Kingston, Jamaica
In an exciting development for the Jamaican cultural scene, the Honourable Olivia “Babsy” Grange, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment & Sport, has given her resounding support to the inaugural Dancehall Week set to debut during the 2024 staging of Reggae Month. The Minister’s endorsement came during the Media Launch held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel on October 26, 2023, where she was represented by Lenford Salmon, the Executive Director of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC).
This inaugural groundbreaking event has been warmly welcomed as a fresh addition to the annual Reggae Month festivities, drawing support not only from the Ministry of Culture but also from the JCDC, one of its esteemed Culture Agencies. The Minister emphasized the significance of dancehall in Jamaican culture, referring to it as quintessentially Jamaican and the cradle of Jamaican music. She highlighted its evolution from the sound systems of the 1960s to becoming a worldwide sensation.
Minister Grange expressed her excitement about Dancehall Week, underscoring its potential to attract visitors to Jamaica, allowing them to experience the captivating essence of Jamaican culture. She also pointed out that the Festival Economy, in which Dancehall Week plays a vital role, has the capacity to generate substantial economic benefits for the nation and its people. In her words, “It was, therefore, a very easy decision for us to align ourselves with Dancehall Week.”
At the launch, Lenford Salmon, who also holds oversight responsibility for Reggae Month and other national commemorative activities, assured attendees of their commitment to maximizing the impact and potential of Dancehall Week. His experience and dedication to cultural events make him a crucial figure in the success of this new addition to Jamaica’s cultural calendar.
The responsibility for producing this exciting series of events falls upon Dancehall Lifestyle JM, a recently incorporated company. Roxelle McKenzie, a spokesperson for the group and one of its directors, emphasized the team’s wealth of experience in successfully organizing events, despite being newly incorporated. Dancehall Week is set to captivate audiences from February 13 to 19, 2024, promising a week filled with the rhythm, energy, and cultural richness that defines Jamaican dancehall.
The Minister’s endorsement and the collective efforts of the JCDC, Lenford Salmon, and Dancehall Lifestyle JM have set the stage for what is sure to be a memorable and culturally significant event during the 2024 Reggae Month. Dancehall Week is poised to showcase the vibrancy and diversity of Jamaican culture, inviting the world to partake in the celebration of the music and dance that have made Jamaica an iconic cultural hub. As the countdown to February 2024 begins, all eyes are on Kingston, eager to witness the birth of a new tradition in the heart of Reggae Month.
