'Women in Reggae', the three year-old seminar, showcases both the experiences of women in the Reggae industry as well as their talents. Friday's panel featured lawyer Diane Jobson, Shirley McClean, Italee and Pam Hall, who gave the keynote address. The evening also featured performances by some members of the panel along with LMJ and Natalie Fresh.

While Jobson focused on the message of Rastafari in Bob Marley's music (hardly making mention of herself), Hall and McClean spoke of their positive experiences in the music industry.

Italee was last of the presenters to address the audience and followed up with a quick performance. Originally known as a Reggae artiste, in large part through her duet with Shaggy, Italee explained how she moved from Reggae to Rock.

"I was mad sick, and mi head neva good, so I became Rude,' she explained to the amused audience. She noted that after deciding to move away from the Rude persona, she started using her given name and exploring poetry.

After a brief sojourn in New York, which resulted in her meeting several persons in the music industry, whose names were strewn all over the lecture hall floor, she returned a rocker.

In a voice reminiscent of a raspier Melissa Etheridge, and backed by Rudy Valentino on acoustic guitar, Italee performed three songs You're Just One in Five Billion, Babylon Goin Burn Tonight and Here's To Us, which were well received by the audience.

LMJ brought a very different pace when they performed a rousing version of En Vogue signature piece Don't Let Go (Love) which had the audience whooping along. It earned the trio an encore.

Jackie Penn and Natalie Fresh were two other young acts who performed. Shirley McClean also delivered her latest recording, a cover of Wayne Armond's Fret Not Thyself.

Pam Hall then brought the evening to a close with words that spoke to the evening's proceedings as she sang:

Easy to be a lover

Easy to be a wife

Hard to be a woman

Yet I must to survive.