By now, this year’s Africa Unite should be poised for flight tomorrow at the start of Jamaica’s first historic Reggae Month celebrations, in recognition of the 63rd birthday of the late, legendary Bob Marley. Prior events were held in Ethiopia, Ghana, and South Africa.
With the choice being made to move from that continent to the Caribbean, I’m optimistic that Jamaica will ably hold its own in hosting the impressive line-up of month-long activities, which will include a youth symposium and the premier of the Africa-Unite documentary film during Bob Marley Week (February 3-9). I’m hopeful that Reggae Month will never provide a shred of credibility to those critics who have already labelled it as a “publicity stunt.” And long after the final note from the scheduled live band concert has faded into distant memory, I’ll anticipate that the vision of the organisers and founders will translate into reality in the form of realistic solutions to the issues and challenges that span Africa, Jamaica, and beyond.
I pray that I’m not being naive.
7 Comments
February 5, 2008 at 7:18 am
Thanks, everyone, for sharing your perspectives on this issue. I hope there are more yea-sayers like you around.
February 5, 2008 at 7:29 am
JD, you’re not naive in thinking the way you do, you’re just ‘culture-conscious’. We’re so blessed in that Jamaica is mentioned across the world each time the word, “Reggae” is used. Not blessed because the word is used, but blessed because it is OURS. I’m indeed happy to be associated and am hopeful that it is going to be a success. Yes, it’s going to be because there are enough Jamaicans who will make it work.