JaMM Head Hails 2025 Grounation Series as a Success

Director and Curator of the Jamaica Music Museum (JaMM), Herbie Miller, is of the view that this year’s staging of the Grounation series “lived up to the expectations”.

The annual series showcases cultural and educational lectures, panel discussions and performances organised by JaMM, a division of the Institute of Jamaica (IOJ), which is an agency of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport.

It is among the programmed activities commemorating Reggae Month during February, and explores themes related to Jamaican music, culture, history and social issues, often linked with broader topics such as governance, constitutional reform and Pan-Africanism.

This year’s grounation events were held each Sunday in February at the IOJ lecture hall in downtown Kingston, under the theme, ‘Bob Marley at Eighty: His Music, Legend and Legacy’.

They examined various aspects of the late reggae icon’s life and contribution to the development of Jamaica’s music and culture.

Mr. Miller points out that JaMM has been able to maintain the very high standard that the series has attained over the years, noting the positive stakeholder and general public feedback this year.

“The response to this year’s Grounation was truly outstanding. The audience was involved. The music was of a very high standard. You can never go wrong with a Bob Marley tune, and it shows how great a craftsman he was as a musician and as a lyricist,” he says.

The presentations, panel discussions and performances emphasised Bob Marley’s life, philosophy, his stance against discrimination and quest for universal peace, love and unity.

Topics covered included ‘One Love: Marley’s Commitment to the Social and Spiritual Harmony of Humanity’; ‘Music Gonna Teach Them One Lesson – Bob Marley’s Music: A Historical and Educational Narrative’, and ‘Africa Unite: Marley’s Vision for a Unified Africa’.

Each week’s discussion was accompanied by the Jamaica Music Museum Orchestra and guest artistes.

Attendees also had the opportunity to view an exhibition titled ‘From African to Jamaican: Music and Black Culture’, which highlighted the Afro-Jamaican creative ethos garnering global acclaim.

Mr. Miller says the outcome of this year’s Grounation series was a great achievement for JaMM, noting that “it captured the essence of Marley, the depth of his philosophy, the breadth of his reach and how impactful his legacy is”.

Meanwhile, Deputy Director of the IOJ, Nicole Patrick-Shaw, says the Grounation series “[was] nothing short of exceptional”.

“We witnessed scholarly debates, outstanding presentations, vibrant audience engagement and an impressive exhibition,” she points out.

Ms. Patrick-Shaw says the presenters were “remarkable”, noting that they delivered insightful analyses and engaged in thought-provoking discussions.

The Deputy Director also highlights the IOJ’s growth over the years.

“We have continually evolved, not only through the creation of new exhibitions but through the design, development and implementation of psychosocial and sociocultural programmes,” she shares.

These programmes, Ms. Patrick-Shaw points out, cater to the diverse learning needs of visitors.

She informs that the IOJ has led multiple initiatives over the years that have transitioned into well-established programmes within institutions, among these the National Library of Jamaica and University of the West Indies.

The Deputy Director says the Grounation lecture series stands out as a flagship platform for intellectual discourse, cultural awareness and national development.

She points out that the primary objectives include educating the public on key aspects of Jamaica’s history, heritage and cultural identity.

Additionally, she says it provides a space for scholars, researchers and cultural practitioners to discuss pressing issues while fostering critical thinking and informed debate.

Ms. Patrick-Shaw further states that the programmes aim to align the discussions with Jamaica’s national development goals and highlight the relevance of culture and history in shaping policies and national identity.