The University of the West Indies, Mona hosts the International Reggae Conference under the theme, “International Reggae: Current and Future Trends in Popular Music”. The Conference takes place February 17-20, 2010.

The Conference begins with an official Opening Ceremony on Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 6:30 pm at the Ruins, UWI, Mona. The guest speaker will be Minister of Culture and Youth, Honourable Olivia “Babsy” Grange. The event continues on February 18-20 at 8:30 am daily featuring panel presentations and special plenary sessions. Topics being explored during the Conference include: Economic Exploitation: Copyright, Marketing and Sponsorship, Media and the Culture of Reggae, Reggae Subcultures Transforming Society and Sexual Politics in Dancehall. Special plenary sessions will be delivered during the Conference on February 18 at 3 pm by Professor Carolyn Cooper, Professor of Literary Studies, UWI, Mona and February 19 at 1:30 pm by Honourable Edward Seaga, Distinguished Fellow, UWI, Mona. Additionally there will be a special session dubbed “Music in the Community” in August Town on February 19 at 4:30 pm. This will be followed by a Reggae/Dancehall Fashion Show and Reggae Concert at 8 pm in the Faculty of Humanities and Education Courtyard.

The International Reggae Conference provides an opportunity for artistes, musicians, scholars, cultural practitioners, entrepreneurs and music lovers from around the world to share their perspectives on the ways in which reggae and dancehall have been appropriated and adapted in a variety of cultural contexts.  Over the three days of the conference there will be a variety of speakers from the music industry as well as from academia locally, regionally and internationally.

The conference and associated events will consolidate and disseminate knowledge on the current and future trends of Jamaican music culture as it continues its international movement across different geographical and cultural sites.