Through sheer force of its personality, reggae music has conquered the world and rocked successive generations. Jamaican music was, and is, a truly urban folk music – unlicensed, uncopyrighted, uncensored, and to this day, untamed.

Chronicling the highs and lows of the day-to-day existence of Jamaican
sufferahs, reggae music came from the streets of Kingston and remained on the streets wherever it roamed – London, New York, Miami… This series bears witness to the durability of Jamaican culture over the last 40 years, tracking the constant human and culture traffic between Kingston, London and New York. It documents the social and political history of a newly independent people and their displaced brothers and sisters in America and Britain, through the expression of its greatest art form
– reggae music.

"Superlative.” – Observer

“Reggae: The Story of Jamaican Music had superb stories, glorious footage, and a soundtrack that immediately distilled the instantly uplifting, dignity and genius of the music itself.” - Mirror

A BBC book has been published to accompany this series

Series Producer Mike Connolly
Executive Producer Mark Cooper


DURATION
2 x 50