The festival fever is high in TB!!! Vehicles are rolling in, folks are checking in to accommodations, streets are filling up with folks walking around and enjoying Treasure Beach.

I, personnally, can't wait! I'm not a writer, but boy am I a reader - so I guess I'm kinda like a groupie.

Wishing all involved in the organization of the festival all the best. And for those of you not able to attend, you know I'll be taking photos.

Thanks Rebecca, we can't wait to see all the photos when it's over.

Wishing I could join you all at the festival.

Have great a time!!!

Jacqui

I understand the festival started with a bang last night. I heard the very first author shook up the place with his words! That's what Calabash is all about. Reminding us of the power of the written word.

Unfortunately, I was not able to reach until Chris Abani came on. I certainly did not want to miss him as I distinctly remember his words from 3 years ago. He did not dissappoint!

Well, off for a full day of Calabash Festival!!

Love this weekend!

This is a great festival. I'm told its the most formidable of its kind in the Caribbean.Hoping everyone will give it their fullest support. Congratulations Treasure Beach!Just wondering if anyone will be doing one of my favorite Primary school pieces...Mosquito one, mosquito two , mosquito jump ina hot calalou(to the famous beat of the desk)."Mi glad fi hear of all de talented brethrens an sistrens who have graced our 'Treasure." wid their presence. Mr.Walcot and others the more yu come, the happier and better we'll be.Many happy returns !

Colin Channer: Satisfying His Soul

BY TYRONE S REID Observer staff writer reidt@jamaicaobserver.com
Sunday, May 25, 2008



LET'S face it: Caribbean people always win in Colin Channer's work. No matter the obstacle - heartache, depression, the pain of losing a loved one - he carries us, whole, to the other side. Upon meeting him, it becomes obvious that there's always been something in him that could never settle for less than the best. Perfectionist? Maybe.


CHANNER... I believe Jamaica is showing that it's a leader in the region
Back in Jamaica for the 2008 staging of the Calabash International Literary Festival, the acclaimed author of such juicy page-turners as Passing Though, Waiting In Vain and Satisfy My Soul knows the things that matter deeply to his Jamaican people and has continuously proven the strength of his connection to his homeland. And each year the patriotic son works feverishly (with his team) to ensure that the best writers from across the globe come to share in the island spirit.

Indeed, all that hard work can take its toll on anyone, but Channer (a devoted father of two) has managed to strike the right balance among his work with Calabash, his writing career, his many other work and family-oriented commitments and his music. His loyal following can now rejoice, too, as he has a new novel on the way, which promises to be just as captivating as his previous best-sellers.

Sunday Entertainment recently dialled up the 'big man' to dish about life, literature and looking ahead.

Sunday Entertainment: People everywhere are amazed at how the Calabash Literary Festival has blossomed tremendously over its eight-year existence. What are you most pleased about regarding the festival's growth and reach since its inception?

Channer: Over the eight years, the festival's audience has grown significantly in numbers and has become more diverse. Every year there are more social classes and numerous countries represented and that's a very exciting achievement. We have a very strong contingent from the other Caribbean islands as well and the international status of the festival has grown . there has been coverage in major newspapers globally. And when you speak to writers about the best festivals around the world, they always mention Calabash.

Sunday Entertainment: In what ways are you and the other hard-working organisers hoping to improve on such a great product?

Channer: There are a lot of improvements that can be made, but that requires more money and greater support from individual donors. We are always hoping to put in place different things and keep the festival at an international standard. And importantly, keep the festival free and open to the public.

Sunday Entertainment: So far in your writing career, you've enjoyed great success with acclaimed novels and other works to your credit. Why was it important for you to write books like Waiting In Vain and Satisfy My Soul?

Channer: I am heavily influenced by reggae music and I have always wanted to explore that in literature by writing modern contemporary Caribbean stories with some form of reggae influence. At the same time, we don't often see the urban, contemporary educated Jamaican represented in fiction and I wanted to help change that.

Sunday Entertainment: With that said, are you satisfied with the state of your writing career?

Channer: I am. I have six books to my credit, all of them well received and were best-sellers in the US. And that kind of good fortune has allowed me to keep doing Calabash.

