L’ART, MOYEN DE COMMUNIQUER SES IDEES

L’exemple du reggae

The message of Reggae music

Reggae was born at the end of the nineteen sixties in Jamaica. It finds its roots in black American music (in rhythm’n blues more particularly) but in traditional African music too. The latter was brought by slaves in Jamaica.

La naissance du Reggae correspond avec une période durant laquelle la population noire américaine était déracinée et cherchait son identité.
Le "Reggae" est synonyme de protestation et fait appel à la fierté des populations noires.
Naturellement le Reggae s'est tourné vers le mouvement religieux du moment : le rastafarianisme.

Its birth corresponds to a period during which the black American population, uprooted, was at the search of its identity. After years of humiliation because of slavery, its abolition in 1834 (in Jamaica) did not settle the problems of racism.

Reggae music is synonymous with protest, it does appeal to black people’s pride. It logically turned towards the religious movement of the moment : rastafarism.

Rastafarism and Reggae were popular among the Africans who lived in Babylone- rastafarism for its message and its belief and reggae for its rhythm and its lyrics.

The golden period of reggae music took place in the nineteen seventies firstly thanks to the world famous singer : BOB MARLEY. Secondly because the Rasta’s movement was still at its peek.

It seems that music is slowly evolving towards a less protesting spirit. The designation of Africa as Holy Land isn’t any more as strong a theme as in the past. All the more as conflicts on the continent and a rejection of Rastafarism by part of the population has changed the perception . But on the other hand, other themes have appeared these last years: racial segregation, social inequality, gangs and feast.