GREETINGS from Negril.com!!!

Dear Reader,

Thanks for dropping by! Negril.com is dedicated to exposing the Heart, Arts and Culture of Jamaica. Negril.com strives to cover all our varied art expressions through reviews, commentaries, interviews, and tips you can use.

To read exciting contributions by our writers, you can either read the blogs below this welcome note or click on any of the links (above the welcome note) to individual pages. You can also search through our monthly archives listed on the right of this page.

If you would love to have your cultural event or project featured, please contact us at either our Negril office (957-3191) or Kingston representative (797-7297). You may also send an email to anthea@negril.com. Keep connected!! One World, One Love!

JUST A THOUGHT:
“A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a
tree without roots.” — Marcus Mosiah Garvey

A graduate of the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, Anthea is CEO of OAaSIS International, a company set up to expose and sensitise on the culture and the arts, starting with children. She has over 12 years experience in Journalism and the Fine Arts. Contact her also at islandartattack@yahoo.co.uk or anthea@theoaasis.com. [or Facebook]. WEBSITE: www.antheamcgibbon.com

Recently, Jamaicans had their wish to meet a member of the Jackson 5 family, if not Michael Jackson, the legend, come true.

Toriano Adaryll  “Tito” Jackson, singer and guitarist himself, joined in Mello go Roun’ 2009, the official start of the country’s Independence Celebrations, held recently. Being the second eldest brother of Michael Jackson, he was the special guest of Jamaica’s Prime Minister Bruce Golding.

Mello Go Roun’, inspired by the tv series ‘Ring Ding’ with Jamaica’s loved Folklorist, the former Honourable Louise Bennett-Coverly, was staged July 30, at the National Arena. Perhaps the most popular family event on the Jamaican calendar, it was a colourful package of entertainment and culture bringing more than Jamaicans on a memorable journey through Jamaica’s history. It remains one of the premier segments for celebrations’ organizer, the Jamaica Cultural Development Centre.

For Mello Go Roun, there were deliveries in speech, music drama and dance forms designed over the years. Equally indellible were the vibrant and well thought out costumes, and props which inspired much creative energy and commitment to the task at hand by the performers.

Young and old alike were nothing less than appreciative of  the unfolding of Jamaica’s history and cultural expressions, from traditional to modern day contemporary. Among the more impacting performances were the dub –poetry piece Barrel Pickney to by the Zyem Kids, and the pulsating rendition of the Dinki Mini by the Islington Cultural Club, as was anticipated by many.

See also Spectacular performances at Jamaica’s Mello go roun 2009 for more on Independence Celebrations.

 [ Here goes our poet again. This time reacting to recent decisions to tax even salt used to flavour foods]. It’s titled “Tax deh pon salt, literally “taxation on the salt”. Its not just about taxing salt however as you will see when you read.

Again its written in our unique Jamaican dialect (internationally known as Patois). its’s a great way to learn our language while learning of our culture and literary skills through poetry. Contact negril.com’s team for interpretation to your language where necessary. ]

 

TAX DEH PON SALT

-          By Joan Andrea Hutchinson (April 2009)

 

SOMETIME MI DID want to be a people

A animal or a bug

But today mi glad bag bus an mi happy

Because mi is a slug

 

Mi say Bap Bap Bap an Booyaka

Mi shout Yippy-di-deee

Oonoo nearly gi wi high blood pressure

But now wi life salt free

 

Free like a bird in a tree becaw Man A Yard

Say salt fi hug up tax

Free fi  nyam dung oonoo gyaaden a night time

An live life to di max

 

Oonoo tink say wi slug is just a nuisance

Claim say a just one ting wi want

Fi entime oonoo gyaaden start fi prosper

Wi come nyam dung plant

 

Oonoo come wid oonoo backle a salt a night time

A come throw salt pon slug

Wicked oonoo wicked an evilous man

A set a cold, hard hearted thug

 

And di cheap salt weh oonoo buy, bun hot yuh know

Woii … di discomfort an di pain

Cheap oonoo too cheap fi evenbuy slug pellets

Dat woulda be more humane

 

Front a public oonoo defend di poor an disadvantaged

Down to di criminal oonoo hug

Read Bible an pray loud, den come a oonoo yard

An a dash salt pon slug

 

All some a oonoo so call deestant  an tapanaris

Wid oonoo high moral ways

Oonoo miss one lickle leaf, and di badwud oonoo cuss

Slug haffie cork slug aise

 

Mi think say some a di ooman dem a bun wi

Caw dem know dem body done

An a company dem a look becaw dem husband

Out a street a gi dem bun

 

So Man a Yard, mi nah gi nutten right or wrong

Mi nah say nutten a nobady fault

But mi kin stap bun mi an mi can live in peace

Becaw  tax deh pon salt.

