Arms are spread wide in the Jamaican Folk Singers 2006 season 'Ol Time Story'. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

It was a dream that materialised in 1967 and now the Jamaican Folk Singers will be staging its 40th Anniversary Concert Season from September 7-9 at the Little Theatre, Tom Redcam Drive, St. Andrew, as part of its celebrations for four decades of existence.

"It is an honour for me to be leading the group as it celebrates its 40th anniversary. It has been 40 years of ever growing involvement with and respect for our own traditions and the people who have kept them alive," said Christine McDonald, the group's musical director.

The Jamaican Folk Singers, a non-profit singing group, was formed by Dr. Olive Lewin, folklorist and accomplished musician in piano, violin and composition. This special anniversary concert season is intended to be the group's major fundraiser for the year, with part proceeds going towards its 2008 summer school programme and part towards the Jamaica Library Service, an organisation with which the group has been associated for over 13 years. This association has resulted in the donation of funds for the purchase of children's books for the country's libraries.

The staging of the concert season will also help the group to continue to fulfil part of its mission centered on youth, who are viewed as the hope and architects of tomorrow.

"It is very special because of the significance and importance of the group's work. There are a handful of groups in the island doing what we do, and it is very important to us to maintain authenticity while entertaining," McDonald said.

Down memory lane

The Jamaican Folk Singers 40th Anniversary Concert Season will take audiences down memory lane to relive elementary school days and then there are splashes of life at home and the sharing and gossiping in the communities, as well as courting and tender love. This will all lead up to the preparation for and excitement of the traditional Harvest Fair and the ever powerful and spiritual Kumina experience. The concerts will feature Jamaican folk music, arranged by Dr. Lewin.

According to McDonald, "the group's activities are very relevant today, because part of our mission is to educate through entertainment".

The group has received funding from the CHASE Fund, which has recognised the contribution that the Jamaican Folk Singers has made to Jamaica's cultural development and recognises the need to help the group to continue to fulfil its mandate.

"We intend to continue on our path of exposing the artistic worth of Jamaica's folk music heritage. Through our music and our work members feel a sense of pride, pride in being Jamaican and pride in being a part of what is 100 per cent Jamaican and which meets the highest world standards," McDonald said.