Medgar Evers & authors celebrate Marley, the poet

By JARED McCALLISTER
DAILY NEWS COLUMNIST

Posted Monday, March 26th 2007, 11:25 AM

He has long been admired for the power of his songs. Now, a Medgar Evers College symposium will examine the massive impact of Bob Marley, the poet.

The literary session, "Redemption Song - A Tribute to Bob Marley: Lyrical Poet," will be held Saturday at the college, 1650 Bedford Ave., from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Several authors who have written about Marley will discuss the cultural, political and spiritual elements of the late, great reggae star's music and his influence on other musicians. A panel discussion will be followed by a concert, featuring the Imani Dancers and reggae artists Taj Weekes and Adowa.

Kwame Dawes, author of "Bob Marley, Lyrical Genius" and the former lead singer of the reggae band Ujamaa, will deliver the keynote speech.

The panel, which will be moderated by author Colin Channer, will be made up of authors Christopher John Farley and Vivien Goldman, and Bob Marley confidante and memorabilia collector Dera Tompkins.

The event is being sponsored by the college's Center for Black Literature, the National Black Writers Conference, the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and the college's English Department, with support from the New York Council for the Humanities.

Admission is $10 per person and seating is limited. For information, call (718) 270-6976 or visit www.mec.cuny.edu/blacklitcenter.

UNESCO marks abolition anniversary

The UNESCO traveling exhibition "Lest We Forget - The Triumph Over Slavery," commemorating the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the trans-Atlantic slave trade, will run through Friday in the visitor's lobby of the United Nations, 46th St. and First Ave. in Manhattan, during regular business hours.

The exhibition is being presented by Caricom, the Permanent Mission of India to the UN, United Nations Department of Public Information, UNESCO and the New York Public Library's Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.

Also visit the Schomburg Center's online presentation of the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) traveling exhibition. Go to www.nypl.org/research/sc/sc.html and click on the "Lest We Forget - The Triumph Over Slavery" link.

Reggae legends in monthly series

The monthly Reggae Cabaret Music Series, a new and upscale standard in music presentation, debuts at Manhattan Center Studios in midtown March 29 at 8 p.m. with performances by music legends Toots and the Maytals.

Lover's rock reggae artist Ed Robinson also is on the bill. There also will be authentic Jamaican cuisine, catered by Gabrielle's restaurant.

Next month's edition of the novel music program, presented by TSO Productions in conjunction with Manhattan Center Studios, will feature reggae music's Marcia Griffiths and singer Richie Stephens on April 19. The series is designed to "expand the options for after-work networking and leisure by offering a monthly production of reggae entertainment in an elegant setting."

Manhattan Center Studios is at 311 W. 34th St. (near the corner of Eighth Ave.). General admission, VIP and celebrity VIP tickets, which include a meet-and-greet session with performers, are available through Ticketmaster.com and local outlets.

For information, call (212) 279-7740, visit www.mcstudios.com, or call TSO Productions at (718) 421-6927 and send e-mail to cabaret@tsoproductions.com.