KARTEL STILL HAS STRONG IMPACT ON DANCEHALL MUSIC—04/04/15
Despite serving a life sentence in prison on a murder charge, Vybz Kartel remains a force to be reckoned with in the dancehall world. He will not be eligible for parole until he has served 35 years, but he has filed an appeal in the case. His music continues to be popular, and he has just released an 11-track set that debuted in third place on Billboard’s reggae album chart.

RAS TAKURA USING INTERNET TO PROMOTE, DISTRIBUTE HIS MUSIC—04/05/15
The debut album of the Jamaican poet Ras Takua was released in March 2015 during a visit to the United States. Releasing an album in this way reduces costs and allows artistes to connect directly with an audience. He also uses the internet to arrange performances and readings outside of Jamaica.

JAMAICAN PHOTOGRAPHER HOLES EXHIBIT OF CHILDREN—04/06/15
Adrian McDonald, a Jamaican photographer, began taking photos of his neighbors’ children. Their unself-conscious behavior inspired him to focus on children as subjects for his photos. He says his is struck by how oblivious the children seemed to his activity. The initial photographs led McDonald to begin a series of similar photos of children playing tag, swinging from the trees and in habiting their own world.

OBAMA VISITS BOB MARLEY MUSEUM—04/09/15
Barack Obama, the President of the United States, toured the Bob Marley Museum during his visit to Jamaica. The museum visit was not formally scheduled, and reporters were barred from covering his visit. Obama said he still had the Marley albums he enjoyed in his youth.