Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer

After a period which saw Jamaica's international relations seemingly in a state of suspended animation, this noble land played host to a foreign head of state.

Now, mind you, the announcement of the visit left many wondering what the basis for this renewed sense of urgency to rekindle our relations with Tanzania was. It is a country with which we shared close relations during the 1970s when the appeal of democratic socialism was at its peak. The great geopolitical divide saw nation states forming regional, political and ideological alliances, ostensibly to offset the hegemony of the United States of America and the then Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. in a supposed bid to retain their political independence.

Historical bonds

This made the Tanzanian president's visit somewhat of a surprise because it is thought that the Tanzanian government has more in common with the People's National Party than with the governing Jamaica Labour Party in matters of ideology, rhetoric and posture.

By some, however, the visit and its accommodation was seen as a sign of the political realities of the 'new world order', which has engendered a climate in which former ideological opponents can now embrace each other in the understanding that in this the new global village there are no more lines of ideological demarcation imposed by former 'superpowers'. They are now free to exercise and explore their historical bonds as well as redefine their relationships, objectives and areas of cooperation and bilateral support.

So, from November 23, Jamaica played host to Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete and his wife Salma, and it made for quite the do!

The president and his entourage of near 50 people took time out to make a number of courtesy calls, visit a number of tourism attractions on the north coast as well as to pay homage to political comrades and immerse into the Jamaican cultural experience! In this light, on Tuesday, November 24, Olivia 'Babsy' Grange, minister of youth, sports and culture, hosted what proved to be a faultlessly rich 'Evening of Dance, Music and Movement' at the Little Theatre along Tom Redcam Avenue.

Grange and her team offered up the very best of Jamaica's cultural heritage in dance, music and movement that was not only befitting of the occasion; it was a testament to the talent, beauty and longevity of the art practised by our people. And when the evening ended, there was no doubt that Jamaica's place as a leading cultural force in the hemisphere will not be eclipsed anytime soon!

The evening's affairs got under way with cocktails and entertainment in the courtyard of the theatre's complex, provided by Peacemaker Mento Band. Guests then reclined to the theatre for the main course and dears, what a treat it proved.

The Seaforth Kumina Group, with the legendary 'Queenie', proved a most welcoming introduction to the visiting delegation. Other performers included the Kingston Drummers, Stella Maris Dance Company, the Hertford Cultural Group, Xaymaca, the Tivoli Dancers and the night's curtain act - 'Gerrehbenta', by the National Dance Theatre Company of dancers and singers.

The performers, knowing fully well that they were ambassadors of goodwill, were beyond criticism in their understanding of their roles and their delivery made for superb cultural dialogue. Luvs, it was all fiercely nationalistic, with liberal hints of Africana and the ancestral ties that bind and there was no escaping the artistic beauty and charm of it all.

Sadly, the guest of honour missed the cultural offering, but among those out were Samia Suluhu, Minister of Tourism of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar; Cyril Chami, deputy minister of industries, trade and marketing (Tanzania); Dr Joram Biswaro, high commissioner of Tanzania to Jamaica and Mrs Biswaro; Water and Housing Minister Dr Horace Chang; state ministers Laurie Broderick, Michael Stern and Senator Marlene Malahoo-Forte; former Governor General Sir Kenneth Hall and Lady Hall; Chief Justice Zaila McCalla; Justice Howard Cooke and wife, Heather; Hilary Phillips, QC; Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister Onika Miller; Permanent Secretary Jennifer Griffith; Ambassador Evadney Coy; Protocol Director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Ricardo Alicock; Chinese Ambassador Chen Jinghua; Indian High Commissioner Mohinder Grover.

Other guests

Also present were Mexican Ambassador Leonora Rueda; Senegalese Ambassador Dr Nafissatou Diagne; Nigerian High Commissioner Peter L. Oyedele; French Ambassador Marc-Olivier Gendry; Canadian High Commissioner Stephen Hallihan and his wife, Cathy, and Cuban Ambassador Yuri Gala.

Also out were Dr Hazel Bennett; Brian McNish and Dawn Young; Steven Golding; Sydney Bartley, director of culture in the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports; choreographer and former principal dancer of the NDTC Barry Moncrieffe; Jennifer Lim; Eddie Shoucair; Norman and Jean Wright; Seragh and Effie Lakasingh; Norma Brown-Bell; Saleem Lazarus; the fab Minna Israel; Ali McNab; the charming Yola Headcock; Ken and Gloria Jones; Dr Jonathan Greenland and wife, Dr Rebecca Tortello Greenland; Ashman Samuels and wife, the fab Patricia Samuels; Marcia Forbes; Jonathan and Paula Surtees; Dr Maria Smith; Margaret Grant; Ian Neita and wife, Stephanie; Enid Harrow; Santa Dziallas; Shirley Stanglmaier; Major Desmond Brown; the charming Lawayne Jefferson; Kenneth Shaw; Faye Hutchinson; the charming Michelle Williams; the lovely Barbie Mudahay; Karlene Taylor; Miss Jamaica UK organiser June Daley and Andrew Ong Eng Sang, visiting from Singapore, plus a number of others.