BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

Global Beats

Music: World

Global Beats showcases some of the best and most inventive up and coming musicians from around the world.

Global Beats: Reggae

Discussion & Talk

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

Reggae

15/04/2017 GMT

BBC World Service - Global Beats, Reggae

Reggae has travelled as far as South Korea, Israel, UK and Senegal. How and why?

The magnetic younger brother of Ska and Rocksteady, reggae with its heavy bass vibrations was irresistible when it appeared in the late 1960s in Jamaica.  It would go on to become one of the most loved music genres around the world. . 
 
Reggae musicians sang of the enslavement, poverty, oppression, and resistance which coloured Jamaica's history.  Its conscious lyrics are just as important as its sound, as typified by the master, Bob Marley.
 
David Amanor explores just how far Reggae has travelled with musicians such as South Korean outfit Oriental Showcus who've just released their debut album, a youthful band from Mozambique who ironically go by the name of Gran'ma. The Hempolics from the UK treat us to a master class in how they produce their very particular sound, and Israeli group Ana RF bring a very distinctive Middle Eastern flavour to their brand of reggae. Plus a young artist from Senegal, Dread Vivas, tells us why his love of reggae spurred him on to learn to speak English so that he could really connect with the sentiments expressed in the music he loves.

Credit: A closeup of a red, black, green and yellow pattern, Credit: Getty Images

BBC World Service

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service East Asia

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Global Beats

Reggae

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

About BBC World Service