The biggest and best ever! This was the 5th year for the Calabash Literary Festival, now the largest Literary Festival held in the Caribbean, and it just keeps getting better every year.

It left me inspired, elated, entertained, and absolutely exhausted as I attempted to not miss a thing.

Details and photos to come.

Its amazing, I only got a piece of it on Saturday night and I enjoyed it so much that I can just imagine what the entire week-end was like.

I will just have to hope I can be there next year.

Unfortunately, I missed the first part of the festival entitled The CWW presents four members of the Calabash Writers Workshop reading from their work, however, I was able to see the section entitled:

Two the Hard Way: A twin engine ride on the wings of revolution with poets Amiri Baraka (USA) and LKJ (UK).



Amiri Baraka



LKJ

An incredible lightning show provided the stage drop stimulating us visually as the authors stimulated us with their oral presentations. Quite extraordinary!

Next up; Ole Time Show Time: An outdoor screening of The Harder They Come on a sheet. Popcorn not included.

Followed by; Midnight Ravers: Open air beach party with celebrity deejay Mutabaruka.

I stupidly thought I had better go home early and get a good night's sleep to be awake for the full day on Saturday. I realized on Saturday what a stupid decision I had made when I heard how great it was to watch The Harder They Come with so many who shared a love for this Jamaican cult film. Then I heard Mutabaruka rocked the place! I would not make this mistake again. . .

Saturday morning started with a bang.

Life Sentence: Memoirs to remember from some fascinating people who've lived to tell the tale. Diane Abu-Jaber (USA/Jordan), Yvonne Brewster (Jamaica/UK), Manthia Diawara (Mali), and Stephanie Stokes Oliver (USA)



Yvonne Brewster delivering comical antidotes through her mother's words.

Then Russell Banks; Solo reading by a giant of American literature (15 works of fiction - two made into films



Russell Banks reading a chapter from his novel entitled Book of Jamaica.

Special personal treat for me as he read my favorite chapter from this novel -- unraveling the story of a night long drive with the white American, Johnny and his Jamaican friend, Rasta, transporting the Gordon Town Maroon Colonel and his entourage to the Accompong Maroons' village in Johnny's minibus. Hmmm, wonder why that is my favorite chapter?!?!?

Mr. Banks has an uncanny talent of describing the sometimes comical and always complex nuiances of life in Jamaica.

Next up: Around the World in 3 Poets; An excursion through the worlk of verse with finely crafted ports of call. Meena Alexander (India), Mark Doty (USA) and Li-Young Lee (Indonesia).

Unfortunately, I was unable to see this section as my camera batteries needed a charge . . . and so did I.

After 'catching a fresh', charging the batteries and gulping a very large cup of coffee (determined to stay awake for later tonight) I returned in time to enjoy The Great Non-American Novel; Four exquisite works of fiction set in "other" worlds. There's a whole big planet out there. Robert Antoni (Trinidad), George Elliott Clarke (Canada), Francisco Goldman (Guatemala), and Andrea Levy (UK).



George Elliott Clarke



Francisco Goldman



Andrea Levy

Each author was rivoting as they read excerpts from their novels bringing their characters alive jumping off the pages into our imaginations.

Again, on a personal note, thanks to Don Noel (owner of Villa Hikaru) for sending me a copy of Andrea Levy's latest novel Small Island as I was not able to find it in a book store here in Jamaica. I had just finished reading Small Island a few days prior to the festival, so it was a real treat for me to hear Ms. Levy read from this book. Don, the copy you loaned me will be returned as a signed copy!

As you can see in the previous photos, the back drop to the stage was quite a stunning view. All during the day we were watching the waves on a calm Caribbean turquoise blue sea rolling onto the beach filled with children of all ages cooling down in the water, while listening to this incredible cast of talented artists.

Then, at 9:00 p.m. the fire began! Tongues of Fire featuring Roger Bonair-Agard (Trinidad), Staceyann Chin (Jamaica), Joan Andrea Hutchinson (Jamaica), and Mutabaruka (Jamaica).

