Calabash

is

ON

has anyone canceled their nearby room due to the violence in kingston? i am looking for a place in walking distance, please.

I canceled at Golden Sands yesterday...American Airlines canceled my flight yesterday...was supposed to fly into Town tonight; lost my Town-TB ride, too.

Hoping and supporting positive changes to rise from the ashes of this sad situation. See u next year, yu hear?

please call Sunset Resort 965-0143 - they may have a room or 2 still available.

No cancellations but we have had a few folks extend their stay in TB for longer.

Sisterfire, I'm sorry to hear that you had to cancel your trip because your flight was canceled. I'm surprised American Airlines didn't try to reroute you to MoBay. I hope you won't have to wait until next year before you get back to TB.

Thanks, Stacie. No worries, probably won't reach TB til next year, but already had a next trip to yard booked for later in June! Can't keep me away for too long! Be well!

Well, it looks like it may be another year of Calawash! We've been having heavy rains all last night with about an hour break this morning and now it is starting again. The forecast for the weekend isn't looking too sunny either.

No matter - some of my best Calabash Festival memories are of sitting under the tent in the pouring rain listening to wonderful words.

yes, the rain brought out a certain commaraderie.

It was a deluge in Negril last night. I had to wade through water to get to the car. Clouds are very low in the sky.

Bring an umbrella for sure.

I'll be there soon.

People are starting to stream in to TB now for Festival. Should be a great weekend rain or shine!

hi eric,hope you will enjoy your time

Hey Gang,,

Despite the rain, calabash is a success, it is horrible what is going on in Kingston, but our little fishing village is yet again safe.

Tonight I went to South Jammin , as alows Joe Isaacs the original drummer from Studio One brought out the best of his friends, and promises even more wonderful talent.

Mutabaruca where are you or where will you be tommmorow? Looking forward.

Lil

Calabash time or not
Rain is a blessing and always welcome in Treasure Beach

Etana and Freddie was the greatest last night. Good to see "Smile Orange again". What rain? Did not affect it one bit. I had such a great time with especially our project Abroad volunteers that I am going back again tonight... anyone missing this event is missing a great display of our true culture. Wow!!!

WOW! WOW! Another incredible Calabash Festival! Last night started out with a powerful line-up of great readings. Our favorite environmentalist Diana McCaulay held everyone's attention with her reading of Dog Heart. (I bought the book today and can't wait to read it. But I'll have to wait as Debbian already scooped it up to read first!) Russell Banks was another highlight for me as I've enjoyed his books for a long time. He took the audience on an incredible journey to Accompong with a 15 year old American white boy. Then a wonderful short movie presentation by a great group called New Caribbean Cinema. Watch for this group to be producing and directing some interesting films in the near future.

Then as a tribute to the great Trevor Rhone, "Smile Orange". I've seen this film before but watching it with an audience of approximately 1000 persons all laughing simultaneously and truly appreciating Trevor Rhone's work - WOW!

I so wanted to stay for Etana and Freddie McGregor, I really did . . . but alas my body's demand for sleep won out. I am so sorry I missed it as everyone that was there said they both were just fabulous! Next year I will have to take some of Dawn's coffee with me so I can stay awake.

Today was another incredible day! Three great authors starting out the day, Cristina Garcia, Bernice McFadden, and Feryal Ali Gauhar and then what many were waiting with great anticipation for . . . the interview with Wole Soyinka. It was another moment when I sat in the audience and thought, I can't believe I can walk from my home, enter free and hear such literary superstars read from their works and/or be interviewed. WOW!

One of my favorite parts of this festival is Open Mike. This is when anyone can come up and say their piece for 2 minutes. You just never know what is going to be said. You are laughing, crying, romanced, angered, and always entertained. Of course, there were many words regarding recent events in Kingston. Absolutely riveting!

Up next was the Men at Work segment. Unfortunately I had to leave before this was finished and was not able to return until the Open Mike section later in the evening. Once again, the evening session of Open Mike did not disappoint. Aspects of the Novel gave us 3 very diverse writers and we were completely entertained. Then it was off to Calabashment with Colin Channer and Mutabaruka clashing with music from the 60's on through to today. Once again my need for sleep won out and I left just after one round of the clash.

I'm writing this now as I am very tired from the events of the last two days and needing sleep so I can start again early in the morning so please excuse me for my brief report.

I would like to end with passing on a few quotes I heard today that stuck with me. The first was from Kwame Dawes. During one of the introductions he aptly described the emotions of the festival as "Nice, nice, nice, nice, nice vibes." I think you could add a few more 'nice' in there and still not be overstating it.

