Reggae Pastor Al Miller challenges Reggae Industry leaders to take back the music

Tuesday, January 30, 2024. Kingston, Jamaica. Reverend Al Miller, Senior Pastor at Fellowship Tabernacle Church, yesterday called on Industry leaders in Reggae music to boldly take back the reins and direction of Reggae and make it back into the music of strong messages, power and transformation that it is known for.
“I challenge the music fraternity – if you believe that reggae is message music, then invest in it and use it to turn our nation around….let us use it to create change and transformation in Jamaica,” said Miller at the Reggae Month church service held at his church on Sunday.
“Reggae music can either be used positively or negatively. In the latter years, the negative has been our experience ... but yuh see when it a go down, we a go tun it up again, and accomplish what the early thinkers and framers intended,” said Miller, while emphasizing the need for strong leadership.
‘Industry leaders shouldn’t be following backa the artistes them and going with whatever is being done. You have to set the parameters and then when you set that, you determine what is priority,” Miller told the packed church which included Music Industry representatives such as the Minister of Culture Gender, Entertainment and Sport Minister Olivia Grange, Minister of Finance and Planning Minister Dr Nigel Clarke, Head of Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JARIA) Ewan Simpson, Head of the Jamaica Association of Vintage Artistes and Affiliates (JAVAA) Frankie Campbell, representative of the Jamaica Federation of Musicians and Affiliated Unions (JFMAU) Althea Hewitt, members of the Diplomatic Corps from the Republic of Columbia, Argentina, Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago as well as other musicians and dignitaries.
“Reggae is message music. The word music comes from muse – which means giving people something to think about,” said Miller, while urging the leaders to ensure that Reggae be used as a tool for national transformation and global unity.
He stressed that if properly directed Reggae could take Jamaica to greater heights both economically and culturally while also ensuring that Jamaica continued to spread the message of One Love that Bob Marley’s music had given the wider global community.
The One love message of Reggae was also similarly lauded by Ministers Grange and Clarke.
“We (Jamaica) small but we have a message for the world – the message of One Love. We must internalise it for ourselves and keep spreading it,” said Minister Clarke while addressing the Kingston head office of Fellowship Tabernacle.
In turn, Minister Grange encouraged the continued celebration of Reggae and its power beyond February.
“Let us not confine reggae to this month alone but continue to embrace its timeless message,” she said in her address to the congregants.
During the vibrant three-hour church services, there were a variety of performances from the church’s creative arm – choir and dance ministries – using reggae. Singer Keron Clarke did an item that was well received and the Lightning Drummers from Ardenne received a standing ovation for their performance.
Reggae Month was first celebrated on January 9, 2008 by the Jamaican Government. This was done to highlight Reggae’s impact on Jamaica’s social, cultural, and economic development.








