When did Reggae Music Start?

Reggae have existed since the late 1960s.

Reggae music originated from a blend of many different music genres that have evolved out of Jamaican Ska and Rocksteady. It is also influenced by Mento, Calypso, Rhythm and Blues, American soul, and African music.  Rhythm is the main word! Performed at moderate tempos, incorporates plenty of offbeat rhythms.

The term reggae was derived from a Jamaican phrase, rege-rege, meaning “ragged clothing or rags ”.

Reggae music played a key role in transforming Jamaica’s national identity from a British post-colony to a nation with a proud African heritage.

It also evolved out of the Rastafarian movement a religious and political movement, combining Protestant Christianity, mysticism, and pan-African political consciousness.

Often known for dealing with social and political issues, prison but also inequalities until today, Roots reggae music would serve to carry a message, reminding the historical struggles, inequities, and injustice that people have faced.

After the 1970s, reggae and its varied genres have spread and developed all over the world.

In the year 2018, UNESCO recognized Reggae as an “Intangible Cultural Heritage”, underscoring the role of this music in many fights against injustice and in favor of humanity.