Reggae's Cultural Significance
The third page delves into the cultural significance of reggae music, particularly in light of UNESCO's decision to add it to the list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
Vocabulary: Intangible cultural heritage - Cultural practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, and skills recognized as an important part of a community's cultural heritage.
The text presents a critical perspective on this recognition, suggesting that Jamaicans do not need external validation of reggae's importance to their culture and identity.
Quote: "Jamaicans know that already. They have known for half a century that the reggae beat is their nation's heartbeat and that its lyrics are the soul and conscience of its people."
The passage highlights reggae's role as a form of protest music and its global impact on oppressed peoples:
Quote: "Wherever people were oppressed, reggae provided a battle cry for change: 'Get up, stand up, stand up for your rights.'"
It also notes the historical suppression of reggae music by Jamaican authorities, who viewed its messages as potentially seditious.
Definition: Sedition - Conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the authority of a state or monarch.
This section underscores reggae's complex relationship with Jamaican society and government, as well as its profound cultural and political significance both within Jamaica and internationally.
