Above: “Do the Reggae” (Photo: BAM)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Marking the 50th year of Jamaica’s independence, the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York City is hosting “Do the Reggae,” a 14-part film series looking at Jamaica’s music tradition.

From films of Jimmy Cliff and Bob Marley to footage of Toots and the Maytals and producer Lee “Scratch” Perry, “Do the Reggae” will examine the history and political impact of an art form that has become global in scale.

The series includes the films “Rockers,” “Land of Look Behind,” “The Harder They Come,” “Buck and the Preacher,” “Reggae,” “Countryman,” “Babylon,” “Revival,” “Ranking Sounds,” “Black Ark,” “Word, Sound and Power,” “Roots Rock Reggae,” “Heartland Reggae” and “OnePeople: The Celebration.”

The series is being coordinated by BAM’s BAMcinématek film programme.

“Do the Reggae” runs from Aug 2 to Aug 6.

Brooklyn has long been a centre of reggae culture, led most recently by the work of the Coalition to Preserve Reggae.

For more on CPR and reggae, check out this CJ video.