Dancehall

Miramar City Partnering With Jamaica For Reggae Month 2020 activities

Buju Banton and Babsy Grange
Buju Banton, Babsy Grange

The Jamaican Government will be partnering with the city of Miramar in Florida, to stage Reggae Month 2020 activities come February.

The slew of month-long musical activities is being led by the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment, and Sport (MCGES), which is headed by Minister Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange, who is a former artiste manager and Shang executive. With 2020 being a leap year, Reggae Month will feature 29 days of live Reggae music events in Jamaica and Miramar, under the theme ‘Come ketch de Riddim.’

Miramar is located in Broward County and has a population of approximately two million, a large portion of whom are Jamaicans and their descendants, including its Mayor, Alexandra Davis who is a past student of the Wolmer’s Girls’ School in Kingston and the University of the West Indies (UWI).

Davis, who spoke at the recent launch of Reggae Month in Kingston, said residents of Miramar, especially the Jamaicans, were overjoyed at the opportunity to participate in the festivities and to further promote the Jamaican brand.

She noted that several activities are slated for the period, including a joint media launch of Reggae Month and Black History Month at the Miramar City Town Center Plaza, as well as a Reggae Icons awards ceremony at the Miramar Cultural Banquet Centre, and a Reggae Movie Night at the Miramar Cultural Theater. In addition, there will be an Afro-Carifest at the Miramar Amphitheater, which will feature Jamaican, Caribbean, and African music.

The organizations in Jamaica partnering with the MCGES include the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA), Jamaica Association of Vintage Artistes and Affiliates (JAVAA), the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) and the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB).

On the island itself, the sated events include a church service, ‘Children of the Icons’ concert series, featuring the offspring of some of the industry’s great performers, exhibitions, and a music industry conference.