Concert outa street an lane an park
Wid big-time acks performin’,
An we dance outa street
From night till soon o’ mornin’.
Fe de whole long mont’ o’ Augus’
Independence was in prime;
Everyting was Independence ting
Round’ Independence time.
Independence pen an pencil,
Cup an saucer, glass an tray;
Down to Independence baby bawn
‘Pon Independence Day.
The above is an excerpt from Louise Bennett’s poem, Dignity. It captures the essence of what festival in Jamaica is about – the vivacity and fanfare. It’s that time of year again – the period when we bask in the pride of everything that makes us Jamaican. Independence and Emancipation celebrations are surrounded by a number of cultural activities at the latter part of the season, where Summer is boiling down, but the festivities are abuzz.
The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) is responsible for keeping alive aspects of our very rich heritage: from culinary delights, folk forms, dances, religious practices, treasured sites and memoirs of our ancestry. Some competitions in dance, pageantry, music etc. are staples to garner the participation of our people. In this modernized world of technology, media and North American influences it is extremely difficult to get youths particularly interested in the lifestyle of the past.
But, according to the Minister of Youth and Culture, Lisa Hanna, “Today, the programmes offer unlimited access to creative development and exposure through our early childhood education programmes, all the way up to high school. It is the vehicle through which many Jamaicans have been propelled to global recognition in music, dance, theatre, art, and culinary forms.”
Thanks to the very creative and dedicated JCDC team, they manage to rally the support of our nation year after year. Let’s see what this year has in store for the nation in showcasing, building and promoting Brand Jamaica to the world.
Being a Christian nation, the celebrations kick off in the right way by invoking God’s blessings at a National Independence church service on Sunday, July 27. This precedes a number of activities for both kids and adults. Some of the most anticipated are: The Festival Queen Competition (July 19), which is through pageantry the selection of the best cultural ambassador. Parish Queens compete in talent, beauty, intelligence and most importantly, cultural awareness. The Gospel song competition (Sunday July 27) is a big thing for Jamaicans. It features 10 finalists who tour the island and produce videos, solicit votes from Jamaicans and are judged by reputable industry professionals.
This is similar to the Festival Song Competition (Saturday July 26), but over the years, the winning song acts as a refrain for the entire festival period. It is played at every event and at every corner in the island. Over the years we have come to appreciate many songs that got acclaim through this competition.
Do you remember Land Of My Birth or Cherry Oh Baby by Eric Donaldson or Fi Wi Island a Boom by Stanley Beckford? These were born out of the Festival Song Competition and still find relevance in today’s festival celebrations. These spark a sense of pride and excitement whenever they are played in a setting where many are gathered.
The Emancipendence festivities sound off with the Emancipation Jubilee, which is an all-night explosion of culture. Seville Heritage Park is transformed into a plantation and they relive the memories of African celebration in the most authentic style. Then towns and churches all participate in their own local activities with: Emancipation Vigils and the Celebration of Drums. Anyone who remembers the cultural icon, Ms. Louise Bennet Coverly (Miss Lou) would hear her speak about Mello Go Roun (Friday, August 1) which is a stellar showcase of performing arts, this feeds in from the junior JCDC competitions. The National Family Day is also integral in emphasizing the importance of family to our culture and connecting people to their roots. One of the most anticipated competitions is the International Dance Championships (Monday August 4), that showcase dance entries from across the world – this reflects our motto: Out of Many, One people!
For 2014, there are a few new additions to incorporate the various talents in our society. These are: the Auntie Roachie Festival – Film, Television and Literature (Tuesday August 5) and the Dutchie Culinary Festival (Sunday August 3), which showcases our talented chefs infusing traditional taste with new creation. Events that may give kids a bit of history and of course enjoyment are the “In Retrospect: 40 Years of the National Gallery of Jamaica (Sunday July 27 at the National Gallery of Jamaica), which has exhibitions of Jamaican history and also Grand Gala (Wednesday, August 6), where everyone looks forward to the costumes, mass
choreographed dances etc.
So grab your vuvuzela and keep tuning in to all the major media houses for information regarding JCDC celebrations this year. You may also visit their website (www.jcdc.gov.jm)or the Ministry’s website www.myc.gov.jm for more details. Festival time again, run go tell yuh fren!
