REFLECTION & REASON

I truly believe that Jamaica is the most powerful, deliberate, and infectious national 'brand' on the planet. Yes, I am 100% biased. For the thousands gathered at Rebel Salute this past weekend (many of whom were visitors) at the Grizzly's Plantation Cove in Priory, St. Ann, they would probably agree: Jamaica is in fact a "real place," and a wonderful one at that. Artist Jahsii during his Friday night performance said that no matter how much he travels the world and experiences other locales, that nowhere else is sweet like Jamaica. Incomparable vibes, one might say. Cultural impressions and perceptions of Jamaica tend to be associated with the impeccable cuisine, infectious rhythms, hypnotic lyrics both in music (and in conversation), confident style, and an overall unforgettable presence. Bob Marley and the kaya, too, of course. For those who don't live on the island, word of mouth, traditional media, and social media are go-to tools for experiencing the da...

We invited Jamaican-Canadian content creator Javaune Ledgister to contribute to our Reflection & Reason blog, after viewing his viral content on the TikTok platform  where he is known as @YGMTrillionz . A series of posts offering relationship thoughts, perspectives, and advice have been featured on his social media platforms over the past few months, with many viral moments as he addresses issues of infidelity, relationship maintenance, and encourages a positive and progressive dialogue overall through his real-talk persona, patois-infused commentary, live chats, and straightforward interactions. Javaune has founded the  RCV Podcast , and has also entered the YouTube platform with a range of his commentaries and videos, with The RCV Podcast YouTube channel . Most importantly: his genuine approach and clean heart are evident. He's here to help. He's here to inspire. And he believes in love. Javaune's first contribution as a Kya Publishing guest blogger is based on si...

In 2015, our @JamaicanCanadianZone o utlet was created to visually showcase [Canadian] reggae music, special events, and artists from the Jamaican-Canadian community and Caribbean diaspora. Over the years, we have also created written works and other communications; here's a list of our digital archive: 2019 The Spirit of Reggae Culture at Rebel Salute ( Article ) Chris Dubbs at Rebel Salute in Jamaica ( Video ) Rebel Salute 2020 ( Video ) Rebel Salute 2020 Media Launch ( Article ) Kitchener Reggae Festival Review ( Article ) Reggae Sumfest 2019 Review ( Article ) Kitchener Reggae Festival Preview ( Article ) Reggae Artists and the Road to Reggae Sumfest ( Article ) Musicians Celebrate the Toronto Raptors Reign with Caribbean Vibes ( Article ) Reggae Music in Canada: Organize & Centralize ( Article ) Reggae Media Connects Buju Banton Fans for Historic Jamaican Performance ( Article ) Reggae Month: Honouring the Music of Koffee ( Article ) Reggae Month: Honouring the Passion of...