Music is a universal language that transcends boundaries and bonds people even thousands of miles apart. People in diverse locations can be unified by a melody that is meaningful to them all. Reggae music is a style of music that is enjoyed in many congregations. To understand reggae music in the church, it is important to know some important facts as to its origin.

Origin of Reggae Music
Some claim that reggae music came from Africa; in fact, this claim has been made about all music. Others have said that it is a derivative of American Rhythm and Blues.

All of the above is true to an extent. Reggae musicians have used different genres to develop some of the attributes of the music we have come to love. After all, no musical form can claim 100% purity, since music influences music. Make no mistake about it, reggae music was developed in Jamaica. It would be unfair to the art form not to point to this reality.  

When Africans first came to Jamaica, they brought their own religions and musical forms. They came from different places on the continent and later from different plantations in the Americas. The Europeans who invaded Jamaica also brought their own musical forms, which they forced upon the people. As a direct result, the Jamaicans developed a unique musical style called Pukkumina, later translated into Mento.  Mento then gave way to the new up-tempo Ska, which later gave way to Rocksteady – by slowing down the beat and accentuating the second and fourth beats of a musical bar. The Rocksteady musicians continued to refine the playing technique, which later resulted in reggae as we now know it. While many writers of the history of reggae omit the role of Jamaica’s gospel music on the development of reggae, it is grossly unfair.

A significant portion of the artists and musicians, who went on to become famous in reggae, had their first break in the church.  In fact, the churches in Jamaica, even to this day, contain some of the best musicians and singers. Young musicians and singers in reggae’s early days did not have the luxury of formal training; hence, the church filled that gap.

When was reggae created?
It would be extremely difficult to give the exact date or time that reggae music was born, but it is widely acknowledged by students of reggae music’s history that it was developed in the late 60s, in Jamaica. Depending on who you speak to, you will indeed get varying opinions on this.  

One thing to bear in mind is that the term reggae is used by many to classify all of Jamaica’s musical forms, from the 60s to the present. Some people are clear as to what reggae is: the kind of music song by Bob Marley or Peter Tosh. But it is not as simple as that, since Ska, Rocksteady, Deejaying (Dancehall) and Roots Reggae are all inextricably linked to make up what some believe to be reggae. Ska probably started some time in the late 50’s and became popular in the mid-60’s. Rocksteady came about during the late 60’s, after the musicians slowed down the tempo of Ska. Rocksteady is also considered to be reggae, or more precisely, early reggae. 

Deejaying, now known as Dancehall, became popular in the early 70’s. It may have been developed even earlier, since it is similar to what MCs did at the time: talking while the music plays in the background. It is to be noted here, that the beginnings of Hip Hop can be traced back to this early form of Jamaican music. Roots Reggae is the most popular form of reggae and was made popular by Bob Marley and others. It started to take shape sometime in the mid-70’s and has continued to this very day. It is what most people around the world identify as authentic reggae music.  

Who invented reggae?
It would certainly make life far easier if one could attribute the creation of reggae music to a single individual, but we know from what has preceded that reggae developed over a period of time. Here is where the history of reggae becomes somewhat fuzzy: Bob Marley said, it is the music that "I man" (referring to himself) created. Others have said it was Lee Perry, after he left Studio One, and was experimenting on his own. And again we have those who claimed it came from Africa. Truth be told, many individuals, some more than others, contributed to the development of reggae music.

The pioneers of reggae are too numerous to list here, but all the early Ska, Rocksteady, Early Reggae, Nyabhingi, Dub, Deejay (Dancehall) and Roots Reggae artists played their role in the formation and development of reggae music, as we’ve come to know it.

Why was reggae created?
Jamaica became independent in the 60’s, and by that time, the music was gaining a political edge but not to any great extent; that was soon to change.

