Contents - Jamaica Cultural Development Commission

Contents
3
From the Desk of the Executive Director
5
Sean Harrison Named Top Creative Writer
6
‘Celebration Time’ Wins Festival Song Competition
8
Independence Village: Hub of the 2015 Festival Celebrations
10
Augus’ Mawnin Market: Curry Come Uptown!
11
Miss Manchester takes Home 2015 Festival Queen Crown
12
“God Is” Wins 2015 Jamaica Gospel Song Competition
13
Aunty Roachy Literary Festival Returns to Independence Village
14
Fashion Greets Music: Bandana Wid Denim, Ketch Di Fashion Riddim
17
Mello Go Roun’ Rocks Independence Celebration
18
Str8 Edge Classic Dancers Cops World Reggae Dance Champs
19
Grand Gala: Proud and Free, Jamaica 53!
22
Independence Celebrations: Highlights from Across the Island
23
Companies Awarded for Their ‘Spirit of Independence’
From the Desk of the
Executive Director
Proud and Free Jamaica 53!
As we look back at the 2015 staging of the
Jamaica Festival season, the Jamaica
Cultural Development Commission (JCDC)
cannot help but feel a swelling of pride.
Through our efforts the nation was brought
together to celebrate 53 proud years of
freedom with a weeklong celebration that
encompassed all areas of Jamaican
culture.
for an exciting slate of activities and events
for our year-long programme of cultural
activities, which seeks to preserve the best
of Jamaica’s culture, while unearthing,
developing and showcasing the talents of
the Jamaican people. It is our aim to
secure greater participation and interest in
these programmes.
I again encourage all Jamaicans and
friends of Jamaica to support our mandate
of Cultural Excellence as we preserve,
promote and showcase Jamaica’s rich
heritage and culture.
In this issue of our Quarterly E-Newsletter,
Kulcha Buzz it is our aim to take you back
on a journey through the highlights of the
Emancipation and Independence festival
celebrations, so we can relive these
noteworthy moments together, one more Sincerely,
Delroy A. Gordon, JP
time.
Executive Director
But as proud as we are of the 2015 festival
proceedings we continue to work tirelessly
to make sure the 2016 activities are even
grander. We are also presently preparing
From the Desk of the Executive Director
3
SEAN HARRISON Named
Top Creative Writer
The
Jamaica
C u l t u r a l
Development
Commission (JCDC)
Jamaica
Creative
Writing Competition
has been one of the
best channels of
providing writers with
the opportunity of
recognizing
and
v al id a ti n g
th e i r
talent,
while
showcasing
and
promoting
writers
and their original
work.
The pieces entered
each year are from
amateur
and
professional writers
who entered their
creative works in the
categories: Poetry,
Short Stories, Novels,
Essays and Plays. In
addition, this year
also
saw
the
introduction of two
themes
to
the
competition under
which persons could
write
and
win
special prizes: “Road
Safety Responsibility”
and “Trafficking in
Persons”.
The annual awards
ceremony held on
Tuesday, July 21 at
the Knutsford Court
Hotel awarded top
writers with cash
prizes, certificates of
merit, medals and
trophies.
Sean
Harrison was named
the
Best
Overall
Writer for the second
year in a row, while
2nd place was given
to Collette Robinson
who
was
also
named Outstanding
Writer.
The
third
place and Special
Writer Award was
copped by Lergon
Parris and 4th place
and Choice Writer
Award given to Leiso
E d w a r d s .
Noteworthy
writer,
Danielle Willie was
given 5th place.
Sean Harris Named Top Creative Writer 5
‘Celebration Time’ Wins
Festival Song Competition!
On Saturday, July 4 the ten
finalists in the 2015 Jamaica
Festival Song Competition
face-off for their song to be
selected as the musical
backdrop for this year’s
Emancipation
and
Independence
Festival
celebration. The bumpercrowd at the Ranny Williams
Entertainment Centre gave
testament
to
the
Celebration Time that was
had at Jamaica’s longest
running song competition.
