As Inna Di Dancehall, the publication which explored dancehall music and its cultural, psychological and financial influence on society, marked 20 years, Dr Donna Hope hosted a special anniversary celebration at The University of the West Indies’ Neville Hall Lecture Theatre.

The event brought together members of academia, dancehall artistes, music industry icons and key players in the book industry to commemorate Hope’s first book, which went on to become both an academic and cultural success.

In speaking to The Gleaner, Hope shared that her love for sharing knowledge led to the creation of her first book. “To have your first book still trending after being released 20 years ago is big for me. The actual date of the launch in 2006 was April 6. So, when I saw the date coming up, I decided to do an event because a book that is an academic work that is 20 years old and still selling, still popular, and is a bestseller in many ways, is a major milestone,” said Hope, adding that while the local public isn’t generally known for book buying, Inna Di Dancehall has seen consistent sales.