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Concert outa street an lane an park
Wid big-time acks performin’,
An we dance outa street
From night till soon o’ mornin’.
Fe de whole long mont’ o’ Augus’
Independence was in prime;
Everyting was Independence ting
Round’ Independence time.
Independence pen an pencil,
Cup an saucer, glass an tray;
Down to Independence baby bawn
‘Pon Independence Day.
The above is an excerpt from Louise Bennett’s poem, Dignity. It captures the essence of what festival in Jamaica is about – the vivacity and fanfare. It’s that time of year again – the period when we bask in the pride of everything that makes us Jamaican. Independence and Emancipation celebrations are surrounded by a number of cultural activities at the latter part of the season, where Summer is boiling down, but the festivities are abuzz.
The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) is responsible for keeping alive aspects of our very rich heritage: from culinary delights, folk forms, dances, religious practices, treasured sites and memoirs of our ancestry. Some competitions in dance, pageantry, music etc. are staples to garner the participation of our people. In this modernized world of technology, media and North American influences it is extremely difficult to get youths particularly interested in the lifestyle of the past.
But, according to the Minister of Youth and Culture, Lisa Hanna, “Today, the programmes offer unlimited access to creative development and exposure through our early childhood education programmes, all the way up to high school. It is the vehicle through which many Jamaicans have been propelled to global recognition in music, dance, theatre, art, and culinary forms.”
Thanks to the very creative and dedicated JCDC team, they manage to rally the support of our nation year after year. Let’s see what this year has in store for the nation in showcasing, building and promoting Brand Jamaica to the world.
Being a Christian nation, the celebrations kick off in the right way by invoking God’s blessings at a National Independence church service on Sunday, July 27. This precedes a number of activities for both kids and adults. Some of the most anticipated are: The Festival Queen Competition (July 19), which is through pageantry the selection of the best cultural ambassador. Parish Queens compete in talent, beauty, intelligence and most importantly, cultural awareness. The Gospel song competition (Sunday July 27) is a big thing for Jamaicans. It features 10 finalists who tour the island and produce videos, solicit votes from Jamaicans and are judged by reputable industry professionals.
This is similar to the Festival Song Competition (Saturday July 26), but over the years, the winning song acts as a refrain for the entire festival period. It is played at every event and at every corner in the island. Over the years we have come to appreciate many songs that got acclaim through this competition.
Do you remember Land Of My Birth or Cherry Oh Baby by Eric Donaldson or Fi Wi Island a Boom by Stanley Beckford? These were born out of the Festival Song Competition and still find relevance in today’s festival celebrations. These spark a sense of pride and excitement whenever they are played in a setting where many are gathered.
The Emancipendence festivities sound off with the Emancipation Jubilee, which is an all-night explosion of culture. Seville Heritage Park is transformed into a plantation and they relive the memories of African celebration in the most authentic style. Then towns and churches all participate in their own local activities with: Emancipation Vigils and the Celebration of Drums. Anyone who remembers the cultural icon, Ms. Louise Bennet Coverly (Miss Lou) would hear her speak about Mello Go Roun (Friday, August 1) which is a stellar showcase of performing arts, this feeds in from the junior JCDC competitions. The National Family Day is also integral in emphasizing the importance of family to our culture and connecting people to their roots. One of the most anticipated competitions is the International Dance Championships (Monday August 4), that showcase dance entries from across the world – this reflects our motto: Out of Many, One people!
For 2014, there are a few new additions to incorporate the various talents in our society. These are: the Auntie Roachie Festival – Film, Television and Literature (Tuesday August 5) and the Dutchie Culinary Festival (Sunday August 3), which showcases our talented chefs infusing traditional taste with new creation. Events that may give kids a bit of history and of course enjoyment are the “In Retrospect: 40 Years of the National Gallery of Jamaica (Sunday July 27 at the National Gallery of Jamaica), which has exhibitions of Jamaican history and also Grand Gala (Wednesday, August 6), where everyone looks forward to the costumes, mass
choreographed dances etc.
So grab your vuvuzela and keep tuning in to all the major media houses for information regarding JCDC celebrations this year. You may also visit their website (www.jcdc.gov.jm)or the Ministry’s website www.myc.gov.jm for more details. Festival time again, run go tell yuh fren!
Share this post: