Peter Tosh Town opens this year

Several activities planned for Tosh’s birthday

The legacy of one of Jamaica’s best reggae sons, Peter Tosh, will be celebrated and enhanced this October for his 80th.

The Peter Tosh Foundation has launched a new initiative, Peter Tosh Town, to address the many disparities in Peter’s hometown of Belmont-Bluefields.

Niambe Tosh, the founder of the organisation, states that the branding of her father’s hometown as Peter Tosh Town “is a powerful way to honour his legacy and ensure his spirit lives on in the very community that shaped him”.

“This initiative by the Peter Tosh Foundation not only pays tribute to his roots but also empowers the people of Belmont-Bluefields, providing them with the resources and support they deserve,” Niambe added.

Among the activities planned for October are the Peter Tosh Foundation Benefit Gala in association with the Peter Tosh Museum; Tosh Legacy Talk in association with the University of the West Indies; Peter Tosh Youth Day at the Belmont Academy in Westmoreland; the Memorial Garden reopening in Westmoreland; and Tosh Fest, an inaugural annual concert featuring top reggae and cultural artistes.

Reggae to strengthen ties between Jamaica and Brazil

The Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport and Ministry of Tourism have proposed the twinning of Montego Bay, Jamaica, with the Brazilian city of São Luís.

The Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, made the proposal on a visit to the city on Monday where he signed a cooperation agreement with his Brazilian counterpart, Celso Sabino, aimed at strengthening tourism and cultural ties between both countries.

In his address, Minister Bartlett said: “After deliberation with the Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, we propose to twin the cities of Montego Bay and São Luís as a show of musical fraternity and solidarity, and in recognition of the strong ties that bind both of our peoples.”

São Luís is one of the principal cities of the state of Maranhão which is known for its embrace of and obsession with reggae music.

In 2018, Maranhão established the first museum, not located in Jamaica, that is dedicated to showcasing reggae.

Minister Grange said she anticipated future collaborations with the Maranhão museum and the Jamaica Music Museum in Kingston in the promotion of reggae music.