Innswood Drummers perform during the CPTC's Drums and Voices at the Emancipation Park last Thursday.

For many cultural anthropologists, culture is best described as a set of learned behaviours, beliefs, attitudes, values and ideals that are unique to a society or groups within that society. With its uniqueness, Jamaica's culture is worthy of preservation. One agent that has made this preservation its mandate is The Creative and Production and Training Centre (CPTC).

"At CPTC, we teach and breathe culture," said Christopher Samuda, chairman of the board of directors of CPTC. He was addressing the very large size crowd that showed up at Emancipation Park last Thursday. The occasion, titled 'Festival of Drums and Voices', was one of a number of events planned for the yearlong celebration and promotion of CPTC.

A gift to the people

Describing the concert as a gift to the people, Samuda added: "The strength of a people abide in their culture; we must understand culture before understanding environment."

Senator Warren Newby, representing the Ministry of Youth and Culture, was also on hand to share in the anniversary celebration. He heartily congratulated CPTC and described the agency's journey as an "exciting creative experience".

The Festival of Drums and Voices was not only an anniversary concert, but a showcase of the various aspects of Jamaican culture. Those showcased included the Rastafarians (Africa), Europeans (in the various classical pieces performed by some choirs) and the Chinese.

"The only group that was missing was the Indian dance, despite our efforts we were not able to get them on the show," Kirk Buchanan, deputy CEO of CPTC and coordinator of the event, told The Gleaner.

Buchanan acknowledged that they were blessed with a good audience and added that Chairman Samuda was adamant about staging the event despite the recession. He further explained that Jamaica Cultural Development Commission helped with identifying the talents - comprising large choirs - a stage manger's nightmare. But that was not the case.

"Prior to the event, we establish a time slot for each artiste to come. We learned from the 21st anniversary," Buchanan said.

Breakfast with the Stars

Not only did the organisers use the previous event as a platform for the 25th anniversary but "the Festival of Drums and Voices was the sequel to the 21st anniversary event held in 2005", Dr Hopeton Dunn, former CPTC chairman of the board of directors, told The Gleaner. The concept of 'festival of drums' was developed and executed under his stewardship. The idea came from the notion that "there is a great aggregation of drummers in Jamaica but not given a chance; and I am a lover of drums," Dunn added.

The yearlong 25th anniversary celebration began with a church service in May at the Garrison Church, Up Park Camp. Prior to the staging of Festival of Drums and Voices, the CPTC aired a the pilot to Breakfast with the Stars featuring Jimmy Cliff. Other upcoming events are Potters Clay, a weeklong exhibition of pottery and ceramic pieces and A Lyrical Festival which will entail the reading of poems and prose. The yearlong celebration will culminate with an award ceremony called The Imperial Award. All celebratory events will be free.

Carifolk Singers perform during the CPTC's Festiival of Drums and Voices at the Emancipation Park last Thursday. - photos by Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer