HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PROGRAMME
The eclectic programme managed by Marcia our MC, consisted of:
- A Taste of Jamaican food and drinks
- Traditional cultural dances, eg. Bruckins, Tambo, Dinki Mini, Kumina, and the Quadrille.
- Children and Adult games and dances, eg. Johnny was a Miller, River Bank Coverly, Emmanuel Road stone brucking.
- Telling Anancy story
- Dancing to Jamaican folk song – “Dis lang time gal”
- Singing Jamaican folk songs with audience participation, i.e. Mango Time, The Banana song, Coconut woman, Dip and Fall back, Linstead Market; Sly Mongoose, Noboby’s Business, Colon Man, Mattie Walla Lef.
- Singing revival song – A little more oil in my lamp and a rendition from Caspar.
- Rasta chant with dance movements to Luciano’s Zion is a Holy Place.
- Discussion of Proverbs with adults and children.
The programme ended with the Singing of the Jamaican National Anthem; Dancing the Ska (the Jamaican Independence dance); an enlightening speech by Desmond on the period of greatest development; The summary and Vote of thanks by Marcia.
However, two aspects of the programme are selected for special mention because of their uniqueness, entertainment value and educational content. These are the Themed Dub Song and the Dub Rap.
The Themed Dub-Song
Based on the 7 Themes identified from the literature and informal discussions, a Themed Dub -Song entitled “Cum mek mi tell yuh ow wi–a-go teck back wi culture – Daylight cum an wi can go home”; was created. The lyrics, written in patwah, introduced the essence of each Theme as they featured in the programme. The audience was encouraged to sing the chorus line with us, i.e.“Daylight cum an wi can go home”
Theme 1: Reclaiming Our IdentityDay come an wi can go home Wi can change fi wi name as wi tek back wi culture – Choose name wid meaning as wi do in a wi culture – Give wi pickney first name in keeping wid wi culture -But memba pickney last name no represent wi culture. Wi Register pickney birthdays – as part a fi dem culture -But celebrate dem “Rite of Passage” part a fi wi culture -Wi can chat patois fi identify wi culture – Miss Lou and Mass Ran mek wi proud a wi culture Day come an wi can go home Wi status restoring as wi tek back wi culture – We will use wi knowledge and wi skills fi build up fi wi culture -We will write wi story dong so dem know bout wi culture – Marson and Mc Kay dem write bout wi culture – Wi can start wi own “little school” fi teach fi wi culture – Dispel di myths and lies dat dem tell wi bout wi culture – We a go teach wi pickney how fi play as part a fi wi culture – And mek dem sing and dance as we do in a wi culture Day come an wi can go home Wi can wear fi wi clothes in keeping wid wi culture – Bright pretty clothes dat represent wi culture Day come an wi can go home Wi can dance di Quadrille fi mimic fi dem culture – “Di Ballroom Dance” dat dem bring to wi |
Theme 2: Restructuring Our Work LifeDay come an wi can go home Respect fi di land is a part a wi culture – Farm it top an bottom as wi tek back wi culture Day come an wi can go home Wi can wok fi wi self as part a wi culture – Wok when wi want as we do in a wi culture Day come an wi can go home |
Theme 3: Restructuring Our Family LifeDay come an wi can go home Wi can choose wi own spouse as part a wi culture – But family do di vetting dats di norm in a wi culture – Have one wife fi fit in wid dem culture – But can have more dan one according to wi culture – Keep all wi pickney dem fi build up wi culture -An have as many as wi want fi represent wi culture Day come an wi can go home Wi include di whole community in keeping wid wi culture – Fi help raise wi pickney as wi do in a wi culture -Use wi Elders’ Wisdom fi keep up wid wi culture – In Proverbs an Stories dat dem tell wi bout wi culture – Discipline wi pickney dem as part a fi wi culture -Fi have manners an respect in line wid wi culture Day come an wi can go home Wi can throw “Pardner” fi support fi wi culture -Wi fi save wi money wid wi people show wi trust wi culture -Wi can Join “One Lodge” fi go learn more bout wi culture -Dem say dem give support an wi need dat in wi culture Day come an wi can go home Wi can buy land- build house fi keep up wid wi culture – Shelter all we people dem as we do in a wi culture – Buy one Mule and Cart fi wok in a wi culture – An buy one Horse and Buggy fi style up wi culture Day come an wi can go home Wi cook in- a- di Yabba pot wi use in a wi culture – An 3 legged Dutchy dat wi have in a wi culture An di herbs and spices dat wi use in a wi culture -Mek food taste so nice in a fi wi culture Day come an wi can go home Wi share wha wi cook dats the norm in a wi culture – “Wid Pass-byes an Call-eens” as wi do in a wi culture – Wi drink di Bush tea cause it good fi wi culture – And di Fruit and Veg juice fi strengthen wi culture – Wi drink di Roots wine as the tonic fi wi culture -And drink di White rum fi stir-up wi culture Day come an wi can go home |
