Reggae music has a global cultural treasure. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has reggae to its list of cultural forms it worthy of protecting and promoting. UNESCO officially reggae as an "Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity". Reggae a music genre that in Jamaica in the early 1960s. Pioneers artists such as Toots and the Maytals, Peter Tosh and the legendary Bob Marley. The Jamaican government was with reggae's new status. Olivia Grange, Jamaica's culture minister, : "Reggae is uniquely Jamaican. It is a music that we have created that has all corners of the world."
UNESCO reggae as being, "an amalgam of numerous musical influences," Jamaican and Caribbean forms, neo-African styles, soul and rhythm and blues from North America, and Ska and Rock Steady. It the importance of the music, : "Reggae music was the voice of the . The music is now and by a wide cross-section of society, including various genders, ethnic and religious groups." It : "Reggae's contribution to international discourse on issues of injustice, resistance, love and humanity the dynamics of the [music] as ...cerebral, socio-political, sensual and spiritual."
