UNESCO added reggae music to its Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2018.
The organization recognized reggae as originating in Jamaica and described it as contributing to international discourse on issues such as injustice, resistance, love, and humanity. The decision acknowledged reggae’s cultural importance beyond its musical sound.
Reggae developed from earlier Jamaican styles, especially ska and rocksteady, during the late 1960s. Bob Marley helped bring the style to global audiences, but reggae’s history also includes many other Jamaican musicians, producers, singers, instrumentalists, and sound-system operators.
UNESCO’s designation does not mean reggae began in 2018, nor does it identify a single inventor. It recognizes a living cultural tradition that has continued to evolve in Jamaica and around the world.