Jamaica wants UNESCO to recognize Revival Music

Since the inscription of Jamaica’s reggae music by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2018, placing it on the list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Jamaica has undertaken similar efforts to have Revival Music acknowledged as well.

With such a classification, the music would be acknowledged as having exceptional global significance and the whole community would place the utmost priority on its everlasting conservation.

Jamaica’s Minister of Culture, Olivia Babsy Grange, revealed that while marking the anniversary of reggae’s inscription, “we (government of Jamaica) have nominated another element of our music and that is revival – a traditional afro-Christian culture – hopefully next year we will have the element inscribed,” Grange commented.

She was speaking at the British Council’s Future of Creativity Symposium last Monday at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston.

Revival Music has several forms but the two main ones are Revival Zion and Pocomania. It is a synthesis of elements from African paganism and Christianity.

In addition to praying to call for possession, the revival rite includes hand clapping, foot stomping, dancing, singing, drumming, and groaning. It also has hymns and music from the Orthodox church.

Since 1860 and 1861, Jamaica saw the emerging of revivalism as a component of the Great Revival, and as a religious movement.