Negril’s online mediahouse

 exposing the Arts of Jamaica!!!

Anthea McGibbon, Content Editor

FOR OVER 10 years, Negril.com remains dedicated to exposing the Heart, Arts and Culture of Jamaica. Negril.com recognises that visitors to the island especially are attracted to the island because of the island’s unique culture and multiskilled people. Negril.com strives to unfold Jamaica’s varied art expressions through reviews, commentaries, interviews, and tips readers can use, especially while in Jamaica.

This especially as there are those persons who shy away from reading the local news, sometimes filled with reports on crime within Jamaica. Currently, there are hotels that do not allow immediate access to local newspapers for this reason, and hence preventing them from grasping a full understanding of the island and its offering otherwise.

The online mediahouse, however, in no way competes, but rather compliments exisiting media houses. It operates as an an extension of the coverage of Arts and Culture of local media houses. It is staffed by a qualified editorial team, long experienced with the varied arts and expressions and are themselves seasoned and proliferic journalists in this regard.

 

Anthea McGibbon, an experienced art critic and artist herself functions as the Content Editor. She still on occasion contributes to the the Gleaner’s Art Section.

Some of these persons contribute on a voluntary basis, joining the quest to see Jamaica take its rightful place at the pinnacle of the world. The vision of the team is to use arts and culture to transform the outlook of and from Jamaica. 

Partnering with companies such as Negril Education Environment Trust, performing and visual artists, as well as the popular spots around the island, it is hoped that even the most insatiable hunger for interaction with Jamaica and its people will be filled.

Contributions by our writers can be still be accessed, despite the layout of the site is currently being upgraded for better interaction and exposure, which at times result in photographs not being shown. 

To access contributions, readers must first log on to www.negril.com and choose/click on Arts and Culture from the list to the left of the home page.

Thereafter readers can click on any of the links (above the welcome note) to individual pages. Articles and their links are also published immediately following the welcome note. Readers can also search through the monthly archives listed on the right of this pages in the Arts and Culture section.

Readers can join the message boards or simply send a comment where requested.

So far, there are numerous websites are reusing downloaded information and articles from the site. Interestingly the only one not accrediting the source is located in Portmore, Jamaica, and doing so without expressed permission.

To reuse any item from the site please contact the management or content editor in writing and additionally give proper accredition on the source. 

For coverage or feature of any cultural event or project including books in Negril.com’s Art and Culture section, contact can be made at any of the following:

The Negril office (957-3191), Coral Plaza or
Kingston representative (797-7297)
Mail can be sent to 3 South Avenue, Building #2, Swallowfield, Kingston
You may also send an email to the Content Editor Anthea McGibbon, at anthea@negril.com or islandartattack@yahoo.co.uk.

Keep connected!! One World, One Love!

JUST A THOUGHT:
“A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.” - Marcus Mosiah Garvey

A graduate of the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, Anthea is CEO of OAaSIS International, a company set up to expose and sensitise on the culture and the arts, starting with children. She has over 12 years experience in Journalism and the Fine Arts. Contact her also at islandartattack@yahoo.co.uk or anthea@theoaasis.com. [or Facebook].

BLOCKROADING  

 

- By Joan Andrea Hutchinson (written 1992)         

 

[Editor's note: Tourists BEWARE!

The following poem was written in our Jamaican dialect - internationally known as Jamaican Patois. It has its own rules, that are not hard to follow, and if you are one to study languages and origins, look carefully, the meaning is sure to be found.]

EVERY SOCIETY DEVELOP hobbies an pastime

Fi help lighten dem load

An since Jamaicans extra creative wi develop

Di pastime of blocking road

 

Sometimes wi block off a whole area

Block it from end to end

An so di police dem try fi clear di block

Wi block it back again

 

For wi an di police a fambily an combolo

Dat’s why dem respect wi pan di street

For ef dem lick wi, when dem come home

Dem nah get nutten fi eat

 

An wi have dis blockroading ting down to a science

Wi block a highway in ten seconds flat

An wi meck traffic back up at any major intersection

By di time yuh say “Who dat?”

