Exciting activities unveiled at the launch of Reggae Month | Entertainment

Sizzla performing with a 35-piece orchestra, featuring arrangements and compositions from the elite of Jamaica’s reggae and classical music fields, will be one of the highlights of Reggae Month 2022. It has been announced by Minister for Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange at the hybrid virtual and in-person church service and launch of Reggae Month on Sunday at Go for God Church on Shortwood Road, St Andrew.

Minister Grange noted that with Jamaica celebrating its Diamond Jubilee this year, legacy projects and commemorative events will take center stage at regular intervals throughout the year. Reggae Month is the first project to be part of such a period of intense activity.

“We are now well into the year of our Diamond Jubilee, our 60th anniversary of independence, which we call Jamaica 60. And while we do not lose sight that we must be aware of the difficulties caused by the pandemic, we are also aware that we cannot simply let this important milestone in our country’s history pass,” said Minister Grange.

She explained that Reggae Month 2022 will be billed as “bundles of content you’ll want to archive, even as you appreciate and celebrate the power of music.” Acknowledging that time would not permit her to present the schedule of activities, she urged everyone to download the Reggae Jamaica mobile app, “and everything will be at your fingertips.”

Grange, however, decided to share some of the details of what will be happening during “the world’s only month-long reggae festival”.

“But let me give you a little insight. One of the highlights of the month will be Sizzla performing with a 35-piece orchestra. It will be history in the making, the first dancehall artist to perform with an orchestra in full-fledged. . Musical arrangement by Jon Williams, with Ibo Cooper as bandleader and Dean Fraser as bandleader and musical director. I don’t know about you, but I’m so looking forward to this one, and, of course, all of this will be on offer for Reggae Month 2022,” the minister told a clearly delighted audience.

She also revealed that VP Records will once again be partnering with the ministry for the Reggae Month Closing Event on Sunday, February 27.

“Remember ‘Love From a Distance’ with the inimitable Beres Hammond last year? I say no more. Tune in. We are also in promising discussions with several others and as a result we are expect to make further announcements shortly,” Grange said. .

She hailed the Jamaican diaspora for their continued support of Reggae Month and hailed activity organizers in South Florida, particularly in the town of Miramar, noting that it’s “a place many now call Kingston. 21”.

In conclusion, Mniister Grange said: “May the spiritual journey we promise this Reggae Month enable us all to rediscover ourselves and through this self-discovery, to commit ourselves to engage in national development by affirming our determination to participate in the national mission of peace, mental freedom and prosperity for all. After all, this is Reggae Music – the music that provided the world with the overarching theme for “One Love”.

yasmine.peru@gleanerjm.com