Reggae-Hour | Reggae Interviews & History

Celebrate International Reggae Day with a powerful conversation featuring South African reggae artist Don Dada (Menelik Nesta Gibbons) on Reggae Hour.
In this inspiring interview, Don Dada reflects on his journey from Forward We Continue to his SAMA32 Best Reggae Album nomination while sharing powerful insights on mentoring young artists, creating opportunities for women in music, preserving African identity, building communities, and using reggae as a force for peace and unity.
The conversation also explores the future of African music, International Reggae Day, the importance of music education, and why success means lifting others as you rise.
Whether you're a reggae fan, independent artist, or someone passionate about culture and social impact, this episode offers timeless wisdom rooted in reggae's message of One Love.
Read the companion article and watch the full feature:
https://www.reggaehour.com/2026/06/international-reggae-day-special.html

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🎙️ REGGAE HOUR ARCHIVE

Preserving the voices, stories, and reasoning that continue to shape reggae culture.

▶ Origins Series:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4dIBvDlXWOC9_jw3UQwrhk7-GPnp6L7V

📺 YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@ReggaeHourPodcast

🌍 Follow Reggae Hour for more conversations exploring reggae history, roots culture, and conscious music.

💬 What did reggae teach you?

One Love.
Reggae Hour

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Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/reggae-hour/exclusive-content

For more than five decades, Anthony Brightly has dedicated his life to reggae music. During our International Reggae Day conversation, he posed a series of questions that have echoed throughout the reggae community:
What is International Reggae Day really about?
Who owns reggae?
Who controls reggae music today?
Has Jamaica remained at the center of its own cultural creation, or has something been lost along the way?
Those questions became the foundation of this special Reggae Hour podcast.
Host Mr. E, together with Zionya and Judah Lion, reflects on the conversations recorded during International Reggae Day with artists and cultural ambassadors from around the world.
Featuring insights from:
• Anthony Brightly (Black Slate) — 54 years in reggae, challenging us to remember what reggae truly represents.
• Don Dada (Menelik Nesta Gibbons) — discussing mentorship, artist ownership, Pan-African unity, and refusing to trade one master for another.
• Iyagrade — reflecting on identity, Black pride, diaspora responsibility, and why reggae must remain rooted while reaching the world.
• Kleva Roots — sharing the importance of conscious music, spiritual vibration, and preserving reggae as a cultural lighthouse.
• Leroy Scarlett — continuing the conversation on reggae's legacy, community, and where the movement goes from here.
This is not simply a celebration of International Reggae Day.
It is a conversation about cultural memory.
A conversation about ownership.
A conversation about responsibility.
And perhaps most importantly...
A conversation about whether reggae's future is still in the hands of the people who created it.
Featured Interviews & Articles
Anthony Brightly (Black Slate)
https://www.reggaehour.com/2026/07/anthony-brightly-of-black-slate-is.html
Don Dada (Menelik Nesta Gibbons)
https://www.reggaehour.com/2026/06/international-reggae-day-special.html
Iyagrade Interview
https://www.youtube.com/live/xi6HfRU074Q?si=y9Q5gE0cstBdWyrp
Kleva Roots Interview
https://www.youtube.com/live/akDrxtIpgFU?si=ZgpndaCkWPVMnZtb
Leroy Scarlett Returns to Reggae Hour
https://www.reggaehour.com/2026/07/leroy-scarlett-returns-to-reggae-hour.html
Read More at Reggae Hour
🌍 Website: https://www.reggaehour.com
📰 Blog Archive:
https://www.reggaehour.com/search
🎙️ More interviews, reggae history, artist features, and cultural documentaries are published regularly on Reggae Hour.
Join the Conversation
What does International Reggae Day mean to you?
Who owns reggae?
Can a culture remain authentic while becoming global?
Leave your thoughts in the comments and become part of the Reggae Hour archive.
If you enjoy thoughtful conversations about reggae history, Rastafari, Africa, Black cultural memory, and conscious music, be sure to follow, subscribe, and share this episode with someone who loves reggae.
One Love.
👕 Wear the Culture
Celebrate reggae culture with officially licensed apparel and merchandise inspired by legendary artists and Jamaica's enduring musical legacy. Whether you're heading to a concert, building your collection, or simply expressing your appreciation for reggae, Old Glory offers a wide selection of officially licensed designs.
Reggae Hour Community Offer
Use promo code REGGAEHR on qualifying purchases through our affiliate partner.
Shop: https://www.oldglory.com
🌿 Discover Plant-Based Nutrition
For those interested in plant-based nutrition, ZivoLife offers nutritional supplements made from sustainably cultivated proprietary microalgae. Their products are designed for individuals looking to incorporate plant-based nutritional options into a balanced lifestyle.
Reggae Hour Community Offer
Use promo code REGGAEHR when available through our affiliate partner.
Shop: https://zivo.life
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
🍍 Enjoy the Good Vibes
Whether you're listening to your favorite reggae playlist, spending time with friends, or celebrating International Reggae Day, Good Feels offers cannabis-infused beverages and related products for adults where legally available.
Reggae Hour Community Offer
Use promo code REGGAEHR on eligible purchases through our affiliate partner.
Shop: https://shop.getgoodfeels.com
For adults 21 years of age or older where permitted by law. Please consume responsibly. Effects may vary by individual.

