Reggae music originated in Jamaica in the 1960s from earlier musical styles like mento and ska. It was heavily influenced by Rastafarian culture and promoted spiritual and political messages of liberation. Reggae uses percussion instruments along with brass, strings, and keyboards to create its signature sound. The genre gained worldwide popularity due to artists like Bob Marley, who advocated for peace, unity, and social justice through his music.

1. The
Reggae
Revolution
Madison Stevens

2. Musical Background: Mento
● A form of folk-music that combines African slave songs with European
musical styles
● Originated in Jamaica during the late 1940s and gained popularity in America
following Harry Belafonte’s debut performance of O’ Day (The Banana Boat
Song) in 1955
● Songs are generally sung in call-and-response pattern
● Earthy and sacred lyrics that contain light-hearted messages with humorous
undertones about poverty and other social issues

3. Harry Belafonte
O’ Day – 1956

4. Musical Background: Ska & Rocksteady
Ska
● Emerged as a new style of music in the 1960s
● Combined lyrical messages of Mento with rhythmic patterns of American jazz
and blues
● Fast tempo and upbeat sound
Rocksteady
● A branch of Ska which gained popularity in the late 1960s
● Slower tempo
● Created the “one drop” pattern in which the third beat is emphasized by a
drum accent

5. Tommy McCook &
The Skatalites
Alley Cat Ska –1966

6. Marcus Garvey
● Jamaican advocate of Pan-Africanism, the
universal political union of all Africans, during the
1920s
● Proclaimed that a “Black king” would soon rise to
power in Africa and free slaves
Ras Tafari Makonnen
● Served as “Emperor Haile Selassie I” of Ethiopia
from 1930 until 1974
● Loyal followers believed he was an embodiment
of God (Jah) who had come to liberate Africans.
The Birth of Reggae

7. Rastafarianism
● The teachings of Marcus Garvey and the beliefs about Emperor Haile
Selassie merged to form the Rastafarian religion.
● Three core doctrines serve as a foundation:
○ “African nationalism, political and social separation from Babylon, and the Divinity of Haile
Selassie”
● Other sentiments include strict dietary laws, unique grooming habits, and “the
use of marijuana as a religious sacrament and tool for meditation”

8. The Roots and Culture Era
● The “classical age” of Reggae was from 1966 until 1983
● Lyrics became spiritual and political messages that were heavily influenced
by Rastafarian worldviews
○ Spiritual messages praise Haile Selassie and tell the story of African liberation
○ Political messages contributed to “international discourse concerning issues of injustice,
resistance, love, and humanity”

9. Reggae’s Instruments
● Percussion: snare drum, bongos, conga drums, tambourines, and shakers
● Brass: saxophones, trumpets, trombones
● Strings: guitar, bass guitar
● Chordophone: piano, clavinet, hammond organ

10. Bob Marley 1945-1981
● Most well known reggae artist worldwide
● Born in Jamaica- father was white, mother was black
● Musical style heavily influenced by Mento and Ska
● Used music as a tool for advocating peace, unity,
and resilience
● Lead performer at the One Love Peace Concert in
April 1978
○ Held in an effort to promote peace and unity between the
Jamaican Labour Party and the People’s National Party
● Awarded The United Nations’ Peace Medal of the
Third World in June of 1978 for his positive
contributions to Jamaican politics

11. Bob Marley & The
Wailers
One Love – 1977
Note: This song serves as a great example of the
various instruments used to produce the unique
sounds of reggae.

12. References
African American Registry. (n.d.). Jamaica gains independence from Britain. NADA Global. https://aaregistry.org/story/jamaica-gains-independence-
from-britain/
Anderson, R. (2004). Reggae music: A history and selective discography. Notes, 61(1), 206–214. https://doi-
org.proxy.lib.odu.edu/10.1353/not.2004.0085
Denselow, R. (2011). A history of folk and world music: Bob Marley presides over the Peace Concert. The Guardian.
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/jun/16/bob-marley-peace-concert
Henry, R. (n.d.). Jamaican mento music- Where it all began. Jamaica Land We Love Digest. https://www.jamaica-land-we-love.com/jamaican-mento-
music.html
Homiak, J. (2021). Black history in roots reggae music. Smithsonian Center for Folklife & Cultural Heritage. https://folklife.si.edu/magazine/black-
history-in-roots-reggae-music
Micalizio, Caryl-Sue. (2021). Apr 2, 1930 CE: Haile Selassie Becomes Emperor of Ethiopia. National Geographic Society.
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/thisday/apr2/haile-selassie-becomes-emperor-ethiopia/
Otieno, A. (2019). Reggae and human rights discourses in Africa. Peace Review, 31(3), 322–331. https://doi-
org.proxy.lib.odu.edu/10.1080/10402659.2019.1735168
Wildridge, J. (2020). Characteristics of reggae music: An Introduction. CMUSE. https://www.cmuse.org/characteristics-of-reggae-music/