Reggae Britannia: The Birth of UK Reggae Part 1
The Story of Reggae’s Journey from Kingston to London
In 2011, BBC Four aired a powerful documentary called Reggae Britannia, exploring how Jamaican music took root and flourished in Britain.
Part 1 focuses on the early years — a time when ska, rocksteady, and reggae weren't just sounds from across the ocean but began to define a new British cultural identity.
From Jamaica to Britain: A New Sound Arrives
After World War II, a wave of Caribbean immigrants—famously known as the Windrush Generation—began arriving in Britain. They didn’t just bring their hopes for a better life; they brought a rich musical tradition: ska, rocksteady, and the seeds of reggae.
At a time when racism and economic hardship made daily life tough, music became a lifeline. Reggae offered a sense of belonging, pride, and resistance, creating a foundation for what would become a uniquely British reggae scene.
Sound Systems: The Beating Heart of Early UK Reggae
One of the first signs that reggae was here to stay came through the booming sound systems. Large mobile speaker setups turned empty halls and community centers into vibrant hubs of Caribbean life. These dances weren't just parties — they were community meetings, cultural celebrations, and acts of resilience.
Imagine a Friday night in late 1960s London: The scent of jerk chicken in the air, the deep throb of bass, and a gathering of faces from every walk of life moving together in rhythm. This was the real beginning of reggae's British story.
Early Stars and Labels that Shaped the Sound
The first British audiences to hear reggae heard it through imported records—and soon, UK-based artists and labels started to emerge.
Key Artists:
The Cimarons — among the first reggae bands formed in Britain.
Desmond Dekker — whose 1969 hit "Israelites" topped the UK charts.
Millie Small — her ska classic "My Boy Lollipop" helped open doors for Jamaican music.
Jimmy Cliff — already making waves internationally.
Key Labels:
Trojan Records — founded in 1968, crucial in bringing Jamaican artists to a wider British audience.
Pama Records — another early player pressing and distributing reggae records across the UK.
These artists and labels laid the tracks—literally and figuratively—for reggae’s future explosion into the British mainstream.
Roots, Lovers, and Resistance
Though still in its early days, reggae’s branches were already starting to spread:
Roots reggae carried powerful messages of spirituality, resistance, and Black liberation.
Lovers rock, a sweeter, romantic offshoot, would soon bloom, offering another side of reggae’s emotional spectrum.
Part 1 of the documentary hints at these evolving styles, setting the stage for how reggae would adapt to British life while staying true to its roots.
Why Reggae Mattered in Britain
Reggae became more than music.
It became a tool of survival, pride, and transformation for young Black Britons—and soon for white working-class youth too.
At a time when Britain was struggling to define its identity in a rapidly changing world, reggae was the sound of a new, multicultural nation being born.
It wasn't just about rhythm and basslines.
It was about belonging in a place that often told you that you didn't.
Final Thoughts: A Revolution in the Making
Reggae Britannia Part 1 captures the excitement, struggle, and beauty of reggae's early years in the UK.
It reminds us that behind every bassline was a story:
Of migration.
Of resilience.
Of building a new culture in a sometimes unwelcoming land.
A FEW EARLY REGGAE HITS IN TH UK
1. Desmond Dekker – "Israelites" (1968)
One of the first reggae songs to top the UK Singles Chart (#1 in 1969).
Opened the door for reggae music in Britain.
2. Jimmy Cliff – "You Can Get It If You Really Want" (1970)
Huge UK hit, became an anthem of hope.
From the soundtrack of The Harder They Come, which helped popularize reggae internationally.
3. Bob & Marcia – "Young, Gifted and Black" (1970)
Reached #5 on the UK charts.
Covered a Nina Simone song with a reggae twist, became an anthem for Black pride.
Man, as a graphic artist, I'm a bit in awe at how well done that lyric video for Israelites is!
Thanks as Lways Dubmatix. Don't know how you find the time for all this research!