In honor of Reggae Month, the history of Jamaican music will be boldly and unprecedently presented to South Florida on February 10, 2024, from 3:00 to 9:00 p.m. This first-ever Reggae Genealogy event will be held outside at Broward Mall in the City of Plantation, one of South Florida’s most well-liked and forward-thinking retail destinations.
The performance will trace the beginnings, development, and influence of Jamaican music. For a completely immersive experience, the complete history of Jamaican music will be brought to life through words, music, videos, and live performances. Since Island SPACE Caribbean Museum produces Reggae Genealogy, families, shoppers, and fans of all ages may enjoy the music, shows, and other features.
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From the early days of popular Jamaican music, before the nation’s 1962 independence from Great Britain, to the present, a three-hour presentation will include a range of genres, including dancehall, ska, mento, nyabinghi, rocksteady, lovers rock, dub, and reggae. In addition, the showcase will illustrate how Jamaican music influenced genres like Afrobeats, EDM, hip hop, and reggaeton. In the festival area and within the mall, attendees can arrive early to savor the cuisine and handcrafted merchants.
Every so often, Island SPACE, the only museum dedicated to Caribbean heritage in the country, recognizes locals for their contributions and achievements. During the Reggae Genealogy event, three women superstars will be honored for their global contributions to Jamaican music in a scheduled presentation. The most renowned female vocalist in reggae history, Marcia Griffiths, the CEO of the Marley Group of Companies and the Bob and Rita Marley Foundation, Cedella Marley, and Patricia “Miss Pat” Chin of VP Records, co-founder of the biggest international reggae music company, are among the honorees.
“As a woman leading this distinguished organization, it is all the more gratifying to me that we are presenting our first-lifetime achievement awards to this trio of powerful women. They inspire me personally, and have collectively inspired generations of women and men,” remarked Calibe Thompson, president and co-founder of Island SPACE.
With related events and promotions before the main event, the Reggae Genealogy concert is marketed as a fusion of entertainment and education. More than 120 people crammed into Island SPACE Caribbean Museum on Saturday, January 20, as a recent precursor to the main event, for the Reggae Genealogy panel discussion and premiere party, which was themed “The Roots & Fruits of the Reggae Family Tree.” To start the discussion, Mayor Sortal stated, “I can’t tell you how blessed and grateful we are that you [Island SPACE] are here.” Sortal added, “Let’s keep learning, and if we all keep learning, the world is going to be that much of a better place.”
During the evening, industry professionals Willie Stewart (former member of Third World band), Maxine Stowe, Copeland Forbes, Abebe Lewis, and dancehall/reggae artist Mr. Vegas exchanged ideas about the impact of reggae, strategies for making money, and ways that Jamaicans can better benefit from the music that has spread beyond the island.
Neki Mohan of Visit Lauderdale, David Mullings of Blue Mahoe Capital, and Mayor Sortal of the City of Plantation, among others, sponsored the Reggae Genealogy event and expressed support for both the museum and the event.
