Edward Seaga to Deliver UTech, Jamaica Distinguished Lecture on the Origins of Jamaican Music
The Most Honourable Edward Seaga, ON, PC
Chancellor
University of Technology, Jamaica
Former Prime Minister, Musicologist, Record Producer, Anthropologist and Chancellor, UTech, Jamaica, the Most Honourable Edward Seaga, ON, PC will deliver the UTech, Jamaica 60th Anniversary Distinguished Public Lecture on “The Origins and Development of Jamaican Music.” The lecture is scheduled for Thursday, September 27, 2018 at 5:00 pm at Lecture Theatre 50, Shared Facilities Building, UTech, Ja. Papine Campus.
Mr. Seaga’s Lecture is set within the context of his commemorative musical book-box set collection: “Reggae Golden Jubilee 50 Anniversary: Origins of Jamaican music” launched in 2012 to coincide with Jamaica’s 50th independence celebrations. In the 4-disc deluxe collection Mr. Seaga has hand-picked 100 of the most significant songs to emerge from Jamaica. It encapsulates every era over the last 50 years with double the hits from artists including Bob Marley and The Wailers, Jimmy Cliff, Peter Tosh, Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown, Marcia Griffiths, Yellowman, Beres Hammond, Lady Saw, Buju Banton, Shaggy, Sean Paul, Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, Mavado and more. To accompany the music, Seaga has written extensive liner notes and track-by-track notations in the box set’s 64-page booklet.
In his UTech, Jamaica Distinguished Lecture, Mr. Seaga will take the audience on a journey outlining the development of Jamaican music in the sequence of the emergence of its rhythms, looking at how the music changed from one style and sound to another.
The Distinguished Lecture is free of cost and is open to the public.
_________________
Profile
The Most Honourable Edward Philip George Seaga, O.N. P.C., former Prime Minister, 1980-89, Distinguished Fellow of the University of the West Indies, Chancellor, University of Technology, Jamaica was born on May 28, 1930, in Boston, U.S.A., to the late Philip George Seaga and Erna (nee Maxwell). He was educated at Wolmer’s Boys’ School in Jamaica and graduated from Harvard University in 1952 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in the Social Sciences. Mr. Seaga is a Fellow of the Institute of Jamaica. He is a former record company owner and producer. He was a major pioneering force in the birth and development of the Jamaican music industry, especially the ska movement in the 1960s which led to the explosive interest in reggae.
Mr. Seaga has led a long and distinguished political career and is internationally renowned for his monumental contribution to Jamaica’s political, economic, social and cultural development. He was educated at Wolmer’s Boys’ School in Jamaica and graduated from Harvard University in 1952 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in the Social Sciences.
As one of the founding fathers in the framing of the Jamaican Constitution in 1961, his political career began in 1959 when Sir Alexander Bustamante, founder of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) nominated him to serve in the Upper House of the Jamaican Parliament, the Legislative Council (later the Senate). His appointment at age 29 made him the youngest member ever appointed to the Legislative Council.
On January 20, 2005, Mr. Seaga retired from politics after serving three years in the Legislative Council (which became the Senate on Independence) and 43 years in the House of Representatives, a total of 45 years. This is the longest period of parliamentary service by anyone in the region.
The Most Hon. Edward Seaga is credited for founding, introducing or promoting the establishment of a number of important Jamaican institutions. Among them, The Jamaica Stock Exchange (1969); the Jamaica Unit Trust (1970); the Students’ Revolving Loan Fund for Higher Education (1970); the Jamaica Mortgage Bank (1972); the National Development Bank (1981); the Agricultural Credit Bank (1981); the Ex-Im Bank (1986); the Jamaica Promotion Limited (JAMPRO) in 1988; the Self-Start Fund (1984) and the Human Employment and Resources Training Programme (HEART) in 1983.
He is also credited with the creation of the Jamaica Festival and the establishment of the craft development company, “Things Jamaica”, among other cultural institutions.
He has authored several publications and received numerous honours and awards locally and internationally in recognition of his achievements. In 1981 he was appointed by Queen Elizabeth II as a member of Her Majesty’s Privy Council. In 2002 he was conferred with the Order of the Nation. In 2005 the University of the West Indies conferred him with the honorary title of Distinguished Fellow in the School for Graduate Studies and Research.
End.
Contact:
Michelle Beckford (Mrs.)
Corporate Communications Manager
University of Technology, Jamaica
Telephone: 970-5299
Email: mbeckford@utech.edu.jm