Theme 4: Reclaiming Our Rights and DignityDay come an wi can go home Paul and Moses Bogle help wi fight fi wi culture -Fi justice and equality wi need in a wi culture Day come an wi can go home Wi have voter’s rights fi influence wi culture – Can choose soo-mady fi represent wi culture Day come an wi can go home |
Theme 5: Our Spirituality RevivedDay come an wi can go home Wi Spirituality reviving in keeping wid wi culture – Can praise fi wi God as wi do in wi culture Day come an wi can go home Wi can join Rastafari as part a fi wi culture – Dem strong belief in Bible teaching guide fi dem culture – Dem smoke di “sacred herb” fi gain wisdom bout dem culture – Dem “Peace and Love lifestyle” is in keeping wid wi culture – An dem link wid nature is part a fi wi culture – Di food dem eat is natural dat is good fi wi culture – An dem ritual, chant an songs, an slow beating of di drum- Help raise wi consciousness bout wi African culture Day come an wi can go home |
Theme 6: Unity – Solidarity – and PrideDay come an wi can go home Bogle say “Remember wi colour” an wi culture – An “Cleave to the Black” in respect fi wi culture- Garvey say “Unite” and reclaim fi wi culture – Him say“Rise up you mighty people” an tek back wi culture – “Know who wi are” an be proud a wi culture – An “Know whey wi come from” go find wi roots culture – Him say “Support wi wan anada” an Trade wid wi culture – An liberate wi- self – from colonial culture Day come an wi can go home Rasta Howell did say “harmony” is needed in black culture – Wi shouldn’t feel like “outcast” in a fi wi culture -Him say – fi tek a radical stance – in a fi dem culture -An Protest against oppression in disya Babylon culture – Wi fi go back to Africa fi search fi wi culture -wi Kingdom – wi Kinship an wi Tribal culture -Wi must confirm allegiance wid wi African culture – An emancipate wi self from colonial culture Day come an wi can go home |
Theme 7: The Cultural ChallengeDay come an wi can go home Wi come a long way fi reclaim fi wi culture – After 400 years of Colonial culture Day come an wi can go home Wi rich or wi poor wi hav fi live wid wi culture- Wi African or wi Jamaican culture? -Wi Black an Manley say “unite” in dis yah multi-racial culture – “Out of many we are one” we must accept dis yah culture So come mek wi dance, celebrate wi “mix-up” culture – Wi African an wi Jamaican culture Day come an wi can go home |
(2) Dub-rap on the food we use to eat
Another highlight of the programme was the Dub Rap about the different food we ate during the post emancipation years. From the abundance of food and fruits identified, the implication was that we should never have to go hungry in our culture!
Wi shoulda never go hungry – lyrics
Wi shoulda never go hungry inna fi wi culture
Verse 1Wi shoulda neva go hungry in a fi wi culture, Nuf Food and Wata fi nourish wi Culture Plantain – Callaloo – Corn and Cassava Badoe – Dasheen – Minty – Sally Cocoa Lettuce – Watercress – Sweet Potato Cabbage – Carrot – White and Green Cho Cho Pumpkin – Okra – Irish Potato Ox heart – Beef – Potentate Tomato Margrove – Plum – Small cooking Tomato Indian Kale – Gherkin – Spinach – Cucumber Garden egg – Onion – Turnip – Susumber Mi say- Nooo – we shoulda neva go hungry – Nooo – we shoulda neva go hungry Ackee – Escallion – Sweet pepper – Garlic Ginger – Annatto – Pimento – Turmeric Long neck Alligator – Round Simmons Pear Black skin – Green skin – Purple skin Pear Corona – String and Rose Cocoa Beans Crab eye – Butter – Broad – and Kidney Beans Gungo – Jerusalem – Black eye – Red and Cow Peas White yam – Renta yam – Lucea yam – St Vincent yam Negro yam – Chine yam – Mozella yam – Thaw yam Yellow yam – Afu yam – Sweet yam – and Pum Pum yam Mi say- Nooo – we shoulda neva go hungry – Nooo – we shoulda neva go hungry |
