Short History of reggae music

What is reggae? The word “reggae” means just “for king”. Through reggae rastamans praise their God – Jah. The next motive found in reggae is fight between good and evil. Never before did anybody sang about that what destroy a human – about pointless violence and racism. Reggae purpose is to pass on listener positive vibration that is feeling happiness. It also suppose to make us sensitive to the bad things which happening all around us.

This is off course kind of music which bring us closer to Africa. It takes its roots from African tribel music. The rhythm of drums(Congo- look photo 4) give basis for the sound of reggae. But first reggae songs arrived from slums of West Kingston in Jamaica ( to rhythm of reggae added bass guitar riffs). From begin reggae wasn’t very complicated music – its rhythm was easy, regular even hypnotizing. This gives that music specific character. First reggae songs was about hard situation of black people, about continent which they came from. Reggae was music for small group of people, but thanks to Bob Marley(look photo 1) it spread all over a world. He himself said that his music is for black and white people. His music say about problems of all people. Later many people fallow Bob and counting popularization of this music.

Famous artist of that music are:

Peter Tosh, Jimmy Cliff, Johnny Nash, The Third World Band, The Mighty Diamonds, Fabulous Five, Byron Lee and the Dragonaires, Junior Tucker, Joe Higgs, Burning Spear, The Abyssinians, Toots and the Maytals, Sharron Forrester, Israel Vibrations, Ras Michael and the son of the Negus, Inner Circle.

Reggae also have many subgenres :

-Roots reggae
-Dub (More slow than reggae)
-Dub poetry
-Toasting
-Lovers Rock
-Dancehall ( mix with electro music)
-Ragga (mix with Hip Hop, Rap)
-Raggamuffin
-Reggaeton (mix with Latino music)
-Seggae
-Punky reggae ( mix with punk rock)

Typical instruments in reggae music are:

-Bass guitar
-Guitar
-Drums
-Organ
-Brass
-Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone


Reggae in Poland

To Poland reggae music arrived in 1970. First band which use reggae rhythm was Brygada Kryzys (a punk rock band, look photo 3). But first band which play only reggae music was Izrael. Lyrics of Izrael songs were allusion to communistic country of Poland and saying about bad side of this. Many bands of reggae music in Poland performed in music festival in Jarocin city. Now reggae in Poland have many subgenres. Reggae music is mix with different kind of music (hip hop, rock, jazz etc.)

Famous band and artist of reggae music in Poland:

-Daab
-Bakshish
-Habakuk
-Indios Bravos
-Akurat
-Vavamuffin
-Meleo Reggae Rockers
-Robert Brylewski
-Piotr Maślanka

(w załączniku znajdziecie wersje z fotkami)