 

Wi use ol iron, cardboard, bedspring, stove

Tree trunk an scrapses board

An ef dat nuh enough wi spread out pan di grung

Or set fire pan di road

 

When roadblock a keep mi coulda half naked

Wid settas inna mi head

Mi lef pot pan fire, lef baby inna house

Ef a egg, mi inna di red

 

Sometimes mi nuh know weh mi a block road fah

But mi shout out lickle more

“J-O-S-T-E-S-S  Justice  an unfairity

A just becaw wi poor “

 

September mi did buy one bashment outfit

So Junior school fee couldn’t pay

Mi nuh buy him school book, but him get a Air Nike

An mi sen him go school same way

 

Junior him go school go tell teacher badwud

An den him bruck a fight

Teacher sen him wid note, bout mi fi come see her

But teacher could a brite

So a fine a ol fridge, two kyar tyre an some corowchez

An I block di road pan dem

Mi nuh business if pickney nah learn today mi nah move

Till dem sen fi CVM

 

Eh eh, see di TV camera yah a come

Meck mi fix up mi clothes

An brush up di pepper grain at mi headside

An wipe di sweat offa mi nose

 

Am I on di air?  Say why wi blocking di road?

Becaw road meck fi block

High seat kill Miss Thomas puss

An cock mout kill cock

 

Chicken merry an hawk deh near

Lawd mi deh pan TV

Greetings to my loving baby faada

An him tuff turbit girl Marie

 

An all a di bashmint man an girl remember

Mi have di latest designer style

Goosie hanbag, Moskini an DKNY

Mi dung a Arcade all di while

 

Di camera still turn on? Say why wi blocking di road?

For dem fi come talk to wi

From day wi out yah a bun inna hot sun

But lawd mi look good pan TV

 

 

  — 

 

NEET awards police

 

By Anthea McGibbon, Content Editor

 

ANOTHER DREAM came true for Negril’s Winston Wellington. As chairman of Negril Education Environment Trust (NEET), he recently glowed at yet another graduation of the computer literacy programme, his brainchild.

This time 10 police officers from the Savannah-La Mar police station graduated yesterday, April 5. This brought the total number of graduates from the course to a little over 500, since its inception 5 years ago.

This year’s main theme for the programme according to the chairman is “To put a computer in every child’s hand before [s]he has access to a gun.” The ten graduates spent six weeks of intense computer training at level one and were on Sunday awarded a completion certificate and a computer.  

While for Wellington the graduation was another dream to see more Jamaicans literate realized, guest speaker for the evening, David Dennisur seized the opportunity to challenge the graduates.

Calculating in every word, he offered several challenges to the graduates. The main one was that of recognizing the power of being educated, regardless of colour, class or creed. “Education is the key to empowerment”, he said in reiterating MC for the evening, Mrs Joyce Green, J.P.’s point that while instruction ends in the classroom, education stops only when one’s life ends.

In encouraging the graduates to recognize their call as police to serve, protect and reassure, the speaker asked that each one, having learnt should now teach one. It was a matter of reducing the need for the “public informants”, by educating and impacting through service, thus realizing the motto: “serve, protect and reassure.”

Speaking against the Jamaican habit of loving to receive, he challenged the now computer literate graduates to have an impact, noting that police are judged by their contributions to family and community.

Avoiding the patterns of wasting paper, he also challenged the graduates not to be wasteful in general. This he did as he spoke on the bifocal purpose of the NEET programme in offering computer training in a soon-to-be paperless world as one way of saving the environment.

Other contributions to the evening’s success were the renditions of  “There’s a hero” by multiskilled pianist and guitarist Constable Mullings, and Wing beneath my wings” by Woman Constable Wright.

Tearful expressions were made to teachers especially to Mr Volan Dagli and his wife Zerrin from Turkey. Other teachers, Jamaicans Winfield Wellington and Kedisha Jackson were also appreciated by the graduates.

The graduates are Inpector Uton Gordon, Inspector Junior Whyte, Sgt Christopher McDaniel, Detective Sgt Rohan Hall, Detective Cpl Oxford Haldane, Constable Lindon Black, Constable Oliver Green, Woman Constable Annie Anglin, Woman Constable Collette Reynolds, Secretary Yvonne Wright.

So far, the NEET has donated over 3 million books. Its overriding objective continues to be “to put a book in every child’s hand, and a computer in every classroom.”

According to chairman Winston Wellington, it is hoped that through NEET, 10 libraries will be built in every parish, at a rate of two or three per month. Each library will ultimately be furnished with ten computers and at least 500 books including a Bible, the National anthem and the national pledge as priority.

Six libraries including St Paul Primary; Little London; Sir Clifford Campbell; Friendship library have been built. Very soon a library at the Balaclava will be opened, followed by Bethel Town, then Bethel Bay.

 

EDITOR’S NOTE:

We are currently experiencing technical difficulties uploading photographs. As soon as relating issues are resolved, photographs will be uploaded. Please understand. Thanks in advance and for your continued support.

