May 14, 2012

National Day of Reggae Signed into Law

Brazil News

| BRASILIA – President Dilma Rousseff signed into law Monday (14) a law establishing the National Day of Reggae, celebrated annually on 11 May – the date Jamaican musician Bob Marley died, reported Folha.

Jamaican Bob Marley, the date of his death, May 11, was chosen to be the Day of Reggae in Brazil

Bob Marley (Photo: David Burnett/Folha)

According to the law, the date will serve to honor “the musical rhythm spread worldwide by Robert Nesta Marley.”

Senator Rodrigo Rollemberg – then a congressman – authored the bill, according to the Culture Ministry.

Rollemberg justifies the new law, in the text of the bill, saying “it is relevant to recognize the foreign musical rhythms, which without a doubt, 'fell' into Brazilian taste."

In the text, Rollemberg also mentioned “the legacy that Bob Marley left the world goes far beyond reggae: it is through this music that many Brazilian artists use the medium of music to make legitimate social criticisms. This musical style greatly influenced some areas of Brazil, such as Salvador, which enacted a city ordinance establishing the day of reggae.”

Rollemberg also talks about how Bob Marley influenced Brazilian music, citing “Cidade Negra, Edson Gomes, Gilberto Gil among many other national artists devoted to continue to push through reggae, messages of peace, love and social criticism to encourage people to fight for their rights, just like Marley, considered the first star of the third world with international recognition.”

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3 comments:

  1. This is awesome Brazil! Music brings people together as a unifying force. So often government wants their people distracted and divided so they can create law benefiting self-interest. May 11 will be a day of celebration and togetherness! Gonna have to come to Brazil and recognize! Peace and Love from High Ceiling.

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  2. wish they would bring that to scotland that would be amazing

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