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Reggae Icons Immortalized With Incredible Murals In Downtown Kingston 

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tosh
Peter Tosh by Visual artist Paige Zombie

This year has already claimed two of Reggae’s most prolific pioneers, (Bunny Wailer, U-Roy) and the Jamaican authorities have amped up their efforts to pay tribute to the genre’s greats. The KSAMC (Kingston & St. Andrew Municipal Corporation) is forging ahead with honoring our reggae heroes, unveiling new murals in downtown Kingston that depict the essence and energy of a few of these trailblazers.

In a tweet on Tuesday, Mayor of Kingston Delroy Williams said “the transformation of Mark Lane into a space of musical history and culture has started.”  So far murals have been painted by Roshane “Paige” Taylor, Simone Racquel Williams, Joshua Solas, Anna-Lisa Guthrie, and Monique Kidd. The Mayor has promised, “more to come.”

As of 2015, Kingston is included in UNESCO’s Creative Cities of Music Network, and the local government minister has appealed for spaces where Jamaicans and visitors can interact with its history and culture.

“Our creativity, music, the arts, our culture, our edge, the entertainment industry, [these] must become a principal driver of the economies of our cities, towns and municipalities,” he told the 2018 Caribbean Conference of Mayors. “We must encourage the creation of entertainment products that have international and regional appeal.”

An official tweet from the government body read “The KSAMC has unveiled its newest set of commissioned murals along Mark Lane, in downtown Kingston. @MayorWilliamsJA highlighted that the project includes 6 murals that pay homage to some of the pioneers of Reggae Music.”

Reggae singers Gregory Isaacs (Night Nurse), Desmond Decker (The Israelites), Peter Tosh (Legalize It), Sister Nancy (Bam Bam), Toots (54-46), and Millie Small (My Boy Lollipop) have all been immortalized by various young creatives who excitedly shared the finished products in viral tweets on Wednesday.

“I would like to give thanks to @paigezombie and @mayorwilliamsja for providing this opportunity”, wrote illustrator Monique Kidd.

bambam
Sister Nancy’s mural

“It was truly an experience and I didn’t do it alone, thank you Jason Goss for your assistance. Giving thanks also to Sister Nancy for her contribution to our culture. THANK YOU”. Her pictorial ode to the Bam Bam singer skillfully captures the queen’s long locs, gold tooth and signature hoop earrings.

Bam Bam is a classic reggae anthem that put the female emcee on the map in 1982, and is easily a contender for the most sampled reggae single — Jay Z, Beyoncè, Kanye West, Major Lazor and several others. The mayor tweeted in response, “What a Bam Bam dunga Mark Lane now. You did exceptionally well Monique! Very pleased with the turnout!!!”

Visual artist Paige Zombie, whose work has been showcased at the National Gallery and at KIA Jamaica, said of his captivating Stepping Razor piece, “Tosh• My latest mural in partnership with the city of Kingston, commemorating an icon and a pioneer.” The Twitter post has received close to one thousand likes, and it’s clear the fiery orange backdrop and compelling portrayal of the ‘mystic man’ resonates with more than a few reggae fans.

“WOW, Jamaican talent on full display here… 👏👏A mural befitting the musical icon; done with the gifted hands of an extraordinary Jamaican artist!…JOB WELL DONE! @paigezxmbie”, read one comment below the post.

Joshua Solas, whose art has appeared in spaces both in the US and Jamaica  (ArtPrize, JCDC) had this appraisal of his project: “Desmond Dekker & the Aces was one of the first Jamaican acts to chart internationally. Commissioned by the Mayor’s office, the mural is an attempt to reimagine the artwork for the song “Israelites”.

The painting is based on the song’s original vinyl sleeve, and is a team effort with designer Anna-Lisa Guthrie and fellow artist Jason Goss.

At the time of Toots Hibbert’s passing in 2020, Solas was also commissioned for the icon’s mural which comprises cleverly placed song titles that form the late crooner’s likeness. Mayor Williams is quoted as saying “The art not only captures the persona and the charisma of Toots but encompasses his hits, spanning decades, and chronicles his journey of reggae music,”.

The mayor also indicated that this latest phase of the #PaintJamaica project focuses on bringing “recreational and historical spaces” to life, while providing work for creatives during these challenging times. The art district is also an attempt to give the old city a facelift after decades of urban decay, and has attracted the attention of locals and visitors alike.