Crowd-favourites went up
against each other, but in
the end it was Lee-Roy
'Ancient Priest' Johnson with
is song Celebration Time
who walked with the JCDC
trophy
and
a
bonus
sectional prize for Best
Performer.
Second-place
another crowd
Oniel 'Nazzleman' Scott for
the single Little But We
Tallawah, while third place
went to visually-impaired
Sherlette 'Princess' Black
who had also won the
audience over with her
song Sweet Festival Sound.
Inna
Jamdown
singer
went to Marsha Campbell won the
favourite,
6 ‘Celebration Time’ Wins Festival Song
Online Voters Award.
Ancient Priest is not new to
JCDC festival competitions
as he was also a finalist in
the 2010 and 2012 Jamaica
Gospel
Competitions,
walking away from those
competitions with prizes for
Best
Performance,
Best
Lyrics
and
Best
Arrangement.
Independence Village
Hub of the 2015 Festival Celebrations
The Ranny Williams
Entertainment Centre
was the heart of
national activities for
the 2015 Emancipation
and
Independence
Celebrations.
The
Centre
was
transformed into the
“Independence
Village” and carried
out on promises of an
exciting and thrilling
experience
for
Jamaicans and visitors
to the island. The
Village opened with
free admission from
Saturday, August 1 to
Thursday, August 6,
with
paid
nightly
entertainment.
The
Independence
Village featured daily
and nightly activities
for the entire family
including lunch hour
concerts, exhibitions,
panel discussions, food
court,
a
Kiddies
Village,
Rides
and
other Attractions.
There
were
also
promotional
booths
and displays by the
private and public
sector
companies
providing services.
A special of the Village
was the promenade of
pride, highlighting 53
proud moments in our
nation’s history.
See VILLAGE (PAGE 9)
8 Independence Village
Independence Village
Hub of the 2015 Festival Celebrations
VILLAGE cont’d
The
2015
Emancipation and
Independence
activities
were
celebrated
under
the theme “Proud
and Free! Jamaica
53”.
Jamaicans
were encouraged
to be creative with
their designs and
participate in the
Festival
Fashion:
“Bandana
wid
Denim, Ketch di
Fashion
Riddim.”
Persons were also
encouraged
to
wear the national
colours during the
festival season at
the Village and at
other activities and
events held across
the island.
Independence Village 9
Augus’ Mawnin’ Market
Curry Come Up Town!
The Emancipation and
Independence
celebrations kicked off
on Saturday, August 1
with
Augus
Mawnin’
Market
at
the
Independence Village,
which replicated the
popular
‘Sat’day’
shopping.
activities also included
specular exhibitions by
Institute
of
Jamaica,
National
Library
of
Jamaica and JDF with
Military
artifices
from
World war and the Miss
Jamaica Festival Queen
Grand
Coronation
providing
the
night’s
entertainment at 8:00
The
Village
was
p.m.
transformed
into
a
vibrant market place, Photos courtesy of Media
showcasing
the
rich Partner
offerings of Jamaica’s www.jamaicaobserver.c
farmers from 6:00 a.m. to om
5:00 p.m. The day’s
10 Augus’ Mawnin’ Market
Miss Manchester takes
Home 2015 Festival Queen Crown
Culturally Aware” and “Most
Active in the Community”,
bringing to life the 2015
Emancipation
and
Independence Celebrations
overarching theme, “Proud
and Free, Jamaica 53”.
and a cash award towards
a National Project courtesy
of Lasco Financial Services,
among other prizes.
First Runner up went to 21
year-old Issia Thelwell, Miss
St.
James,
while
Miss
R ic k e tts ,
w ho
is
an Kingston and St. Andrew, 24
Architectural Designer holds year-old Michelle Thomas
a Bachelor of Arts Degree in went home with third place.
Architectural Studies from Other Sectional prizes went
the Caribbean School of to Miss St. Mary, Lazan Zina
Architecture. Her special Frazer who took home Best
interests include Performing Performance,
Miss
St.