FTC Affiliate Disclosure
Some links shared by Reggae Hour may be affiliate links. This means that if you purchase a product or service through those links, Reggae Hour may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. These commissions help support our independent journalism, historical research, interviews, educational content, and the continued preservation of reggae culture. We only recommend products and services that we believe provide value to our audience. Thank you for supporting Reggae Hour and helping us preserve reggae's legacy for future generations.

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🎙️ REGGAE HOUR ARCHIVE

Preserving the voices, stories, and reasoning that continue to shape reggae culture.

▶ Origins Series:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4dIBvDlXWOC9_jw3UQwrhk7-GPnp6L7V

📺 YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@ReggaeHourPodcast

🌍 Follow Reggae Hour for more conversations exploring reggae history, roots culture, and conscious music.

💬 What did reggae teach you?

One Love.
Reggae Hour

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Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/reggae-hour/exclusive-content

What does it mean to be Proud To Be Black in today's world?
In this special Reggae Hour Podcast conversation recorded during International Reggae Day, Mr. E sits down with Jamaican-born, Toronto-based reggae artist Iyagrade for a wide-ranging discussion about identity, conscious music, reggae culture, the African diaspora, resilience, and why artists have a responsibility to leave a legacy.
Iyagrade shares the deeper meaning behind his name, explaining that it represents Higher Upliftment and reflects his mission to create music that is positive, healing, educational, and rooted in purpose. Rather than chasing trends, he discusses blending reggae with hip hop while remaining true to his Jamaican identity and cultural foundation.
The conversation explores:
The message behind Proud To Be Black
Why reggae is a vehicle for healing and resilience
Building on the legacy left by previous generations
The importance of knowing your roots
Jamaica's influence on Canada's reggae community
Black identity across the global diaspora
Why unity is stronger than division
How every person's talent contributes to preserving culture
Creating music that motivates people instead of simply entertaining them
Why conscious reggae still matters in today's world
One of the most memorable moments comes when Iyagrade reflects on the importance of using individual talents to serve others. Inspired by a speech from Lauryn Hill, he argues that broadcasters, artists, photographers, and creators each have a role in preserving culture and making history together rather than competing against one another.
He also discusses why his music focuses on uplifting listeners, carrying messages of resilience, and encouraging people to know their history while continuing to build upon the foundation laid by previous generations.
This episode is part of Reggae Hour's ongoing mission to preserve reggae history through conversations with today's artists while documenting tomorrow's cultural archive.
Topics Covered
Iyagrade Interview
Proud To Be Black
Conscious Reggae
International Reggae Day
Black Identity
Jamaican Culture
Canadian Reggae
Reggae Music
African Diaspora
Legacy Building
Healing Through Music
Roots Reggae
Conscious Music
Independent Reggae Artists
Reggae Hour Podcast
Subscribe to Reggae Hour
If you believe reggae is more than entertainment and serves as history, healing, education, and resistance, subscribe to Reggae Hour and join us as we preserve the voices shaping reggae culture for future generations.
Every interview is another chapter in the living archive.
One Love. One Voice. One Culture. One Legacy.

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🎙️ REGGAE HOUR ARCHIVE

Preserving the voices, stories, and reasoning that continue to shape reggae culture.

▶ Origins Series:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4dIBvDlXWOC9_jw3UQwrhk7-GPnp6L7V

📺 YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@ReggaeHourPodcast

🌍 Follow Reggae Hour for more conversations exploring reggae history, roots culture, and conscious music.

💬 What did reggae teach you?

