Members of the Clonmel Cultural Club from St Mary perform in a Jamaica Cultural Development Commission competition in 2006. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

Festival activities have had a chequered history in Jamaica. From a boom in the '80s and '90s to the waning interest shown a few years ago, the event that celebrates our history and independence from British rule has had its ups and downs.

Though competing with pop culture to gain the interest of young Jamaicans, the relevance of festival cannot be denied.

"Festival is always relevant. It is one of the only ways that we are going to preserve our culture," said Roy Rayon, 2007 Festival Song competition winner. "It is a way for generations to understand what really happened in the past. It is what is basically connecting us."

For Hugh Nash, Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) chairman, "Jamaica festival is a vehicle for both the commemoration of independence and national emancipation."

TWO ASPECTS

There are two aspects of the festival season that should not be confused. There is the National Festival of the Arts, which comprises drama, music, speech, culinary and visual arts, song, literary arts, the festival queen, festival song, original gospel song and children's gospel competitions. Afterwards, there is Jamaica Festival, which is held from the eve of Emancipation Day (July 31) until Independence Day (August 6). The competitions in the National Festival of the Arts are held from the beginning of the year and lead up to Jamaica Festival.

In the '60s and '70s, both aspects of festival were combined. However, in the '80s, the art forms that make up the National Festival of the Arts were given their own identity.

"In that particular stream of activities, participation has constantly grown and there has been an immense outflow of talent," Nash pointed out.

Jamaica Festival, he said, has had its ups and downs but there has been revitalisation from the government to improve the celebration. Last year, the government made a commitment to have a seven-day celebration. Hence, there was the festival street parade and a grand gala at the National Stadium to complete the festivities. During the seven days, there were also thanksgiving services, exhibitions, as well as other forms of activities put on by the JCDC and private entities.

grand gala support

Spectators watch the 'Word, Sounds and Power' media float as it travels along Half-Way Tree Road during the Independence Day Float Parade last year. - Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer

Nash said the support for the grand gala last year is proof that people still want to be a part of festival and consider it important.

"Last year was a good example of the response of the people. Along the parade route in Kingston, there were many people, the stadium was full (35,000 people) and it spilled over into the National Indoor Sports Centre. The response last year was excellent," said Nash.

Figures disclosed by Dorett Thaxter, special projects coordinator at JCDC, also supported this.

In the National Festival of the Arts this year, there were 1,574 overall entries for dance, 153 for drama, 3,230 for music, 3,842 for speech and 710 for traditional folk forms. There were 325 entries in the festival song, 117 in the festival queen and 162 in the children's gospel competitions.

She said there has been an increase in the number of new entrants. In addition, she said: "We fluctuate here and there, but we have been seeing a steady increase over the years."

Annette Denniser, executive member of the Tivoli Dance Troupe, said festival remains relevant as there are always persons lining up to be part of the troupe's cultural activities.

"We don't have to search for people. After we reach a certain amount, we have to be turning people back. The main set we get is in the four to eight-year-old age group," said Denniser of the multi-award winning troupe, which has 110 members.

In addition to being an activity the members enjoy, she said it is something they look forward to being a part of.

"It gives them something to look forward to. It creates a very good competitive spirit and everybody strives for the best. We have most of the trophies (from the National Festival of the Arts) that everybody covets," Denniser told The Sunday Gleaner.

At the school level, it also has its purpose.

"I do believe it's relevant. It helps make that rounded student. Students with different talents that are part of the performing arts are able to bring that talent out," said Sandra Mann, dance coordinator at Glenmuir High School.

She also noted that there are 35 students in the dance group and that these students usually volunteer to be a part of the school's performing arts programme.

Festival also gets support from the media, which is integral in keeping it in the public domain. Danielle Hopkins, public relations coordinator at JCDC, said almost all the media houses in Jamaica have signed on to sponsor at least one festival activity.

She said TVJ is the title sponsor of the Festival Queen competition. In addition, the top-10 entries in the festival song competition are aired on radio and local television stations, including cable stations. She said support is also received from people in the diaspora.

"The support is good but we could always use more, especially where there are many other competing things. Festival is entirely Jamaican and helps to keep the culture alive," she told The Sunday Gleaner.

importance

Like Rayon and Hopkins, actor Everaldo Creary further emphasised the importance of festival activities in today's society.

"It is the longest going and important medium through which young people can learn about, develop and appreciate culture. It's the main tool that keeps culture going," said Creary, who participated in dub poetry and drama in the National Festival of Arts while attending Kingston College.

Popular television and radio personality, Jennifer 'Jenny Jenny' Small, said: "I am a festival baby."

She said she participated in the various speech, drama and song competitions that make up the season from her years at York Castle High School, St Ann, to her time spent at Church Teachers' College in Manchester. At all levels, she received a national gold medal. To top this off, she was crowned festival queen in 1995.

Based on her experience in festival and looking at the state of the country, Small said festival is even more relevant today.

"If there is ever a time when festival is relevant, it is now. We are getting so far away from our roots and morals. Festival celebrates the better side of Jamaica. Now, there is so much distress and fear," Small told The Sunday Gleaner.

time to show love

She fondly reminisced on festival being a time to show love, respect and to be peaceful. She said it reminds people of the good times and the importance of celebrating emancipation and independence.

Small, who has worked with festival for years, said there has been inconsistencies in the festival competitions.

"I can't say that it has been dwindling. There are some years when it is better than others. It is dependent on how much money JCDC gets," she said.

Nash said celebrations would be limited this year by the unavailability of financial resources.

"This year, the festival is challenged in the area of financing. With the constraints on government revenue, it has to rely more on voluntary services and sponsorship from private sector," Nash said.

Currently, there is a sponsorship drive to raise the $100 million needed for this year's festival and independence celebrations. The JCDC has already received $23 million.

Nonetheless, Nash believes Jamaica Festival will be just as good, or even better, than previous years.

"Jamaica can this year, as usual, look forward to continued revitalisation of the festival, and at this time the commission is appealing to the private sector for support and appeal to the chamber of commerce in the various parishes to make the season festive by decorating their business places and by flying the Jamaica flag," he said.