Professor of Culture, Gender and Society at the University of the West Indies, UWI, Mona, Professor Donna Hope says Jamaica no longer owns the reggae category due to the music genres’ expanding global reach.
Her comments come amid American reggae band, Soldiers in Jah Army, SOJA, winning the Grammy Award for best reggae album at the 64th show at the MGM Grand Gardens Arena in Las Vegas yesterday.
There’ve since been expressions of disappointment and outrage from some Jamaica musicians, among them Shenseea, Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, and producer Foota Hype.
Professor Donna Hope reacting to American reggae band, SOJA, winning the Grammy Award for best reggae album.
The band was chosen over Jamaican artistes, Gramps Morgan, Sean Paul, Jesse Royal, Etana and Spice.
Professor Hope told Nationwide this morning that despite reggae music being indigenous to Jamaica, it has expanded internationally with many people doing the music.
She says for a small island like Jamaica to win a Grammy in that category the album must have an international reach as opposed to being more popular locally.
Professor Hope was speaking on Nationwide’s This Morning with Tauna Thomas and Ricardo Brooks.
During the band’s acceptance speech, lead vocalist/guitarist Jacob Hemphill tipped his hat to their Jamaican musical influences.