Chereese
Ricketts,
Miss
Arts, Physical Fitness and Catherine,
Kameika
Manchester, outshone her 12 Mental Health.
Coleman received Most
fellow contestants to take
home the coveted Miss In addition to the crown, Poised and Miss Hanover,
Jamaica Festival Queen Ricketts also received a Kimberly Morant received
crown
at
the
Grand Cash Award, three days / most congenial. Sectional
Coronation at the Ranny two nights stay at Sandals prize winners received a
International,
a cash prize and a trophy from
Williams
Entertainment Resorts
Centre on Saturday, August weekend for two at The the sponsors.
1. The bright-eyed 25 year- Hilton Rosehall Resort & Spa,
32”
LED
Television,
old also took home two a
sectional
prizes:
“Most courtesy of Singer Jamaica
Miss Jamaica Festival Queen 11
‘God Is’ Wins Jamaica
Gospel Song Competition 2015
The
Ranny
Williams
Entertainment
Centre
came alive with praise on
Sunday, August 2, as the
top ten Jamaica Gospel
Song Competition finalists
offered up their all on
stage for a chance to win
the
prestigious
competition. But it was
songstress Diamara NeilWalker with her goosebump
inducing
single
“God Is” who took home
the coveted title as well as
the sectional prize for Best
Lyrics. In addition to going
home with the top trophy,
the sultry-voiced Walker
also takes home a cash
award and cell phone
courtesy of Digicel and a
recording
contract
courtesy
of
Caribbean
Gospel Buzz among other
prizes.
Second place and the Best
Performance
sectional
prize went to Minister
Treasure with “Praise Him”,
while
Unique
Harmony
came third with “Jubilee”.
Other
Sectional
Prize
winners were Brother Jeff –
12 ‘God Is’ Wins Jamaica Gospel Song
“Heavenly Race”, who
took home the Spirit of
Praise Award and the
Shepherd Brothers - “Jesus
Remember Me” who were
the
People’s
Choice
Awardee.
Other
finalists
were
Lashawn
Wilson
with
“Something More In Store”,
Yanique
Ducasse
with
“Give
Me
Strength”,
Petrena Ariana Whyte –
“Praise
Him
In
The
Morning”, Rebecca Bissoon
– “With You Lord”, and Fred
Robertson with “Freedom
Call”. The top ten songs
were recorded, mixed and
mastered
by
Almond
Productions Limited are
original entries and have
been
receiving
good
rotation by the media.
The guest performer for the
show
was
Gospel
powerhouse, Judith Gayle,
while
popular
gospel
artistes Michelle T. and
Nickette Morgan-Williams
and the 2014 Gospel Song
winner, Keneisha Smith also
performed.
Aunty Roachy Literary
Festival Returns to Independence Village
The Independence Village
saw the return of the Aunty
Roachy Festival this year
on Monday, August 3.
Joining the Independence
Village roster for
the
second time, this free
literary festival was even
better the second time
around. The Aunty Roachy
Festival featured prose
readings, an excerpt from
the internationally popular
play Samson and Di Liar
and a poetry reading
hosted
by
the
Poet
Laureate
of
Jamaica
amongst other activities.
featuring
panelists
Dr.
Dennis Howard, Kemesha
Kelly,
Miguel
‘Steppa’
Williams, Nickesha Lindsay
and Nadeen Spence.
The festival also featured
readings from the young
adult novels category,
headed
by
author
Gwyneth Harold as well as
a tribute to author Vic
Reid. Mention was also
made
to
the
150th
anniversary of 1865 Morant
Bay Rebellion by way of a
performance piece.
And keeping with the
Village’s family friendly
theme, younger patrons
were not left out as
children’s authors A-dZiko
Simba Gegele and Kellie
Magnus also read excerpts
from their books.
