Honey Jam was developed after creator Ebonnie Rowe oversaw a 3 hour radio programme on Canada’s largest Hip Hop radio show in 1994 to discuss how women were portrayed negatively in Hip Hop lyrics and videos.

The musical movement, with its Canadian start, continues now in Barbados as a platform for young women to gain exposure, education, mentoring and networking opportunities in the music industry and arts community. Along with both workshop and showcase, they also promote women’s charities and offer chances to female entrepreneurs.

The show was transferred to Barbados three years ago at Pablo Donte’s in Maxwell. Called “A Taste of Honey Jam”, it featured nothing but young Barbadian female artistes, one performance each in a variety of genres – country, opera, folk, alternative, R&B, hip hop, rock, reggae, spoken word, jazz, gospel – a cultural potpourri.

Then two years ago, apart from the original Honey Jam initiative, Ebonnie Rowe produced Honey Jam @ the Hall, an alumni show at Frank Collymore Hall and a jazz themed event called Honey Jazz. They’ve also begun a relationship with the YWCA to promote Honey Jam as a vehicle for both women and girls.