Happy International Reggae Day

The founder of International Reggae Day (IRD), Andrea Davis, emphasises that “this year is a global rallying cry to reignite the message, amplify the sound and elevate the voices that matter”. Today, July 1, marks 31 years since action to get the world to pause and celebrate the powerful music created in an island, which is a tiny dot on the world map. “In 2025, we’re doing more than celebrating, we’re reclaiming,” the founder state on the website. They also note that reggae music is the sound track of resistance and “the world needs that voice and message right now”.

On IRD, The Gleaner got the views of some of the movers and shakers in the music business.

Maxine Stowe – music executive, curator of the Dancehall Music Museum

International Dancehall Day is ringing in my head as the impact of the genre, sound system and sound clash culture which is the full blueprint of Jamaican music. As an industry, it has gained ascendancy, demanding equal recognition to the Wailers, Marley Rastafari, reggae industrial brand ... with more urban youth and lifestyle engaged with hip hop, reggaeton, Afrobeats and African dancehall.

Abijah Asadenaki ‘Naki Wailer’ Livingston – reggae singer

International Reggae Day means everything to me – it is a sacred time to honour the roots, the culture, and the powerful message of reggae music, which my father [Bunny Wailer] and so many others have been ‘livicated’ to preserving. Reggae is not just music; it is a voice of the oppressed, the sound of unity, love, and resistance against injustice. Having 24 hours of celebration on July 1 every year is crucial because it gives the world a moment to come together, uplift one another, and remember where this great music came from, Jamaica.

This year, International Reggae Day holds even more significance with the official launch of bunnywailerinternational.com. This platform is a vital to preserving and promoting my father’s legacy and pioneering role in reggae music. It will serve as a hub for fans worldwide to connect with Bunny Wailer’s timeless music, his message, and the ongoing work of his label; Solomonic Productions Ltd known for producing Bunny Wailer’s iconic catalogue, and reggae icons such as Marcia Griffiths, Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs, Queen Ifrica, Patra, Icho Candy among others. The estate, comprising his 13 children, is committed to heritage restoration, releasing remastered classics, and continuing the Rootsman Skankin’ tribute events. This website is a beacon for reggae lovers everywhere to celebrate the original Don Dada and keep the culture alive for generations to come.

Janice Young – Senior producer FAME FM, PR and event director, Streetcred Int’l

International Reggae Day is a real celebration of what is Jamaican culture. So, for me, 24 hours is really not enough because the music itself has so much international impact ... from Bob Marley all the way down to the current reggae music and just how it affects the world. It is important so for the world to pay attention to reggae music even for one day is a great thing for us, for Jamaica, for the culture. Every artiste ... dancehall or reggae ... should look at IRD as something that is showcasing our culture and everything that is about us. So, we should love it, we should know where reggae is coming from. And reggae is coming from the ground right here in Jamaica. We should all be excited when July 1 rolls around and put as much effort into celebrating that part of our culture as much as the world does.

Tifa – dancehall and reggae artiste

Any time we get to celebrate who we are as a people is an awesome thing, especially reggae, which is the soundtrack to our lives.

Duane Stephenson – reggae singer

International Reggae Day is extremely important. Reggae has done so much as a genre, as a major part of our culture. At this point, reggae is pretty much intertwined with everything that Jamaica has to offer and what we are culturally and even beyond, in terms of the impact on the world and everything. So it’s only right for us to take some time out to celebrate and to appreciate all that has happened and also the people who made it happen. It couldn’t happen without the people who were originally struggling with the music for many years in order to get it where they wanted it to be, so International Reggae Day is very important to me.

JayEdge – reggae singer

Reggae for me far exceeds a single day of celebration. If that is the case however, this day is supposed to reflect the mood of love and ‘irie vibes’ as this is the founding message of reggae. International Reggae Day is a day to bring awareness to the upcoming generation of just how impactful reggae music is throughout the rest of the world ...that would get them to realize the gem that we own as a people.

Chuck Fenda – dancehall and reggae artiste

Twenty-four hours of celebration on July 1 ... I think much more could be done. Remember this is the music that brings so much revenue to Jamaica. I think the government should be behind the music more than what they are doing. Just having one day of celebration is not enough. In other countries, with other genres of music, the governments push their artistes, promote their artistes more. Remember that this is the music that brings a lot of tourists to Jamaica. International Reggae Day means a lot to me because reggae music is the only music that brings all nationalities together in love and harmony.

IRD 2025, the organisers say, “is a global call to recognise, realign, reconnect and reclaim the frequency”.

yasmine.peru@gleanerjm.com