Patrons looking to quench
their literary thirst we able
to experience the Jamaica
Poetry Society’s Lyrical
Hotsteppers as well as an
excerpt from the play
“Samson and Di Liar”
featuring
actors
Tony The literary festival ended
with a poetry reading
Hendriks and Ricky Rowe.
hosted
by
the
Poet
Also on the day’s agenda Laureate
of
Jamaica,
was a “Link Up and Professor Mervyn Morris,
Labrish” discussion forum featuring two of Jamaica’s
under the theme “I Am most well-known storytellers called The Poet
Who I Am, But Who Am I?”,
Laureate Presents… Amina
moderated
by
Amina
Blackwood-Meeks
and
Blackwood-Meeks
and Joan Andrea Hutchinson.
Aunty Roachy Literary Festival 13
Fashion Greets Music
Bandana Wid Denim, Ketch Di Fashion Riddim
On Monday August 3, the
2015 festival season saw a
reintroduction of Festival
Fashions as Fashion Greets
Music, a spectacular show
where some of the island’s
top
designers
and
musicians were given a
chance to showcase their
talent. Patrons came out
to the Ranny Williams
Entertainment Centre in
droves
to
see
what
Jamaica’s
artists
and
artistes had to offer.
across Jamaica to be
creative with designs using
our
bandana
fabric
combined with denim.
Fashion Collections were
presented from Courtney
Washington,
Neahlis,
Shades of Africa, Andrea
Lindo, Minka, Mutamba,
Kokobeenz,
Moncrieffe,
Natoya
Doulatt,
Juliet
Richards, Mark Anthony,
Earl ‘Biggy’ Turner, Shelly
Ann Hill For Raymond Hill
Clothing, Uzuri and M&M
This
year’s
theme Hat Makers for Cinderella
‘BANDANA WID DENIM – Hats.
KETCH DI FASHION RIDDIM’ See FASHION (page 15)
allowed
designers,
seamstresses and tailors
14 Fashion Greets Music
Fashion Greets Music
Bandana Wid Denim, Ketch Di Fashion Riddim
FASHION cont’d.
and Tajiri Wright
Models included the
Miss
Universe
Jamaica
2015
finalists along with
male models Andre
Watson,
Llamouy
Gillespie,
Chase
Smith,
Navardo
Thaxter & Ricardo
Barrett and junior
models
Byanca
Davis,
Jana
Thompson, Trisanne
Williams,
Jada
Banton, Imani Wright
The Musical Segment
of the Show featured
Ewan Simpson and
the Band In2Nation
with special guest
performers
ONE
THIRD. Patrons were
given a musical treat
as they were taken
down memory lane
with
popular
Jamaican
music
ranging from Mento
to Dancehall, and
featuring
Festival
Song favourites.
Fashion Greets Music 15
Mello Go Roun’
Rocks Independence Celebration
Mello Go Roun’, the
Jamaica
Festival
showcase of the
most
entertaining
and award-winning
talent pieces from
the
JCDC
Performing
Arts
Competition
rocked the Ranny
Williams
Entertainment
Centre stage on
Tuesday August 4.
The 2015 Jamaica
Festival’s
premier
family
event
displayed
talents
across
all
the
performing
arts
categories: speech,
music,
dance,
drama
and
traditional
folk
forms.
Mello Go Roun’
2015
brought
through
on
its
annual promise to
provide an evening
of quality, family
friendly
entertainment,
confirmed by the
constant cheers of
the
packed
audience.
Mello Go Roun’ 17
Str8 Edge Classic Dancers
Cops World Reggae Dance Championship
Sixteen
finalists
faced-off at the
World
Reggae
Dance
Championship
at
the Ranny Williams
Entertainment
Centre
on
Wednesday August
5, but it was four
time entrant Str8
Edge
Classic
Dancers who took
home
the
2015
championship title
and sectional prize
for Best Costumed
Group. The show,
which started at
8:00 p.m. with a
sound
clash,
showcased 15 local
dance groups and
the dance group
“Ducati
Ducazzz”
hailing all the way
from Japan.