Sunday Entertainment: What about the state of the literary arts in the Caribbean?

Channer: It's a very critical and fragile stage but I believe Jamaica is showing that it's a leader in the region with several writers of international stature coming from the island. But we still need the publishers in the region to pay more attention to the quality of the packaging and promotion of books and offer writers better terms. But the future looks bright, despite the challenges.

Sunday Entertainment: Do you have new books that we should look out for?

Channer: Yes, I have a new book coming out soon, set in New York and Jamaica, and is told from a woman's point of view. I can't say too much about it right now but it is coming out with publishers Simon and Schuster.

Sunday Entertainment: When was the last time you were really disappointed about something in your life?

Channer: That was actually quite recently after I watched the prime minister's BBC interview. I was very disappointed by his stance and his expression of his stance. It made him, a representative of Jamaica, look like a small-time thinker. It also made the entire country look like a nation of small-time thinkers.

Sunday Entertainment: I hear you play music in a band.

Channer: Yea, I have a little band in York called Pipecock Jaxxon. I play the bass. I actually like playing music more than writing (Laughs).

Sunday Entertainment: So there is more to the 'Bob Marley with a pen' description than many people know?
Channer: Absolutely (Laughs).

Sunday Entertainment: Music aside, what always makes you happy? What satisfies your soul?

Channer: (1) Watching a child eat icecream, (2) Seeing a little bit of fat below a woman's belly button, (3) Watching drunk men drop legs to music outside a bar, (4) A bag of naseberries and (5) Watching old video clips of Michael Manley giving speeches and being reminded of what a great leader looks like, acts like and sounds like.

Sunday Entertainment: Interesting. How do you want to be remembered in the end?

Channer: As a good father and a decent human being.

As I sit here so blurry eyed early this Sunday morning I can barely see the keys to type, I have a big smile on my face and my heart and soul are filled with memories of powerful, eloquent, humorous, sad, all kinds of words. I also am fully reminded of how much I am not a writer - so I will try not to attempt anything fancy here.

I just wish I could put into words what an incredible experience this entire festival is. On a social level, seeing so many persons that over the eight years have now become friends. Seeing so many new faces each year. As one of the authors, Valzhyna Mort from Belarus, stated last night, "This is the sexiest audience I have ever read to." The only comment I would add to that is the most diverse. From the movers and shakers of Caribbean society, to starving artists just getting started. From authors who are on stage presenting their works for the first time, to Pulitzer Prize winners. Amazing!

The quality and diversity of all of the authors is just spectacular. The Open Mike section of the festival where anyone can have their two minutes of fame each year provides some of the most interesting and entertaining words heard this weekend. Sitting and listening to award winning authors, one after another, including Derek Walcott. Again, amazing!

And all this happening in a location which allows this festival to be all that it is, Treasure Beach. Yeah, I've lived here for 15 years now, but I am still overwhelmed with the beauty of the backdrop of the stage - the sea, the boats moored past the famous bottonwood tree, John Rock's Point. The smells of jerk, roast fish, boiled corn, and more every once in a wafting over the audience from Jack Sprat. The multi-colors of the wares being sold in the booths which you pass on your way in. The community opening its arms to welcome all the attendants.

Highlights for me so far have been Friday night Chris Abani reading a love poem which left every woman in the audience breathless - followed by him letting us know, "Sorry ladies, I just got engaged last night." Saturday morning Rosie Stone reading from her memoirs with not a dry eye in the place when she finished. Of course, the interview with Derek Walcott. Lorna Goodison reading an excerpt from her book about the day her father saw the first car in Jamaica driving down the road in Malvern at night with the boy holding a lantern walking in front of it so the driver could see where he was going (a true story). Gerard Donovan with his descriptive writing style making me feel I was in that cabin in the woods of northern Maine, feeling the grief of the main character in his book who was burying his dog who had been accidentally shot by a hunter. Valzhyna Mort reciting a poem in her native language, my not understanding one word, but feeling the passion. Listening to Rootz Underground, one of the hottest new reggae bands around performing on stage.

Biggest disappointment so far was in myself for not being able to stay awake to see Chalice perform. Eric - our illustrious webmaster just crawled out of his bed long enough to tell me Chalice was awesome and has now crawled back into bed.

