Jamaica is taking steps to have revival music added to the list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
With such a classification, the music would be acknowledged as having exceptional global significance and the whole community would place the utmost priority on its everlasting conservation.
- Advertisement -
Olivia Grange, the culture minister revealed, “While marking the anniversary of reggae’s inscription, we [Government of Jamaica] have nominated another element of our music and that is revival – a traditional afro-Christian culture – and hopefully next year we will have that element inscribed.”
At the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston, she was giving a speech on Monday at the British Council’s Future of Creativity Symposium.
On November 30, UNESCO inscribed Jamaican reggae music, marking five years since then.
Similar efforts will be undertaken, according to Grange, to have revival music acknowledged.
Between 1860 and 1861, Jamaica saw the emergence of revivalism as a component of the Great Revival, a religious movement.
It has several forms, the two main ones being Revival Zion and Pocomania. It is a synthesis of elements from African paganism and Christianity.
In addition to praying to call for possession, the revival rite includes hand clapping, foot stomping, dancing, singing, drumming, and groaning.
It also has hymns and music from the Orthodox church.
