Reggae music started in 1960’s Jamaica with African and Rastafari influence and was initially embraced by the younger generation of Jamaica who filled up hotel venues to listen to the rocksteady and ska beats. Reggae’s popularity took off in the early to middle 1960’s and spread to the UK and US.

 

 

Bob Marley, who started The Wailers in 1963, is one of Reggae’s most internationally recognized artists’ and has been credited with spreading Jamaican music worldwide.

 

Reggae music’s seductive beats and lyrics revolve around one love, faith, relationships, poverty and injustice as well as peace and faith in Jah. Jah is the name for god in the Rastafari movement; the religious group cherished reggae music and was practiced mostly among peasant black people and the Jamaican working-class, including Bob Marley.

 

Rastafarian’s traditionally follow a vegetarian diet, use ganja (medicinal marijuana) and wear dreadlocks. They are often seen wearing the color combination of red, green and gold; from the Ethiopian flag.

 

 

When you think of reggae today most people associate it to Roots Reggae. It’s easy to listen to and has a cool, mellow vibe and slow flowing beats. The drumming style of reggae sounds like a heartbeat with its thump-thump pause thump-thump pattern. Rastafari, reggae and the drumming style all steam from Africa.

 

Roots Reggae sounds flowing and makes you feel happy and light but it has a serious message. It’s really about suffering and oppression. The real heyday Roots Reggae was the 1970’s when there was mass migration of Jamaicans to New York. The album cover below illustrates the concentration on sending a message on suffering and justice.

 

 

Reggae music is a complex and fascinating gene of music. Today it is loved by young and old, people from various backgrounds, ethnicities and classes.

 

The music is in the message and the message is in the music …