Reggae became a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2018. UNESCO added Jamaican reggae music to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, recognizing the genre’s cultural importance and its roots in Jamaica.
The designation describes reggae as a form of music that brings together influences from Jamaican and wider Caribbean traditions, including mento, ska, rocksteady and rhythm and blues. Its themes often address social injustice, resistance, love, faith and community, giving it significance beyond entertainment.
Reggae developed in Jamaica during the late 1960s, evolving from ska and rocksteady. Bob Marley helped make it globally famous, but the UNESCO recognition applies to the broader Jamaican tradition and the communities that sustain it. The honour is sometimes confused with UNESCO’s World Heritage List, which covers places and physical sites; Intangible Cultural Heritage protects living cultural practices, music, celebrations and knowledge.