For more on our art and culture, see also the Gleaner’s art section.

Barrington Watson’s “50 years of drawing” pleases

 

By Anthea McGibbon, Content Editor

 

 

IT WAS A ROOM FILLED with women - mostly nude.

However, more than just Jamaica’s former prime minister, PJ Patterson was well pleased by the sight of the women filling the room.

Some were sitting, some standing with basket of water, and representing Jamaica’s most cultural habits. In the middle a number of guests milled around in awe, not for a moment disturbed by the work of the artist who considers himself “the female artist”.

It was the recent opening of “50 years of drawing”, on March 23, featuring the drawings of Barrington Watson, at the Gallery Barrington, Old Hope Road recently.

The exhibition whose works were done in varied media including watercolour and pen and pastel, will end at the end of May.

For now they titivate the walls, toying with the passions of viewers.

At the exhibition’s opening it was explained that the youthful wife, Doreen, of the artist who’s going blind to expose drawings which remained hidden for a long time. She simply wanted for more persons to understand the other sides of Watson, more internationally renowned as a master painter’s talent.

Jamaica at Beijing – outstanding in tribute to Jamaica’s athletes is a 6×8 footer in full vibrant colours, highly descriptive of the spirit and achievements of the athletes.  Surrounding it are works mostly measuring no more than 35 inches, and are mostly in black and white.

The fascination Watson’s work has demanded over the years, is again stirred by the current “50 years of drawing’. The exhibition adds to the list of his achievements through the years, and outstanding service to Jamaica, speaking again of Watson’s commitment to excellence and imagination in his working method.

Amidst the well figured Jamaican women, there are landscapes and flowers, and sketches of a few selected men, by the artist who mostly shies away from representing men in his work.

The drawings of the women tells tales of a long term affair and fascination through studies of the Jamaican female, - their form, culture, and habits. From “Stone cutters”, “Carnival Spirit series”, “Mother and Child series”, to “Woman with Bucket”, the Jamaican women is well represented

Tending to be quick and strategic, the artist flirts with our imagination of the chosen subjects, as seen in “Study for Beijing series”, “Study for Hibiscus”, “Seated Nude”, and “Woman with Basket”.

The basic mass and form are clearly visible and in full and good perspective and relation to each other. No matter where you are Barrington Watson’s work is identifiable and stands out, as much as the character of the artist was the gist of the messages at the exhibition’s opening.

Keynote speaker, former prime minister PJ Patterson highlighted some of these achievements in what could be described as a colourful speech, which had the guests bent in laughter throughout.

Achievements highlighted include Watson being the first man of colour to have matriculated from the Royal School of Art, London; founder of the Young Commonwealth Artist Association; one of the founders of Contemporary Jamaica art association; and, one of the first teachers at the Jamaica School of Art (now Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts).

The Attorney-at-Law simultaneously revealed a few blunt secrets about the man he described as a legendary artist, in keeping the over 300 listeners tickled to the bone. He spoke of the confidence of  the artist through high school to now, and the painting through which the artist predicted his (Patterson’s) ascendancy to power.

Commending Barrington Watson for having “ascended to the zenith of his profession” he highlighted Watson as one among many accomplishments of the parish of Hanover alongside others such as Governor General Kenneth Hall, Court of Appeal president Seymour Panton, and noted athletes such as Merlene Ottey.

Among the guests were Freddie Green and wife, Marva, Kaye Osbourne, Major Richard Reece and wife, Reece, Lennie Little White, Wallace Campbell, Dr David Mcbean, Dr Hudson Phillips.

 

Anthea McGibbon, graduate of the Edna Manley College for the Visual has over 12 years experience in journalism and the visual arts, and is CEO of The OAaSIS International. islandartattack@yahoo.co.uk.

 

EDITOR’S NOTE:

We are currently experiencing technical difficulties uploading photographs. As soon as relating issues are resolved, photographs will be uploaded. Please understand. Thanks in advance and for your continued support.

For more on Jamaica’s art and culture, see also the Gleaner’s art section.

 

US Embassy hosts birthday celebrations for President Lincoln on Jamaican soil

TWO EVENTS are being organized in celebration of the Bicentennial of the birth of President Abraham Lincoln (1809-2009). The events slated for April 1, will take place in Montego Bay, by the U.S. Embassy’s Office of Public Affairs, in partnership with the Jamaica Library Service and Montego Bay Community College. 

