The 43rd Annual Tribute to the Reggae Legends, formally known as Bob Marley Day. It was an honor to see some San Diego’s Roots and Culture connoisseurs come out to support the indigenous Reggae from Jamaica. The next day we found out that we lost “Peetah” Morgan, lead of Morgan Heritage, earlier in February “Family Man” Barrett of the Wailers also passed. This is why it’s so crucial that WorldBeat Center continues to bring these Roots artists. We’ll keep bringing these ancient artists. Don’t miss Sister Carol, Michael Palmer and more on Earth Day Saturday, April 21st.
THANK YOU to everyone that attended this year’s sold out event! We would also like to extend our gratitude to our vendors, volunteers, and staff that made this event possible
February 24th’s 2024 ROOTS LINEUP FEATURED
Johnny Clarke w/ The Soul Syndicate Band
The Wailing Souls
Triston Palmer
Prezident Brown
Reemah
Kush
Arkaingelle
Revival
Ras Indio
And Surprise Guest Josh Barrett
WorldBeat Cultural Center is excited to announce a new partnership with the San Diego Audubon. On February 23rd and February 25th we joined them for their annual bird festival where our Climate Action Fellows represented the WorldBeat Center as well as out outdoor programming including the Celebrate Urban Birds project. Great talk tonight at San Diego History Museum given by Christian Cooper to a sold-out room.
On February 24th Makeda took a run from the Reggae Legends fest to take part of the panel “Champions of the Birdverse” alongside Tammah Matts, Christian Cooper and Lisa Craddock for a special comics and birding panel and where she will debut WorldBeat Center's latest noise pollution animation!
It was great to see Anthony Browder after so many years. He’s an expert on African history and culture. We only have a few of these Black knowledge keepers and walking libraries so we must cherish them. Read their books and know that it’s rare to see them on the West Coast with the exception of our own West Coast historian hero, Runoko Rashidi. Runoko keep busy with the ancestors. Asé
The documentary is on the life of Dr. Runoko Rashidi our great and beloved elder scholar who traveled the globe searching for the African presence throughout the known world. Runoko Rashidi is an anthropologist and historian with a major focus on what he calls the Global African Presence–that is, Africans outside of Africa before and after enslavement. He is the author or editor of twenty-two books, the most recent of which are My Global Journeys in Search of the African Presence, Assata-Garvey and Me: A Global African Journey for Children in 2017 and The Black Image in Antiquity in 2019.
Anthony T. Browder is an author, publisher, cultural historian, artist, and an educational consultant. To learn more about his works check out his website.
WorldBeat Cultural Center is thrilled to have participated in the premiere of the highly anticipated Paramount film, "Bob Marley: One Love," a tribute to the legendary King of Reggae, Bob Marley. This cinematic masterpiece is a celebration of Marley's enduring legacy, capturing the essence of his musical journey. We are excited to have been invited to the exclusive San Diego premiere of "One Love" on February 12th.
For over four decades, WorldBeat Productions has curated the annual Bob Marley Day/ Tribute to The Reggae Legends event, showcasing the richness of reggae culture. Bob Marley is a Legend and this film gives you a glimpse into his life.
The movie opened in theaters on February 14th and that evening we welcomed Josh David Barrett, a Grammy-nominated bassist and songwriter, whose musical journey intersects with reggae royalty. Josh is incredibly talented and he did justice in his tribute to Bob Marley’s music legacy alongside the Dub-Tonic band.
Big up to the creator of Black Comix Day, Keith Jones for another successful event. The room was full of talented artists, writers, distributors and publishers from across the country. So much creativity, there was something for everyone. The sun was shining on both days and it was beautiful to see the families, fans and cosplay throughout the weekend. If you haven’t attended, make sure you attend February 2025.
Why Black Comix Day? Because sometimes you have to make your own doors and walk through them. But also leave the door open for others to follow.
-Keithan Jones, Founder of KID Comix and Black Com!x Day
This February we also hosted a number of Black History Month outreaches at local schools as well as private events such as a African Drum and Dance workshop for iRhythm!
At the end of the workshop iRhythm surprised us with a donation of $5,000 to support our operations and maintenance after the costs of the flood. We are so grateful!
For the month of February our fellows prepared and engaged in community outreach. They led a compost workshop where they shared their learnings on composting methods including vermicompost, hot compost and Tumblr composting. Also in attendance was the City of San Diego Environmental Services to share resources and answer questions regarding it's new Organic Waster Recycling Program. Make sure you come say hello on Earth Day; we are coordinating a fun interactive learning station for children and families!
Environmental justice means people have the right to clean air, clean water, and a healthy environment. Some environmental justice issues can best be solved with economic supports, environmental protection laws with oversight and enforcement, visibility through all forms of media, active democracy and civic engagement — people need to vote!
We create environmental justice in our neighborhoods in all these ways and more. At the local level, WorldBeat Cultural Center teaches people how to grow, cook, and eat delicious nutritious food. Like WorldBeat’s Healing Garden, all gardens can be an oasis. Now, WorldBeat is expanding our native plant garden, with Kumeyaay ethnobotany and habitat restoration for urban birds and other wildlife.
Edible gardens and native habitat cool local environments and create healthy places for mind, body, and soul. Stay tuned for native planting parties during March 2024 before the end of the current rainy season, then fall 2024 as the next rainy season begins — that’s the best time to plant SoCal natives.
Using ancient regenerative technologies and informed by today’s knowledge systems, we can work with nature to nurture healthy habitats for people and the more than human world — on land, in the rivers and the ocean.
-Nan Renner
The Park would like to hear from you. Currently Parks and Rec has a criteria for capital improvements under review and we need public input to actualize the way capital improvement projects are prioritized.