Problem
Squad
Dancers,
Hectic
Untouchable, and
Jack Hammer Girls.
Second and third
place
in
the
championship went
to
the
groups
Dominant
Nation
and
D’Koloni
Dancers
respectively. While
the other 12 local
team finalists were:
Mad Vybes, Dustville
Dancers,
Extreme
Pushers,
Dynamix
Team,
Equanoxx
Shankaz,
High
Voltage,
DOJ
Dancers
of
Jamaica, Jose Marti
Dance Troupe, Out
Shine
Dancers,
In addition to the
dance
groups
blazing the stage,
dancehall
artistes
Beenie Man and
Cecile also provide
entertainment
for
the evening’s show.
18 World Reggae Dance Championship
GRAND GALA
Proud and Free, Jamaica 53!
Proud and Free Jamaica 53
was the theme under which
this
year’s
Grand
Gala
celebrations
were
celebrated; and Jamaicans
came out to the National
Stadium from far and wide on
August 6 to show how proud
and free the 53 really was!
Champions Str8 Edge Classic
Dancers and the 2015 Festival
Song Winner, Ancient Priest.
The National Stadium was
packed with patrons in black
green
and
gold
and
bandana and denim, ready
and waiting to take in the
Grand
show
that
the
Jamaica
Cultural
Development
Commission
had
put
on.
The
Independence
Day
celebration highlighted the
best of Jamaica’s culture in
dance
and
song
and
included the winners of the
various
2015
festival
competitions such as the 2015
World
Reggae
Dance
The Government of Jamaica
also took the opportunity to
recognize veteran group Fab
5 for its contribution to music
over the decades. Prime
Minister, the Most Hon. Portia
Simpson Miller and Minister of
Youth and Culture, the Hon.
Lisa Hanna presented a
special award to Andrew
Campbell, son of band frontman Frankie Campbell.
The evening’s highlighted
acts also included crowd
pleasers like Eric Donaldson,
Roy Rayon, Lovindeer, Kevin
Downswell, Noddy Virtue, Fab
5 and I-Octane.
Fab 5 later closed out the
evening to a backdrop of a
brilliant
display
of
Independence
Day fireworks.
Grand Gala 19
GRAND GALA HIGHLIGHTS
20 Grand Gala
GRAND GALA HIGHLIGHTS
Grand Gala 21
Independence Celebrations
HIGHLIGHTS FROM ACROSS THE ISLAND
22 Island-wide Celebrations
Companies Awarded
for their “Spirit of Independence”
In keeping with the 2015
Jamaica Festival theme
“Proud
and
Free:
Jamaica
53”
local
businesses, parish councils
and government offices
were
encouraged
to
display their true “Spirit of
Independence”
by
decorating their offices in
a
window
dressing
competition.
Media
houses
were
also
encouraged to show their
true
“Spirit
of
Independence”
by
promoting
the
Emancipation
and
Independence
celebration through daily
mentions, features and
news stories.
recognize
the
participants.
The St. Catherine Parish
Council received the Spirit
of Independence award
for Best Decorated Town
Square, on behalf of the
parish of St. Catherine,
while Monarch Pharmacy,
Liguanea
Branch
received the award for
Best Window Dressing and
the Transport Authority
received the award for
Best Decorated Business/
Office.
The media houses which
took home a Spirit of
Independence
award
were:
The
Jamaica
Observer for print media,
CVM
Television
for
An award presentation television, RJR 94 FM for
was held on Wednesday, radio and STUSH for online
September
16,
to and social media.
Spirit of Independence Awards 24
Head Office
3-5 Phoenix Avenue, Kingston 10
Jamaica, West Indies
Tel: (876) 926-5726-9
Fax: (876) 960-4521
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.jcdc.gov.jm
Online Store: www.jcdcjamaica.com
© 2015 Kulcha Buzz Quarterly E-Newsletter/ Jamaica Cultural Development Commission
A publication of the JCDC Marketing & Public Relations Department
All rights reserved.