New date set for Peter Tosh Symposium
Published:Tuesday | November 18, 2025 | 12:08 AM
The annual Peter Tosh Symposium, which was postponed owing to the passing of Hurricane Melissa, will now take place on November 26. Staged by the Department of Sociology, Psychology and Social Work and the Institute of Caribbean Studies at UWI, Mona Campus, this year’s symposium in titled ‘Examining Peter Tosh, Revolutionary Reggae Icon, through the Lens of the Radical Tradition of Malcolm-X’. The venue is the Multi-Functional Room, near the Main Library, UWI Mona Campus.
The central theme of this year’s symposium is based on the postulation that Peter Tosh, through his vast body of revolutionary, activist-oriented reggae songs, can be linked to the radical activist tradition of Malcolm-X of the 1960s. With songs such as Get Up Stand Up for your Rights, which he co-wrote with Bob Marley, as well as Equal Rights and Justice, Apartheid, Dem Haffi Get a Beatin, and 400 Years, as well as his fiery speech at the 1978 One Love Concert, the militancy and ardent advocacy of Peter Tosh is very much evident.
Giving the keynote address will be Clyde McKenzie and he will be joined by Dr. Dennis Howard, to give a complementary presentation and Dr, Michael Barnett as the first leg participant and the anchor. To round out the programme there will be musical performances from cultural artiste Asante-Amen and up and coming young Reggae singer, Karbon.
McKenzie was the founding general manager of Irie FM, and is the current director of Magnificent Ideas Limited, Magnificent Gaming Solutions, Caribbean Global Network and Downsound Book Publishing Ltd. Dr. Dennis Howard is a former entertainment journalist, radio presenter, television producer, and record producer with more than 35 years’ experience in the creative industries. He has held several positions at various media houses in Jamaica. He is currently a Lecturer in the Institute of Caribbean studies. Dr. Michael Barnett is a senior Lecturer in the Department of Sociology, Psychology and Social Work, at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus. He has written various book chapters and Journal articles on Rastafari and Reggae.
The organisers in a press release also mentioned the work of the Peter Tosh Foundation and its hurricane relief mission to support his hometown of Bluefields, (Belmont) Westmoreland, and the surrounding community. The foundation is currently headed up by Peter Tosh’s youngest daughter, Niambe Tosh.
“All donations sent through the Peter Tosh Foundation will go directly to trusted local organizations and community leaders in Bluefields, (Belmont) who are actively purchasing and distributing food, clean water, and essential supplies to families, elders, and vulnerable residents affected by Hurricane Melissa,” the press release stated.
Dr Barnett is the conceptualiser for this year’s offering of the Peter Tosh Symposium and has been intimately involved in the programming of the event at the UWI Mona Campus since 2010.
Reggae musician, singer, and songwriter, Winston ‘Peter Tosh’ McIntosh, was born on October 19, 1944. A founding member of the Wailers, along with Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer, he left the group in 1974, and pursued a successful solo career. Peter Tosh was known for his militant activism, revolutionary spirit, and politically charged albums like Legalize It and Equal Rights. He was murdered on September 11, 1987 during a robbery at his home in St Andrew.