For one to get the full grasp of why reggae evolved, put yourself in the position of the everyday man or woman on the street. If you can picture yourself working in the hot tropical sun all day, at the end of which your employer takes most if not all your wages, and when you go home, the living conditions are horrible to say the least, and your mind can not remotely fathom there being a better day. Or imagine the joy of being freed from slavery and yet bound by your circumstances, as part of a new system that degrades and miserably fails its own people.  If you can imagine this state of affairs, then you can understand the frustrations that weighed down the spirit of the people of Jamaica during this time. It is out of this frustration that reggae music evolved. In the inner cities (ghettos) of Kingston, conditions were even direr, and we know from experience that the oppression of people anywhere will always bring about a unique form of self-expression or a complete cultural renaissance.

A musical renaissance occurred in Jamaica.  Even if the musicians wanted to write other forms of social commentary, they could not ignore the rapid political decline and their own acute spiritual awakening, as well as that of the masses. They simply had no choice but to make music from their experiences. And so, Roots Reggae developed, and the rest, as they say is history, reggae history that is.

Two scriptural references mandate the kind of music to be used for the assembly of the church. “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:19) “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” (Colossians 3:16)

Any music, regardless of style (classical, pop, rock, rap, reggae etc.) that is a psalm, a hymn, or a spiritual song (a song about spiritual things) would qualify under these verses. That is good, because if we had to limit our style of music to only what was in existence at the time Paul wrote these words, we would be without practically all the songs we use today.

Reggae is still a form of music, which causes more than a few ripples of controversy in the church. As a native of an Island, which is known for music in a rhythmic form, it has become quite clear that a deep sense of concern surrounds the acceptance of this music. “Splif-toting” singers, wild-eyed Rastafarians, and bump-and-grind dancehall exponents seem light years from a Christian lifestyle. Yet, as Cross Rhythms have documented down the years, a handful of pioneering reggae artists have determinedly utilized the sinuous rhythms to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

It is important to bear in mind that music is a part of God’s creation with the power to praise its Creator, and it finds its greatest fulfillment in the proclamation of the Word. Naturally, different people will have different opinions about music. To understand the styles of music and in particular reggae gospel music, we need to understand first God’s creativity, and to understand God’s creativity, we need to understand the doctrine of creation.

God’s creatorship is the indispensable foundation on which the other beliefs of the Christian faith are based. This doctrine supports the artistic enterprise, which confirms that God as Creator has given creative gifts to humanity. Genesis, which is the book of creation, tells us that Creation is God’s artwork. He was truly the first Creator, and since He is a creative God, we are to model ourselves after Him.

Reggae music is another creative style of music that God has created for some cultures. Therefore, we should recognize the God-given talents and rhythms that represent our ideas and expressions of praise. Reggae music has always been identified with Rastafarians, the most prominent of them, Reggae Music icon, Bob Marley. However, the beat and style of music is a part of the creative characteristics of God. It is the creative culture created by the Creator that is now able to transcend boundaries long imposed on the genre, which further suggests that the boundaries challenging gospel reggae music are imposed by man and not sanctioned by God. They were set by past generations and followed by the next generation. They are not laws and can be changed.

A number of gospel artists, who were icons in the secular world, have experienced the forgiveness of the Living God, and as a result, their lives have been transformed by the power of God. Now they have come into the church, with their God-give, talents and use them to glorify Him. However, their style of worship in terms of the rhythmic style of music is not necessarily accepted. They have clearly demonstrated the generation gap does not necessarily have to be a boundary in the music world.

Reggae music embodies a freedom of expression of worship that the other styles of music might not readily cause, but due to the fuse and the lively music with sheer charisma, reggae gospel music is received as a complete package. This style of music, like other styles of gospel music, is recognized by international recording labels.

It is a fact that reggae music can draw one closer to God, but it is important to note that it is Jesus who will keep you and not the music. It is the Holy Spirit who draws and convicts us of sin and not the music. The lyrical contents embody the message, which strengthens the believer, but challenges the unbeliever to submit to Christ.

In conclusion, Reggae music continues to unfold and draws a new generation to Christ, which is the purpose of the church, making disciples of all nations. The Kingdom of God is at hand, and this ministry of music He has given to His people is powerful for establishing His purpose. Music is a universal language that transcends boundaries and bonds people even thousands of miles apart. No matter how much evolved a form of music is or how sophisticated its approach, music touches everyone’s soul. If you do not connect to any music, you probably are losing a part of yourself.