Island SPACE Caribbean Museum presents Reggae Genealogy: Lights, Camera, Reggae!
On January 9th 2008 the Government of Jamaica announced that the month of February was to be officially declared as “Reggae Month”. This was done to highlight and celebrate the impact of the musical genre on the country’s social, cultural and economic development. Additionally, the birthdays of two of Jamaica’s and Reggae Music’s late icons are commemorated during the month of February: The late Dennis Brown also known as the ‘Crown Prince of Reggae’, is celebrated on February 1, while the late Robert Nesta ‘Bob’ Marley, the renowned ‘King of Reggae’ is celebrated on February 6.
So this past weekend, Serena and I attended Reggae Genealogy: Lights, Camera, Reggae!, a vibrant concert and cultural showcase exploring the powerful relationship between Jamaican music and the world of film, television, and pop culture. The annual event, held at Volunteer Park in nearby Plantation, Florida, celebrated the artists, producers, and cultural moments that have carried the rhythm of Jamaica from the silver screen to the streets — tracing a living legacy of creativity and influence that continues to move audiences across generations and around the world.
Reggae Genealogy: Lights, Camera, Reggae!
The event was presented by the Island SPACE Caribbean Museum, the only Caribbean heritage museum of its kind in the world. The “SPACE” in “Island SPACE” stands for the “Society for the Promotion of Artistic and Cultural Education”. Island SPACE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the development and advancement of arts, culture, history, and educational initiatives that represent the Caribbean region, in South Florida and the broader diaspora community.
Reconnecting with an old friend, Pre-Show MC and poetess Frankie Red
After opening in December of 2020 in the Westfield Broward Mall and surviving the pandemic, the Island SPACE Caribbean Museum held a grand reopening on Saturday, April 8th, 2023, relocating to a larger unit in the Broward Mall and benefiting from more space for community collaboration, art galleries & exhibits. Moreover, serving as the organization’s Vice President is one of my oldest friends in South Florida, entrepreneur and photographer David Muir, who has spent years documenting Jamaican culture through his lens. His coffee table photobook, “Pieces of Jamaica” can be purchased HERE.
A pre-show Fireside chat with Leroy Sibbles on the main stage kicked off the program. Sibbles, best known as the voice and bassist of The Heptones, played a pivotal role in shaping the sound of Studio One — the “Motown of Jamaica”. He was interviewed by G Cole, host of Homegrown with G Cole, exploring the Studio One era and its legacy.
Jamaican film actress Audrey Reid
After that, the Reggae Genealogy Music Festival featured not only some great live reggae music but a history lesson on the progression of the music (presented by Jamaican film actress Audrey Reid), plus a tribute (through some of his most popular songs) to one of Jamaica’s most celebrated musicians, the late Jimmy Cliff. Cliff, who is known for such songs as “Many Rivers to Cross”, “You Can Get It If You Really Want”, and a cover of Johnny Nash’s “I Can See Clearly Now”, starred in “The Harder They Come” (1972), the first major commercial film from Jamaica. The soundtrack helped introduce reggae music to an international audience.
Serena enjoying the show
Oh, and there were plenty of vendors on hand, offering everything from fried dumplings and jerk chicken to sweet cookies, clothing and jewelry. In short, a good time was had by all, as the following photo gallery clearly illustrates…
For more information on the Reggae Genealogy Music Festival, visit their website at 