4 Ways to Celebrate International Reggae Day in LA 2022

Where do political resistance, smooth basslines, peace and love meet? Reggae music.

The origin of International Reggae Day

During the sixties, reggae became globally known as a voice for the people, communicating messages of love, freedom, and solidarity. To acknowledge the contributions made by reggae music to revolutionary movements across the globe, organizer Andrea Davis founded International Reggae Day on July 1,1994. This festive day celebrates not only the soulful sound of reggae, but also the culture and history that led to its creation.

This Friday, July 1, 2022, will be the 28th year that fans of reggae music in Jamaica and abroad will be celebrating the legacy of reggae. Here are five ways to celebrate International Reggae Day in the Los Angeles area:

1. Reggae on the Row DTLA

Listen to some reggae outdoors this Sunday, July 3 with Reggae on the ROW DTLA hosted by Bodega Califas. 

Here you’ll be able to enjoy reggae music, support Latinx vendors and cool down with La Teteria cafe, by trying one of their popular iced coffees or a raspado!

2. Explore Jamaican Cuisine

What better way to celebrate reggae than indulging in some authentic Jamaican food? Visit restaurants like Wi Jammin’, Little Kingston, Ackee Bamboo, and more, to support small businesses and nourish your soul.

3. Link up with your friends and party at Jamaican Gold

Finish your weekend celebration with a mix of dancehall, reggae, reggaeton, afrobeats, and soca at 2020 Wilshire Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90403.

4. Chillin’ at home? – Listen to a reggae playlist!

For Black and Latinx folks across the diaspora, waking up on a Sunday to the sound of salsa or reggae, meant it was time to clean. Kick off your Sunday with a bit of that nostalgic feeling and play this reggae playlist by IReggae Day to start your week the irie way.

Artists like Koffee, Mortimer, Lila Ike, and Skip Marley, to name a few, have carried on the legacy of reggae into the 2020’s. And to no surprise, this new generation of artists have already graced the stages of music festivals around the world, just like those who came before them.

Check out our discussion about cultural music and music festivals below:

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