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The JCDC story -- 40 years of waving the flag

IT HAS made minor celebrities of little old ladies who've kept alive the art of making foods from long ago times. It has propelled school girls and boys into the spotlight, pulling from them stirring and heartfelt performances in music, dance and drama.

In 40 years the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) has unearthed talent from every corner of the island, kept alive forgotten folklore, reminded us of who we are, and held the flag high even when we weren't feeling too good about ourselves.

Thanks to the organisation's popular National Festival Song contest, entertainers like Toots Hibbert and Roy Rayon have become household names. More recently singer Glacia Robinson who came to public attention through the JCDC Gospel Song contest has been making a name for herself.

In 1963 it started out as the Jamaica Festival Commission (JFC), the brainchild of Opposition Jamaica Labour Party Leader Edward Seaga who was then culture minister. The idea was to promote independence anniversary celebrations throughout the Island.

In May 1980, the Jamaica Festival Commission was renamed Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) by an act of Parliament. As the JCDC, its main purpose is to promote cultural programs and activities in communities island wide, to encourage and organize each year's Independence celebrations and other celebrations marking occasions of national interest, to stimulate the development of local talents and complement the work of other agencies engaged in the carrying out of community development programs.

YOU'VE COME A LONG WAY JCDC

The JCDC has come a long way in achieving most of what it set out to do, say cultural activists Tony Laing and Barbara Gloudon.

Despite its restrictions -- meagre resources, for example -- the commission has not wavered in its effort to promote Jamaican culture and develop the cultural awareness of the Jamaican people, says Laing.

JCDC is doing a good enough job and has come a long way in promoting the Jamaican way of life, says Gloudon. Despite the cultural diversity of Jamaica, it has kept its head above the water by keeping our culture alive through folk and popular Jamaican songs, dances, stories and the fine arts therefore for the younger generations.

FESTIVAL

JCDC's biggest production, Festival highlights the best of Jamaica each year -- Speech, Drama, Music, Dance, Traditional Folk Forms, Literary Arts, Fine Arts, Photography, Culinary Arts, Gospel Song, Popular Song and culturally aware young women who vie for the title of National Festival Queen.

Although most of the activities are clustered around the Independence Day period, the competitions are held yearly between March and December.

THEY GOT THEIR START THROUGH JCDC

The commission has been one of the starting points for many well-known Jamaicans such as actress and broadcaster Fae Ellington; comedienne Joan Andrea Hutchinson; actress and sportscaster Dahlia Harris; reggae icon Bob Marley; popular radio show host Jennifer Small, and others.

IN THE FUTURE...

There are many plans for the future of the JCDC. "The future of JCDC is very bright," says Delroy Gordon, the commission's Field Service and Programs Director.

In addition to keeping the flag waving and the culture alive and blazing, JCDC is looking to explore and exploit economic possibilities such as producing and marketing CDs, albums, DVDs, books and cassettes. Plus, there are plans to promote Jamaican culture in other Caribbean islands and European countries.

 Andrene Brown

See Also A Tribute To Miss Lou