Sean Paul ‘ketch de riddim’ at Reggae Month launch

The penultimate item of the programme for last Tuesday's launch of Reggae Month 2020 stated 'Performance - Surprise artiste', and when Minister of Culture Olivia Grange closed the proceedings, she urged the attendees to stay back for the special presentation. The surprise guest turned out to be none other than Sean Paul, accompanied by entertainers Chi Ching Ching and Ras Ajai.

Energetic and ready to work, Sean Paul and his crew took the excitement level up several notches, as they went rapid-fire style through a host of songs, thrilling fans with snippets of each.

From Ching's Breadfruit to Sean Paul's Deportee, Ras Ajai's Di Ras Hot and several others in between, the team jumped straight into the theme of Reggae Month, 'Come Ketch De Riddim'.

In an interview with THE WEEKEND STAR, Sean Paul said that reggae music is Jamaica's gift to the world and should definitely be celebrated at every opportunity. He explained that it meant a lot to him personally, hence his presence at the launch.

"Reggae Month is an extremely important way of honouring the culture. Every February we put the spotlight on this music which has made Jamaica great and that, in itself, is a big thing," Sean Paul said.

Tuesday's launch was a well-executed affair, which had the full support of the music industry and brought out players such as Gussie Clarke, Herbie Miller, Sharon Burke, Clifton 'Specialist' Dillon, George 'Firehouse' Miller, Barbara Blake-Hannah, Dennis Howard, Cedric Myton, Noman 'Bulpus' Bryan, Heavy D, Teddy Laidley, Bridgette Anderson and Denise Miller.

Also performing at the event, which was staged by the Mnistry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, were Richie Spice, Jesse Royal, Azalineage, Shaienna, the daughter of Lutan Fyah and dancers from the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission's Reggae Dance Contest, along with DJ Sparks and Richie Feelings, who executed a thrilling 'Tune Fa Tune'.

Main speakers at the launch, Minister of Culture Olivia Grange and Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett, were in one accord as they expounded on plans for the music industry. It was revealed that in the pipeline are plans for a tourism reggae product which will market the reggae experience to the world.