JAMAICA WILL officially celebrate ‘Dancehall Week’ next year during a special inaugural celebration.

The distinct week-long celebration of Dancehall will take place during February, which is Reggae Month on the Caribbean island.

The special acknowledgement for Dancehall is being backed by Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange.

“Dancehall is quintessentially Jamaican and, in many respects, can be seen as the cradle of Jamaican music. The music evolved out of the sound systems of the 1960s and has now become a worldwide sensation,” she said.

Ms Grange said: “I, therefore, see Dancehall Week as an exciting addition to an already eclectic Reggae Month, with the potential to pull many visitors to our shores to partake of our captivating culture.

“The Festival Economy, of which this is a part, holds great potential to deliver massive economic gains to our people and to our country, in general.”

Ms Grange added it was a “very easy decision to align ourselves with Dancehall Week.”

At the official media launch of Dancehall Week, the minister was represented by Lenford Salmon, executive director of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC).  

 Dancehall Week events will be produced by the recently incorporated company – Dancehall Lifestyle JM –  who have told news outlets they are keen to showcase there is more to Dancehall music than negative stereotypes.

Dancehall Week is scheduled to take place in Jamaica between 13 February, 2024 and 19