Both events will include discussions with Lincoln scholar and author of the acclaimed “Lincoln: A Life,” Professor Michael Burlingame, Professor Emeritus of History, Connecticut College.  Professor Burlingame will talk about Lincoln’s life and legacy; his role as the “great emancipator” through the abolition of slavery in the United States in 1863; comparisons between Lincoln and Obama; and the relevance of Lincoln’s life and philosophy in the 21^st century.

SCHEDULE 

3:00 pm                Hanover Public Library, Lucea, Hanover

                             A discussion with Professor Michael Burlingame on “Abraham Lincoln: A Legacy of Freedom”

 

5:30 pm                Montego Bay Community College

A public forum with Professor Burlingame on “Lincoln and Obama: From the Emancipation Proclamation to the First African American President”

 

As you are probably aware, President Barack Obama has often invoked President Lincoln’s name, and was sworn in as President on Lincoln’s Bible.  President Obama has been greatly influenced by Lincoln’s political and personal philosophy and there are many comparisons between the two Presidents.  In 2005 he wrote an article for Time magazine, “What I see in Lincoln’s Eyes.”

 

Former Vice President Al Gore said in August 2008:  “The experience Lincoln’s supporters valued most…was his powerful ability to inspire hope in the future at a time of impasse…He was known chiefly as a clear thinker and a great orator, with a passion for justice and a determination to heal the deep divisions of our land.  He insisted on reaching past partisanship and regional divides to exalt our common humanity.  In 2008, once again, we find ourselves at the end of an era with a mandate from history to launch another new beginning.  And once again, we have a candidate whose experience perfectly matches an extraordinary moment of transition.”

 

Loving Jozza at Gallart, Florida

Anthea McGibbon, Content Editor

MIAMI, Florida:

ITS ALL ABOUT love.
No matter where you turn throughout Gallery Art, Aventura, Biscayne Boulevard, Florida, you are bound to be energised by the works of Jozza, from the heart out. He certainly puts his heart in his art as he playfully visualizes the main objects of his affections on several planes. These include nature and animals, but there are certainly some aspects of his own life’s experiences which he relates through his acrylics. Sometimes with Biblical references like from The Garden of Eden. Putting the pop in popular, “Jozza expresses love through animated lines, shapes, happy colors and faces he uses to pattern his budgeted space.” 

His works are for sure inspirational and creative enough to make you fall in love with life and humanity, while enjoying lessons in courtship and reproduction.
See for instance One Love, Kitty in Love, and About Love from almost 48 precision pieces rotated at the Gallery. As if hit by Cupid’s bow, you fall in love with Jozza by the terms of his artscapes.

PROFILEiNbrief

BORN Hilondria, Brazil
STATUS: Married with two children
SELF-TAUGHT
INSPIRED BY His mother Maria
SPECIAL INTERESTS include soccer, law
EXHIBITIONS include Biscayne Tower, downtown Miami, New York Expo

 

EDITOR’S NOTE:

We are currently experiencing technical difficulties uploading photographs. As soon as relating issues are resolved, photographs will be uploaded. Please understand. Thanks in advance and for your continued support.

For more on our art and culture, see also the Gleaner’s art section.

KITE FESTIVAL FOR MOUNTAIN VIEW

Come April 18th, the Negril Education Environment Trust (NEET) will join forces with the Eastern Bell Education Project who will be hosting Mountain View’s first annual kite festival. The festival will be held at the Mountain View Oval, currently being used as a football field, located across from the Excelsior High School.
Jamaicans will have opportunity to vie for awards for their creativity in kite design. In strengthening the winds for the day’s activities, NEET will be giving away over 2,000 educational and leisure books.

 The kite festival, according to Member of Parliament, Dr St Aubyn Bartlett is another step towards improving the image of the Mountain View area, and its immediate environs. It is being staged by the Eastern Bell Education Project, the brainchild of Dr Bartlett, and working within the Mountain View Community.

Detailing the bifocal objective, Dr Bartlett, explains that the festival will first of all expose the Oval as a viable venue for hosting various events. According to him, the venue is ideal for events such as crusades, fun days, aside from its usual use as a football field. Secondly, he envisions the venue as the permanent home of Mountain View¹s annual kite festival, at this time of the year.
Although major sponsorship has not been sought, there have been some contributions made to the event not designed for fund raising. So far, The Tac Printery and the OAaSIS International are two of the four companies supporting with skills and services.
Jamaica Fun Fun has also joined forces to supply a bounceabout and a merry go round for the day.
Other attractions are:
o        Awards for the best, most original and longest staying kite in the air
o        Donation of books to children in the area
o        Clowns and Face-painting
NEET’s contribution is a special thrust towards encouraging reading habits in Jamaicans. NEET is the charity arm of Travellers Beach Resorts, Negril.