The second quote was from one of the readers this morning. I believe it was Cristina Garcia. She said, "This is where the international press should be right now. This is the story that should be told of what is happening in Jamaica."

The last quote was from Mutabaruka. He dedicated Bob Marley's Smile Jamaica to the tourists in the audience and said, "You've not been to Jamaica unless you've been to St. Eliabeth." I couldn't agree more! (The letter between the 'i' and the 'a' just stopped working on my keyboard so this is not a typo)

What a day!! I've been taking some photos and will try to post them before I leave out for the festival in the morning. But right now . . . sweet dreams . . .

I feel so blessed to be in St. Bess.

Okay, here's the first round of photos from the festival.

You can view them here or by the link in the Photo Gallery

Glad it went on. Wish I had been there. And I have to also agree with Mutabaruka and definately with Cristina. YES, that is where the international press should be so they can see what real people of Jamaica are like.

The next set of photos are now posted.

You can view them here or by the link in the Photo Gallery

After falling asleep at 8:00 last night I've woken still tired from this exceptional weekend! I received an email already this morning from a friend daring me to tell her this wasn't the best festival yet. Well, at the risk of sounding like a cliche - the first will always be the best for me. However, this was absolutely a superb festival!

Yesterday, from beginning to end was just - I'm speechless! The readings from the novel "The Last Enchantment" were incredible. I love this part of the festival . . . tired from the events of Saturday night, you crawl out of bed, consume a great deal of coffee and get comfy in a chair, look out at the magnificent Caribbean Sea, sit back and listen to a wonderful story being read to you by four great readers. I mean come on, Leonie Forbes reading to me?!?!?! Ahhhhhh . . .

Then we were totally and completely entertained by Billy Collins and Sudeep Sen in the "Two the Hard Way" section.

Of course, Open Mike never disappoints. . . and the grand finale was even more grand this year. The musical tribute to the lyrics of Bob Marley's Uprising album presented by Wayne Armond, Ibo Cooper, Steve Golding, Seretse Small had a good deal of spice added to it. They mixed in some Sonny Bradshaw influence into the music giving it a jazz touch with guest musicians playing trumpet, horn, sax, drums, etc. Wow! If you are not familiar with Seretse Small's music, do yourself a favor and seek it out.

How do you top this? Bring Myrna Hague on stage and have her sing her rendition of "Redemption Songs". WOW! WOW! Miss Hague is known as 'Jamaica's First Lady of Jazz'. What a way to celebrate 10 years of Calabash Festival!

As everyone started to leave the festival they were further treated to the drumming of our own Shane Brothers. Many stopped and enjoyed their ever increasing talents.

I would like to recognize the accomplishments of Colin Channer, Kwame Dawes, Justine Henzell, and their team. Having the vision to start a literary festival in this tiny little town 10 years ago. When folks think of Jamaica - they don't necessarily think of literature. When folks think of hosting a festival - they don't think of putting it in a location far from pretty much everything. But these three did just that. And it has grown and grown. I wonder if they ever envisioned what it has become today. This is now a major world class and world known literary festival attracting major literary stars, Pulitzer and Nobel quality . . . right here in this small town. And lets not forget the challenge to keep it free of cost to the attendants. If you've never put on a festival of this size, then you have no idea of the planning, coordination and money spent on something like this. No easy feat! Yet each year they pull it off - what seems to be in flawless perfection.

This year, I feel, was especially poingant due to what is happening in Kingston. Many of the attendees are from the corporate area. Two themes seemed to arise continuously throughout the festival which I feel are worth mentioning. Peace and pride. We all want peace for our beautiful Jamaica as we are all so proud to be Jamaicans.

Thank you to all who have a part in putting on this festival and allowing us to be reminded of all we have to feel proud of.

Everything Nice ! thats the motto for this year !
Great Guests, Great vibes , thank you for bringing it on again ! Thank you Justin, Collin and many more, thank you !

Rebecca you have sold Calabash to me and I have to be there next year!

Rebecca, shivers all over, so proud for you all.
Of course you haven't seen Jamaica if you haven't been to St. Elizabeth !!!
Almost came with Miss Norma this year, but son's health kept me home where I needed to be, hopefully next year, always look forward to your words and photos, loved both and big thanks for your time and effort and loving sharing, so much appreciated girl !
Keep well and find time to read and reflect.
Peace and Pride, and yes the press should really be trying to balance out the news of the world with events such a the wonderfully successful Calabash Literary Festival.
One Love and Happy happy smiles
xoxoxoxoo