Marcia Forbes (right) speaks at the UWI, Mona, on Saturday, while Professor Claudette Williams (centre) and Dr Donna Hope Marquis, looking at an image of Vybz Kartel, sit at the presenters' table. - Mel Cooke

In a videotaped interview giving his reaction to Marcia Forbes' book 'Music, Media and Adolescent Sexuality in Jamaica', deejay Vybz Kartel has spoken frankly to his manipulation of public attention. The clip was shown on Saturday at the Social Sciences Lecture Theatre, University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus, during the symposium, 'The Social Impact of Jamaican Popular Music', presented by the Institute of Caribbean Studies.

Before stating that what he does is well thought-out, Kartel confidently prophesied, "me ago say it now pon this camera and even when people hear it them still going to be like sheep to the shepherd".

"Mek me tell yu suppen whe nuff people no understand. Everything Kartel do is well planned and concise and precise, from bleaching, everything," he said.

Kartel went on to say that when people react "little do they know they are just puppets on a string in my game", sticking out his hands and moving his fingers in the puppeteer's actions for emphasis.

Influence of Music

Forbes, who spoke to 'Influence of Music - It All Depends!' was one of four presenters at the symposium, which suffered a woefully low turnout. Dr Donna Hope Marquis, Professor Fredrick Hickling and Cordel Green also presented papers, with Robin 'Bongo Jerry' Small and Clyde McKenzie leading the post-presentation session.

Professor Claudette Williams hosted the event.

Beenie Man and Macka Diamond also gave their reactions to 'Music, Media and Adolescent Sexuality', the 'Girls Them Sugar' saying, "we are only talking about what is already there! We do not speak of things that do not happen in a go-go club or a movie. We get experience from life itself".

And Kartel observed that "is just the realness.

"Is the dark side of people that they want to bring out and dancehall bring it out."

Macka Diamond noted the impact of her 'Money O!' philosophy, saying that she will get people who claim that they do not love money to admit that they do, as they do work for money.

Beenie Man emphasised how important female fans are, as "woman is the one that keep the younger fans going! The most important part is to deejay for the females". Kartel claimed, "I would say 90 per cent of Kartel's fans are female. Is just what the women want to hear".

"Women want their dark side to be revealed," he said.

Hope Marquis' presentation was entitled 'Dancehall and Violence in Jamaica', while Hickling explored 'Madness as Social Defiance in African-Caribbean Youth: Evidence from the Dancehall'.

Green addressed 'Media, Music and Popular Culture'.