One Love.
Reggae Hour

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Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/reggae-hour/exclusive-content

Freedom was won.
But what happens next?
Mr. E, Judah Lion, and Zionya explore Juneteenth, liberation, culture, history, and the responsibility we owe future generations.
LONG DESCRIPTION
Freedom was won.
But what happens next?
In this special Juneteenth 2026 edition of Reggae Hour, Mr. E, Judah Lion, and Zionya take listeners on a journey through history, culture, identity, community, and responsibility.
Through thoughtful discussion, humor, reflection, and reggae music, the panel examines the legacy of Juneteenth and asks what freedom truly means in today's world.
Topics include:
• Freedom vs Liberation
• Juneteenth and Emancipation
• Historical Memory
• African American History
• Economic Empowerment
• Cultural Preservation
• Community Responsibility
• Building for Future Generations
• Reggae as Resistance
• Identity and Self Determination
Featuring music from:
• Burning Spear
• Chronixx
• Protoje
• Third World
• Culture
Featured Voices:
Mr. E
Judah Lion
Zionya
Read the companion article:
https://www.reggaehour.com/2026/06/juneteenth-freedom-was-won-what-happens.html
Freedom was won.
The work continues.
Listen.
Learn.
Reflect.
Act.
CATEGORY
Society & Culture
SUBCATEGORY
History
SECONDARY CATEGORY
Music Commentary
KEYWORDS
Juneteenth,
Juneteenth 2026,
African American History,
African Diaspora,
Black History,
Freedom,
Liberation,
Reggae Podcast,
History Podcast,
Marcus Garvey,
Burning Spear,
Chronixx,
Protoje,
Third World,
Culture,
Community,
Identity,
Self Determination,
Reggae Hour
EPISODE TAGLINE
Freedom Won.
What Happens Next?

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🎙️ REGGAE HOUR ARCHIVE

Preserving the voices, stories, and reasoning that continue to shape reggae culture.

▶ Origins Series:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4dIBvDlXWOC9_jw3UQwrhk7-GPnp6L7V

📺 YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@ReggaeHourPodcast

🌍 Follow Reggae Hour for more conversations exploring reggae history, roots culture, and conscious music.

💬 What did reggae teach you?

One Love.
Reggae Hour

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Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/reggae-hour/exclusive-content

History does not live in books alone.
It lives in memory.
It lives in culture.
And sometimes, it lives in music.
In Season 2 Episode 5, Mr. E and Zionya travel back to a pivotal moment in Jamaican history to explore the rise of ska—the energetic, optimistic sound that laid the foundation for rocksteady, reggae, and everything that followed.
As Jamaica moved toward independence, questions of freedom, identity, dignity, and self-determination were being asked throughout the Caribbean and across the world. In that environment, a new sound emerged.
A sound that reflected hope.
A sound that reflected movement.
A sound that reflected Jamaica itself.
Together, we explore how global events, local culture, sound systems, and the aspirations of a young nation combined to create one of the most important musical movements in modern history.
IN THIS EPISODE
🎺 The origins of ska
🇯🇲 Jamaica's journey toward independence
🌍 The global climate of the 1950s and 1960s
✊ Freedom, dignity, and self-determination
🔊 Sound system culture
🎵 The foundation of rocksteady and reggae
📖 Why music reflects historical moments
🦁 How culture preserves memory
FEATURED MUSIC
🎵 Prince Buster – Madness
🎵 Additional selections highlighting the evolution of Jamaica's early sound
WHY THIS EPISODE MATTERS
Most people know reggae.
Far fewer understand the world that made reggae possible.
To understand reggae, we must first understand ska.
Because every sound carries the fingerprints of the people who created it.
READ THE COMPANION ARTICLE
📖 Read more at:
https://www.reggaehour.com
FOLLOW REGGAE HOUR
🌍 https://www.reggaehour.com
🎙 Spotify
🍎 Apple Podcasts
🎧 Amazon Music
📺 YouTube
COMMENT PROMPT
What is the most important ingredient in reggae's story: Ska, Rocksteady, or Reggae itself?
Let us know below.

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🎙️ REGGAE HOUR ARCHIVE

Preserving the voices, stories, and reasoning that continue to shape reggae culture.

▶ Origins Series:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4dIBvDlXWOC9_jw3UQwrhk7-GPnp6L7V

📺 YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@ReggaeHourPodcast

🌍 Follow Reggae Hour for more conversations exploring reggae history, roots culture, and conscious music.

💬 What did reggae teach you?

One Love.
Reggae Hour

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Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/reggae-hour/exclusive-content