Skip Marley and Luciano are set to headline a huge Jamaican Day reggae event organized by the Government of Jamaica on August 9 in Nanterre, Paris, France. More reggae ambassadors for the event will be announced in the coming weeks.
Entertainment and Culture Minister Olivia “Babsy” Grange shared that the event coincides with the Olympic Games, which run from Friday, July 26, to Sunday, August 11. The aim is to foster cultural diplomacy and “take Paris by storm.”
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During her speech in the Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Grange also announced that gospel singer Kevin Downswell will perform at another event two days later.
“We will use the opportunity of Paris 24 to engage in cultural diplomacy,” Grange said. “We will be partnering with the city of Nanterre to stage Jamaica Day on Friday, August 9, which will culminate with a mega reggae concert featuring Skip Marley and Luciano. And then on August 11, we will partner with the CRC Church in Paris to stage Jamaica Praise featuring Kevin Downswell. So, we’re hitting Paris by storm,” she added.
France is a major hub for reggae music. During the launch of Rebel Salute, French Ambassador Olivier Guyonvarch declared that France is the No. 2 reggae country in the world.
Grange also mentioned that during this period, the twinning of Nanterre and Spanish Town, the former capital of Jamaica and the birthplace of artists like Chronixx, Koffee, Papa San, Lady G, Govana, and D’Angel, will be finalized.
“The Mayor of Nanterre and the Mayor of Spanish Town will go to Paris to sign a partnership agreement, starting a mutually beneficial relationship between the people of Nanterre and Spanish Town,” she explained.
There are reportedly more than 1,000 Jamaicans living in France. Nanterre itself is home to the Paris La Défense Arena, one of the Olympic stadiums for Paris 2024, which will host the swimming events and the water polo finals of the 2024 Olympic Games.
Sixteen reggae music festivals are scheduled in various French cities between June and August this year. Among them are the four-day La Nuit de l’Erdre in Nort-Sur-Erdre, featuring Sean Paul; the Sun Ska Festival with The Wailers and Burning Spear from August 2 to 4; the Nomade Music Festival with Julian Marley in Anglefort; and the No Logo Festival in Fraisans featuring Kabaka Pyramid, running from August 9 to 11.
