Jamaica – The Smallest World Cultural Power

[Jangle]

When the black, green and gold went up on midnight August 5, 1962, this island was unknown and insignificant to most of the world, and even to those who lived here the word, ‘Jamaica’ evoked little emotion.

A few decades later, we are famed planetwide for our vivid music and culture, and ‘Jamaica’ instantly induces a sense of spontaneous excitement and freedom of spirit.

Now world-influencing nations are usually old, big or rich.

Independent for a little more than five decades, with not even one-twentieth of one per cent of the global population or GDP, Jamaica should still be an obscure dot on the map. How such a young, tiny and poor country came to resonate so forcefully around the Earth must be one of the great post-World War II cultural stories.

Media discussions about Jamaica’s Independence, and even our leaders’ speeches, tend to dwell on the negatives. True, our economic development has not matched our cultural progress, and the more than tenfold increase in our murder rate since 1962 is a national disgrace.

https://jablogz.com/2020/01/jamaica-the-small

[Gamma]

this is a nice article, share it with the quasi almost non Jamaicans that walk amongst us....

[Jangle]

Studio One's colourful legacy on show

DESCRIBED as Jamaica's Motown, Studio One and its founder Clement “Sir Coxson” Dodd, made an indelible mark on Jamaican music. On Tuesday evening, a mural dedicated to Dodd was unveiled at the studio's headquarters at Studio One Boulevard in Kingston.

The artwork was done by United Kingdom–based artist Andrew Parle.

“It was more of a case of me being a vessel for putting their ideas onto the wall and that's how it all came about, really,” Parle told the Jamaica Observer's Splash.

A friend of the Dodd family, Parle began his career as a graffiti artist, then transitioned into commercial and residential mural work. The spray-painted piece took about four weeks to complete and features the likeness of Dodd and many famous artistes from Studio One.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/splas...4?profile=1116

[Jangle]

Late to the Party - Reggae Month meant to brand Jamaica’s biggest attraction and export

“It always comes from the margins,” said Lenford Salmon, senior advisor to the Minister of culture, gender, entertainment and sport, who admits that the nation has been late to the party - in recognising and attempting to harness the power and incalculable value of reggae.

Now in it’s 13th year, Reggae Month is moving full tilt towards developing as a brand – with the promise of a 30-day calendar of activities, shows, and symposiums. “We are saying Jamaica is the Mecca of the music, and we want people to come to the Mecca at least once per year. We want Jamaica to be inundated by people from all over the world, to celebrate the music. Sun, sand and sea no longer offer competitive advantage. Our competitive advantage is our creative output,” Salmon added.

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/e...attraction-and