Reggae Music in China

Since we've been studying Julian Henriques and Reggae music for the past two weeks, I've been wondering what Reggae music is like in China. Therefore,  I searched and collected some materials; I think this may offer you a cross-cultural communication angle.

Reggae music is definitely niche music in China, but in a country with such a vast population, even a niche implies that you will meet many people who share your interests. 

Three fundamental points define Chinese viewers' comprehension of reggae: relaxed; Jamaican; off-beat. For the Chinese audience,  Reggae music moves at a snail's pace. The BPM (Beats Per Minute) ranges from 80 and 100, making it appropriate for relaxing music. And  Reggae music is commonly regarded as one of Jamaica's emblems. Furthermore, off-beat is believed as the most distinctive feature of reggae music for Chinese listeners. Reggae is off-beat with a shuffle rhythm.  In Reggae, Eighth notes are frequently employed, and bass is used as a rhythm instrument.

In addition, I'd like to introduce two more influential musicians in Reggae music in China. One is  Jiang Liang, known as the "Father of Chinese Reggae".

Jiang published the "CHINA DUB" record with Australian dub musicians in 2006. It was also the first time that the world know what Reggae and Dub music in China, which also is the reason why Jiang is so important.  Jiang attended the World Dub Music Exchange Show in Germany in 2009 as Asia's only representative. I found a video of Jiang performing at Tomorrowland Belgium 2019.


The other one is Kawa Band, "the highest level of Yunnan Reggae". (Yunnan is a province in China) If Jiang is regarded as a reggae musician in China who is trying to meet international standards, the Kawa band  add Chinese ethnic minorities element into Reggae

The Kawa band's core members are all from the Chinese border town of Ximeng, Yunnan. One interesting fact is that this site is almost exactly the same latitude as Jamaica. Reggae music originated in Jamaica, while the Wa people appear to carry Reggae DNA. There are many similarities between traditional Wa music and reggae music.

Kawa Band combines the soul of Yunnan folk music, in addition to exploring Reggae, Dub, electronic, and rock styles. To that purpose, they have humbly sought advice from folk artists. They also sought inspiration in the forest in Yunnan and effectively blended natural music with Reggae and other themes.

The Kawa band studied the musical soul of Yunnan traditional music (particularly the Wa people) and merged it with Western Reggae. I also found a video of the Kawa Band. 




Comments

  1. Sophie JohnstonDecember 11, 2021 at 9:45 AM

    Hi Yike, thank you so much for sharing the cross-cultural perspective on Chinese reggae and a little bit about what this culture is like in China, I found your post very interesting and insightful! In class we talked a lot about the relationship and distinction between dancehall music and reggae music as well as the interworking’s of a Jamaican dancehall session and the cultural experiences and difference between Jamaican dancehall and Jamaican reggae.

    What made me curious was that both your examples of Jiang and The Kawa band draw upon various music genera but are both included under the umbrella of Chinese reggae. In your examples, Jiang’s performance and music draws upon and includes dub music and is performed at Tomorrowland, a big electric dance music festival however, The Kawa band includes elements of folk and rock in their music and is performing in a much smaller and intimate concert venue. This makes me wonder if, like Jamaican reggae and dancehall, which in the Western world are also commonly grouped together under the genera of reggae, if the niche that is Chinese reggae is similarly composed of different, individual genera group together as one and how the cultural and sonic experiences of listening to these different artists and genera differ from one another.

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