Verse 2Wi shoulda neva go hungry in a fi wi culture, Nuf Food and Wata fi nourish wi Culture Craw fish – Baby leg – White sugar Cane Salango – Stripe and Hard sugar Cane Jackfruit – Tamarind – Fig – Sweet sop Passion fruit – Guava – Melon – Sour sop Otaheite – Maumee – Rose – Custard apple Golden – Velvet – Star – and Crab apple Peanut – Cashew nut – Pineapple – Cherry Pomegranate – Gynep – Papa – Naseberry June plum – Hog plum – Coolie plum – and Dates Stinking Toe – Gimbelin – and Sea Grapes Mi say – Nooo – we shoulda neva go hungry – Nooo – we shoulda neva go hungry Valencia – Navel – and Sweet oranges Ortanique – Ugly – and Sour oranges Shaddock – Turpentine – Seville – Mandarin Grapefruit – Lemon – lime – Tangerine Julie –East Indian – Hayden – and Stringy Bombay – Number 11 – Robin – and Longy Kidney – Cow tone – Suppy – and Blackey Green guage – Gopall – Bastard – and Sweety Green skin – Red skin – Beefy and Hairy Millie – Butter – and Sweetie come brush mi Mi say – Nooo – we shoulda neva go hungry – Nooo – we shoulda neva go hungry |
Verse 3Wi shoulda neva go hungry in a fi wi culture, Nuf Food and Wata fi build up wi structure Red and Grey mullet – Turtle and Jack Wenchman – Calepeaver – Mackerel and Sprat Hamlet, Red – Black and Grey Snapper Red belly – Red Tail – Yellow tail Snapper Turbot – Marlin – Piper- Doctor- King Old wife – Gadamy – Grouper- Herring Tuna – Parrot – Lobster, Tiger, Shad June –Eel – Tiki –Tiki – Conch and Crab Barracuda – Whiting – Oyster- Crawfish Bonito – Cutlass – Grunt and Goat fish Mi say – Nooo – we shouda neva go hungry – Nooo – we shouda neva go hungry Goat – Cow – Hog Meat – Bully Beef and Ham Rabbit, Duck, Sheep Meat – Mutton and Lamb Turtle – Guinea Pig – Coney Meat and Wild Meat Head – Foot –Skin –Tail – Offal—So sweet Red neck – Peel neck – Rooster, Senseh Fowl Road Island – Game Foul – Hen – Guinea Fowl John Chuwi – Bald plate – Pigeon – Beenie Bud Wood Pecker – Barbie Dove – Pea Dove – Grass Bud Hen Egg – Boobie Egg – Turtle Egg – Duck Egg Hot Pepper – Black Pepper – Cinnamon – Nutmeg Miss say – Nooo – Wi shoulda neva go hungry Nooo – Wi shoulda neva go hungry Nooo – Wi shoulda neva go hungry – Nooo! |
SOME COMMENTS ON OUR SEPTEMBER 15th EVENT.
“I congratulate you on your successful event. The food, the dance and the history were enjoyable and informative. You (Beverley) are maintaining your family tradition of excellent public service”
“Congratulation JANUKA on another brilliant evening – entertaining and educational…and the callaloo was delicious”
“Thank you all for such an entertaining, educational evening. I really enjoyed reminiscing as it took me back to my childhood in Jamaica and my school years in London. I am touched that you are all embracing our culture, sharing the same passion in revisiting our history…”
“Congratulations on a purposeful and enlightening presentation. The performance, individually and collectively was of a high standard; but most importantly, it was delivered with commitment and passion. The support is a testimony that people are becoming more self-conscious, and have a growing desire to return to their origin. So just keep on clearing a path to help them find their way”
“We really enjoyed the concert. Well done”
“Well done to you and your team. Lots of work. Blessings”
“Hugh congratulations on yesterday’s evening. It was a real triumph!!!”
“I enjoyed the dance as it reminded me of my childhood. We used to do these folk dances as”
“Fantastic, interesting and very enlightening. Would definitely love to see this group again, Best wishes”
Excellent performance. It is good education for the younger generation of Jamaicans with Caribbean heritage. Keep it up, well done”
“Your dancing is extremely inspirational, the first time I saw you I was impressed and you continue to amaze me. Keep up the great work. Very entertaining.”
“Thank you ladies for such a wonderful experience of Jamaican history. We thoroughly enjoyed it. Continue spreading your message of our wonderful story. Thanks again”
“Great performance. Thank you for bringing the past to life. Hope you continue to grow”
“The dance! Fantastic, graceful movements, easy to watch and enjoy and a good stress –release activity. Definitely inspiring to know the history too”
Conclusion
This performance conformed with our cultural tradition in which our history and culture are shared from one generation to the next, through storytelling, proverbs, riddles, games, images, art, folksongs, music, dance, rituals and work ethics.
This innovative, interactive, entertaining and educational presentation was very well received.
We thoroughly enjoyed the planning, and the delivery of this programme. Part 4 is on the horizon!!!
THANK YOU to all Friends of JÁNUKA and well-wishers who devoted time and effort to make this event successful. Thanks to St Lawrence Church for allowing us to use their premises.
Our aim to entertain, educate, empower and inspire positive awareness of our Jamaican cultural heritage was truly achieved. Well done Team JANUKA.
From: Beverley Bogle – Group Coordinator.
