REGGAE MONTH // "Cultural Capital to Financial Capital" a Reggae-Dancehall Guide by Donovan Watkis
Living in Canada, having an international perspective and appreciation for reggae-dancehall music is a natural occurrence. We can feel the impact from afar. As a Canadian of Jamaican descent, it is also evident how the culture is transferred from a distance, and how it inevitably changes across generations. Reggae music is a force, as is dancehall music. I have grown to appreciate it and appreciate the effects of Jamaican culture around the globe. The island has such a unique and infectious vibe that it is often imitated, circulated, and in some cases...appropriated. We know this, we witness this, but somehow the culture as a whole still hasn't received the full rewards...financially or otherwise. While it's nice to see artists like Kabaka Pyramid or Shaggy win Grammy awards for their creations, it is also natural to want the international force that is reggae-dancehall have a deeper impact on industry and infrastructure as well. An insightful conversation broadcast earlier thi...