Tue | Oct 1, 2024

Happy International Reggae Day

IRD ‘celebrating 30 years of riddims and resistance’; humanitarian award for Rita Marley

Published:Monday | July 1, 2024 | 12:09 AM
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A majestic looking Rita Marley participating in the 2013 International Women’s Forum ‘Music, An Instrument of Change’ panel discussion at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, St James, hours before accepting the Leading Light Award from the IWF. The In
A majestic looking Rita Marley participating in the 2013 International Women’s Forum ‘Music, An Instrument of Change’ panel discussion at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, St James, hours before accepting the Leading Light Award from the IWF. The International Reggae Day Winnie Mandela Humanitarian Award will be presented to Marley at the JulyOne celebrations hosted by the City of Miramar in Florida and Consul General Oliver Mair.
In this July 24 1991 file photo, Winnie Mandela, wife of Nelson Mandela, displays the Key to the City of Kingston presented to her by Mayor of Kingston and St. Andrew, Councillor Marie Atkins (left) while on a visit to Jamaica. At right is Minister of Labo
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In this July 24 1991 file photo, Winnie Mandela, wife of Nelson Mandela, displays the Key to the City of Kingston presented to her by Mayor of Kingston and St. Andrew, Councillor Marie Atkins (left) while on a visit to Jamaica. At right is Minister of Labour and Sport, Portia Simpson. IRD founder, Andrea Davis recalls that this was the gathering that inspired Reggae Day during her speech to Jamaican women.
International Reggae Day founder, Andrea Davis.
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International Reggae Day founder, Andrea Davis.
From left, Sharon Tucker, Dr L’Antonette Stines, Mama Joy, and Sharon Reuben strike a regal pose on the lawns of The Jamaica Pegasus Hotel on International Reggae Day 2010.
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From left, Sharon Tucker, Dr L’Antonette Stines, Mama Joy, and Sharon Reuben strike a regal pose on the lawns of The Jamaica Pegasus Hotel on International Reggae Day 2010.
Singer Mikey General performing at an International Reggae Day event at the University of the West Indies Undercroft on Tuesday June 1, 2008.
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Singer Mikey General performing at an International Reggae Day event at the University of the West Indies Undercroft on Tuesday June 1, 2008.
From left, Ibo Cooper and Icientey Man share lens time with Sharon Reuben, Mama Joy and Sharon Tucker during a drink-up at The Jamaica Pegasus Hotel on International Reggae Day 2010.
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From left, Ibo Cooper and Icientey Man share lens time with Sharon Reuben, Mama Joy and Sharon Tucker during a drink-up at The Jamaica Pegasus Hotel on International Reggae Day 2010.
Music industry practitioners enjoying the International Reggae Day festivities held at the University of the West Indies Undercroft on Tuesday July 1, 2008.`
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Music industry practitioners enjoying the International Reggae Day festivities held at the University of the West Indies Undercroft on Tuesday July 1, 2008.`
Performers at the International Reggae Day concert at the C&W Golf Acadamy on Saturday, July 1, 2006.
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Performers at the International Reggae Day concert at the C&W Golf Acadamy on Saturday, July 1, 2006.
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Designated by Jamaica Arts Holdings three decades ago, Monday JulyOne marks the 30th anniversary of International Reggae Day (IRD) and the festival event is being celebrated both live and virtually under the theme ‘Celebrating 30 years of riddims and resistance’.

Taking centrestage this year are a new award, which will be presented to Rita Marley, a drone show, two signature online events, the global IRD Pullup and the annual Reggae Tree Challenge.

The International Reggae Day Winnie Mandela Humanitarian Award will be presented at the JulyOne celebrations hosted by the City of Miramar in Florida and Consul General Oliver Mair.

“We are thrilled to announce this award named in honour of IRD’s inspiration Winnie Mandela which will be presented to Nana Rita Marley for her invaluable service to humanity through her music and philanthropic works in communities from Jamaica to Africa,” IRD founder and producer, Andrea Davis, stated.

The free LunaLyte-sponsored drone show featuring 500 drones showcasing Jamaica and its reggae icons to be streamed on ireggaeday.com.

EVENTS

The IRD AI & Creative Industries Webinar’ scheduled for 10 a.m. -1 p.m., will explore the potential and challenges of generative AI technology on the creative sector with particular focus on media, film, music, IP rights and policy. Hosted by Sherando Ferril, guest presenters will include Willonius Hatcher, the comedian and AI content creator of BBL Drizzy and AI Tupac which went viral in 2024. Also presenting will be Kiran Maharaj of the Media Institute of the Caribbean, attorney Diane Daley McClure and UNESCO AI Policy Roadmap authors Erica Simmons and Andrea M. Davis.

The second signature virtual event will be a roundtable on this year’s theme, ‘Riddims & Resistance’, scheduled for 3-4:30 p.m. on ireggaeday.com. The roundtable will examine the impact of Reggae music on global resistance movements such as the fight to end apartheid in South Africa, which also celebrates its 30th Anniversary in 2024.

Rastafarians and reggae musicians provided awareness, interconnectedness, and momentum for these movements and helped to mobilise support for the fight against apartheid. In South Africa, reggae became synonymous with the anti-apartheid struggle. Artistes like Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Black Uhuru and Third World provided the soundtrack for the resistance, with songs like War, Get Up Stand Up, Apartheid and Equal Rights becoming anthems against racial segregation and discrimination worldwide. Hosted by filmmaker Donisha Prendergast, guests include UWI lecturer Dr Kadwame K’nife; musicians Sly Dunbar and Willie Stewart; as well as South African cultural advocate Ras Gideon Mantula and artiste Don Dada.

In addition to media specials being hosted by participating media, the annual IRD Pullup scheduled for 11:30 a.m.will feature a simulcast play of three reggae anthems - One Love, in honour of the King of Reggae Bob Marley; Here I Come, in honour of Crown Prince Dennis Brown; and Reggae Bring Back Love, in honour of Ambassador Peetah Morgan.

IRD TREE PLANTING

The International Reggae Day tree-planting challenge was inspired by Nobel Peace Prize winner, Wangari Maathai, whose organisation planted more than 30 million trees in 30 years.

The IRD Reggae Tree Challenge was launched in Kingston’s Emancipation Park with two blue mahoe trees planted by members of the music and media fraternity in 2010 and a mahogany tree planted by members of the visual arts fraternity in 2014.

Over the years, the JulyOne challenge has resulted in trees being planted by fans around the world including symbolic tree plantings from Soweto to Lagos to London.

Ghanaian Reggae artiste Rocky Dawuni will be among those joining the challenge as he plants a Reggae Tree for IRD in Accra, Ghana. The Reggae Tree, planted opposite the legendary Hawkeye Record Store in Harlesden, London, will be the site of a special JulyOne reasoning on musical and environmental matters hosted by UK Reggae Tree Ambassador Diane Shrouder-Johnson and special guests to mark International Reggae Day.

IRD2024 celebrations kicked off on June 29 with an all-day event at the University of Goldsmith in London hosted by BlackBritishMusic.com, and the IRD UK stakeholders group. The event included tributes, performances, panels and talks from the UK Reggae fraternity.

entertainment@gleanerjm.com