visual reminder that reggae no longer belonged solely to Jamaica but to the world.

As is usual at the ‘ last Sunday’ functions, there was live entertainment. On Sunday, it was provided by the two-year-old Pimento band. In keeping with the variety provided by the multicoloured posters from a multitude of countries,the band played a wide range of music.

The offerings, all very lively, included instrumental and vocal items in the genres ska, reggae, jazz, calypso and mento. Some of the songs performed in the band’s one-hour set were Just to Have You Back Again, Skanking Sweet, Coconut Woman, World of Reggae Music, and Shame and Scandal in the Family. The set ended with Bob Marley’s Simmer Down.

Members of the band are Tafane Buchsaecab (tenor and soprano saxophones), Sting Wray (flugelhorn, trumpet and trombone), Arnaldo Bolt (lead vocals and drums), Ozou’ne (keyboard) and band leader Gibby Morrison (guitar).

The poster exhibition closes on May 26. Future contests will be biennial, not annual as in the past, and the seventh call for entries will be announced at the beginning of 2020.