So now I am off, for the final and quiet often the best day of the festival. I can't wait to be sitting down in a few hours relaxing to the words of Banana Bottom being read to me watching the waves rolling by and later to see Bob Andy!

Photos to come . . .

3 days of ideas, music and great vibes. So peaceful, no hassles, much love. Something to be very proud of for the area as well as those who pulled it all off.

Yes, Chalice was simply awesome. I'm still blown away by it the next day. Not only the songs, but the stage presence and the fantastic operatic reggae finish. It was nothing I'd seen before and it rocked.

And today's Lyrics of Bob Andy was such a Calabash-like 2 hours of musical heritage and laughs and dancing. G'wan Bashment Granny, g'wan!

Thanks to all the organizers mentioned by those above as well as the general staff that did everything from selling me my Red Stripes and Ital soup to policing the area to keep it all clean. And you did it with a smile on your face for the entire weekend. Hope you all get some much deserved rest.

And thanks to my partner for the loan of her spare bedroom during this booked solid festival weekend. I owe you one...put it on my tab :-)

-Eric

Well, I have to say I am still a bit blurry eyed, and am also still filled with all the fabulous memories of the weekend!

Sunday did not disappoint. Listening to Eddie Baugh, Barbara Gloudon, Denise Hunt, and Lloyd Reckord read passages from Banana Bottom just brought the characters on the pages alive, especially Eddie Baugh reading the famous anti-obeah sermon delivered by the preacher in the book. It felt very appropriate that this was happening on Sunday morning! So well done!

I think "Speaking in Tongues" was one of my personal favorite sections. Aracelis Girmay's poem written of those in Iraq who have lost their families, friends, etc. was exceptional. Jackie Kay and Kei Miller both had us rolling in the aisles with laughter - how fun! Kei Miller, so young and so talented! I hear his book was sold out 10 minutes after he read his works. Gregory Pardlo's poems putting us in a retrospective mindset.

Then 1 1/2 hours of Open Mike - never boring! Hey, wasn't that our own Jeanne Genus up on stage with her guitar entertaining us with a song she wrote!? Great job Jeanne. One of the last poems was one of the most entertaining of the weekend. I cannot say the title of the poem on this family site, but I will just say the female poet was very proud of what was the subject of the poem. It was all hers and she never left home without it. The women in the audience, including myself, proudly erupted with applause and laughter at it's conclusion. Only at Calabash!

Then the grand ending to such a grand weekend. The musical tribute to The Lyrics of Bob Andy. Just seeing and hearing the incredible talents of Stevie Golding, Ibo Cooper, Wayne Armond, and Seretse Small all sitting side by side on this one small stage, jamming, laughing, and celebrating a great song writer is enough. But then to have Bob Andy himself come up on stage, sing a few songs and chat with the audience like we were all sitting under a shade tree reasoning on a Sunday afternoon. Just amazing! Many were on their feet dancing away and enjoying the music.

The festival was brought to a close appropriately with a prayer given by Ms. Yvonne Clarke.

Big, big thanks to Kwame Dawes, Colin Channer, and Justine Henzell (the ultimate organizer). Kudos due to all of you and all others who, once again, pulled it all together and gave us another incredible festival.

For more detailed information on the festival, authors, etc. check out www.calabashfestival.org.

Here are some articles found on the festvial:

http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20080525/lead/lead8.html

http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20080526/ent/ent1.html

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/lifestyle/html/20080526t210000-0500_136050_obs_ma rgaret_cezair_thompson__the_native_daughter.asp

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/lifestyle/html/20080525t190000-0500_136023_obs_de rek_walcott___the_chatterbox__.asp

Okay, so now I will start sorting out the over 200 photos I took. Soon Come . . .

Pictures!! Please post the pictures. Please.

Alright already . . . They're posted. Phew!

Calabash Festival 2008

I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed taking them.

Beautiful. Thank you Rebecca.

thanks Rebecca, you got some great shots. looks like it was a lot of fun, as usual. seems to be getting more popular each year.

The pictures from the festival evoke a lot of emotions. Thanks for sharing. Next year I hope to be there along with some of my friends.

Thanks Rebecca, miss being down there more now.