The Department of Literatures in English (LIE) and the Institute of Caribbean Studies (ICS) at The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, in association with Patricia Chin, co-founder of VP Records, hosted a staged conversation with Professor Emerita Carolyn Cooper on September 14 about her book on Jamaican dancehall culture. Film producer Maxine Walters and fine artist Mathew McCarthy designed the dancehall décor. Walters’ collection of dancehall posters, along with colourfully painted loudspeaker boxes, set the stage for the event.
Master of ceremonies Dennis Howard, lecturer in the ICS, paid tribute to Professor Cooper, who had encouraged him to read for a master’s degree in entertainment management. Veteran dancehall producer and engineer Lloyd ‘King Jammy’ James, who played music crafted in his Waterhouse studio, spoke about Cooper’s stellar work. Joshua Higgins, whose painting of a dancehall scene is featured on the book cover, paid tribute to the author.
UNAPOLOGETIC DEFENCE OF DANCEHALL The conversation was led by Lisa Tomlinson, head of LIE, and Dave Gosse, director of the ICS. In response to questions, Cooper bristled with defiance and unapologetic defence of dancehall culture, which characterised her tenure at the University. She initiated the establishment of the Reggae Studies Unit, and as director of the ICS, convened the inaugural Global Reggae Conference.
Cooper paid respects to Garth White, who had died recently, for his pioneering work on Jam.