Social Anthro-SKA-logy:

In 1960s Jamaica, the 1st wave of ska arose from the island's folk music known as Mento, going on to create a dance craze on the island that progressed into Rocksteady and Reggae. In the 1970s the 2nd wave was defined by UK punk-adjacent 2 Tone.

This was a melding of musical styles of the working class white youth and the styles and traditions of the carribbean immigrants to the UK in the 60s and 70s. They were staunchly anti-racist, and often put politics front and center in their lyrics.

While there's no defined "wave" for what came out in the 1980s, the output of bands like the Toasters and Fishbone should not be discounted in bridging us to the 3rd Wave which blossomed in the 1990s suburban America.

The 3rd Wave probably was the widest popular reach the genre had, and along with such a wide popularity meant there was a lot of garbage bullshit that has come to define the entire genre since then. Most people associate ska with bands with goofy names and jokey songs.

Ska-lars debate on whether a 4th Wave is coming, or has even already passed us by, but those who are closest to the data and the science understand that wave is happening right now, led by @Skatunenetwork.

Proof of this can be found in Skatune Network's cover of Smash Mouth's "All Star" released on April 23, 2020, which... actually... fuckin SLAPS.