JAMAICAN MUSICIAN AT THE TOP OF THE CHARTS IN SOUTH AFRICA—03/07/15
Moving from Kingston to Cape Town in South Africa in pursuit of a modeling career, Marlon Cotterell is becoming a musician. While he has signed on with several modeling agencies, his musical career is also on track, as he is the lead vocalist on a track recording by the nine-piece South African reggae/ska band Sound Boy Killer. The track has reached the top of the South African national FM radio charts.

JAMAICA TAKES ACTION TO RECLAIM REGGAE—03/10/15
The success of the reggae genre around the world has resulted in concerns among Jamaicans that those in foreign countries have forgotten where reggae was born and where its roots are. Therefore, Jamaican musicians are moving to ensure that the island is acknowledged as the birthplace of reggae. Michael “Ibo” Cooper, chairman of the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JARIA), noted that other than albums by the legendary Bob Marley and his family, few best-selling reggae CDs or downloads are presented by Jamaican artistes.

JAMAICA COULD CREATE CERTIFICATION FOR “AUTHENTIC REGGAE MUSIC”—03/11/15
Jamaica may take action to develop a certification designed to ensure that the island’s signature reggae music is protected. Officials are considering the creation of a system that will provide a label of “authentic reggae” on the musical genre, and they also are trying to add Jamaica’s reggae to the United Nation’s list of “intangible cultural heritage.” The government has not yet applied for that designation, however.

DOCUMENTARY SCREENED IN JAMAICA IN HONOR OF WOMEN—03/12/15
The documentary film “Miss Representation,” which was first seen at the Sundance Film Festival and made its debut on television on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), will have a local screening in Jamaica in honor of International Women’s Day. Nadine Spencer, Ambassador to the Representation Project, will host the screening in Kingston on March 23, 2015 at the University of the West Indies, Mona.