I Love Jamaica concerts raise J$200 million - Culture minister outlines Reggae Month plans

Members of the music industry showed up in their numbers on Wednesday for the launch of Reggae Month 2026, at TWENTYTHREE - Wray & Nephew's Dominica Drive Corporate Office - and it proved to be a real celebration.

Hosted by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission, an agency of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, and title sponsor, Wray & Nephew, the launch saw performances from Jamaica Festival Song Competition alums - Loaded Eagle and Abi-D - as well as Etana, who was announced as the first ever Reggae Month Ambassador.

Etana told THE WEEKEND STAR that she was happy that the work that she is doing in music is acknowledged and celebrated.

"And I think they could almost see my heart ... yeah ... because I have a genuine love for people and I have a genuine love for reggae music. I am encouraging people to come into Jamaica to experience the culture ... experience our music and what it feels like having that reggae experience right here in Jamaica," she said.

The theme for Reggae Month is 'Rhythms of Resilience' and Culture Minister Olivia Grange, in her address, noted that the island is entering this season "at a time when half of our country is rebuilding from the devastating hurricane and then we see so much trouble in the world".

"It also comes on the heels of the passing of the great 'reggae ambassador', Cat Coore... but our reggae music is therapy. We turn to this music in the good and the bad times. And so, for this Reggae Month especially, we are reaching out to our brothers and sisters in Western Jamaica, and to our family and friends across the world, facing various crises," Grange said.

Grange made a subtle reference to the now viral artificial intelligence video of her dancing, responded in kind to entertainer LA Lewis' declaration of "Babsy I love you", and, in a more serious tone, announced the millions made from the I Love Jamaica concert series.

"We launched a series of concerts called I Love Jamaica' and in each diaspora community where they staged the concert they came up with a theme. The last one was 'Stay Strong Jamaica', and up to this point, we have raised almost J$200 million from all the various events. Those funds are deposited directly to the Support Jamaica account ... and still being deposited ... and we have concerts lined up in the continent of Africa as well as in the Middle East," Grange said, to much applause.

The I Love Jamaica concert series and telethon were major fundraising efforts post Hurricane Melissa, organised by the Government and diaspora to support the relief efforts. Artistes including Shaggy, Sean Paul, Christopher Martin, Kevin Downswell, Tessanne Chin, Pamputtae and Masicka performed at events in Jamaica, London, Miami and New York City, as their give-back, demonstrating a unified musical support.

"I am very very proud of the industry ... of all our artistes who have gone out there as first responders. I just want to thank the industry for stepping up and going out there and being our brothers and sisters' keepers," Grange said.

Earlier in the evening, presentations were made by Judith Bodley, representing the upcoming Island Music Conference; Janice Young of Dancehall Week; and J Wray & Nephew, which is this year celebrating 200 years of existence, as well as being the first registered company in Jamaica.