And what a fire hot, mon!!



Roger Bonair-Agard read from many of his works. One of my favorites was an interesting twist to an old Mighty Sparrow song. First, Roger sang the song which depicted a young woman (who's name I cannot remember, please someone help me if you know this song) who is depicted as ugly, dirty, and all around not a nice girl. Then Mr. Bonair-Agard read a story he wrote from the woman's point of view stating that she loved this man, was a very innocent young lady until she met him and due to this song she had to run from her home town and basically live in exile the rest of her life with her son who was conceived with this union. Intriguing interpretation to a popular soca song.



Then came Staceyann Chin. I remember her performance from the very first Calabash Literary Festival five years ago. My expectations were high and she did not disappoint. Ms. Chin provided a verbal slap of reality towards prevelant attitudes within Jamaica today. She, unequivocally stirred up the audience. A little controversy is always good and as Stevie Golding said the next day of Ms. Chin's performance, "It broadens the mind. We all need to progress with the times."



Joan Andrea Hutchinson was sheer entertainment offering wonderful antidotes delivered in full Jamaican Patois. My personal favorite, was a story told by a dog asking why they always get a bum rap, "It's a dog eat dog world, "Dog breath", "Dog days", etc. Ms. Hutchinson had the audience rolling in the aisles with laughter.



Treasure Beach's adopted son, Mutabaruka, (owner of Villa Mutamba) as always made us think and think hard, questioning politics, religion, life, etc. One point in particular Mutabaruka made was the pirate, Sir Henry Morgan, was the first governor of Jamaica, have the standards of politicians changed over the years? Hmmm.

Note: Please excuse the darkness of many of these photos, however, out of respect for the artists I did not want to go up close and send a bright flash into their eyes while they were reading.

Calabashment: Outdoor concert dedicated to the late reggae pioneer Delroy Wilson with Lloyd Parkes & We The People, The Clarendonians, Leroy Sibbles and more was next and let me tell you, once that music started, I didn't need to drink that coffee to have stayed awake. Icons in the industry and music which just does not allow you to sit down while enjoying it!



Lloyd Parks and We the People Band



Hey, I recognize him, that is Chris the chef from Jakes!



The Clarendonians



Leroy Sibbles









There was an estimated crowd of 2500 people there on Saturday night! What a phenomenal time. Speaking of time, I got home with tired feet and a soaring spirit about 4:00 a.m.!

To be continued . . .

friday at the calabash THE FIFTH Calabash International Literary Festival hit high gear on Friday night with Amiri Baraka and Linton Kwesi Johnson in 'Two The Hard Way'.

The enthusiastic applause from the substantial audience gathered under the tents beside Jake's in Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth, was an indication of high expectations. And the standing ovations each received after delivering their poetry confirmed satisfaction of those expectations.

The two were both topped off by hats and read relatively long pieces, but that was about where the similarities stopped. Baraka, who went first, was a sometimes music humming, head-bobbing, growling, almost panting, then suddenly calm figure, while Johnson kept to an easy pace and posture throughout, giving background information to the poems he read from the Penguin Collection Mi Revolushanary Fren.

"I bring you greetings from the Afro-American people in the U.S. and the progressive people in the U.S., since you do not hear much about them," Baraka began, to applause.

He started his deluge of images with #35 YMCA and started out with singing. The words came thick and fast as Baraka worked his way towards a description of 'an original western holocaust ­ slavery'. Then his voice rose near the end as he said, "At the bottom of the Atlantic there is a railroad, built of human bones."

Nightmare Bu##### World started with humming from Stevie Wonder and the thought that "There was once the belief that we were stronger than the devil."

EXTENSIVE EXPLORATION

Then there was extensive exploration of those who "Could sneak in as dressed up nothing King," and a mention of "Oh President, named after a reefer" and this "backward dog that thought he was god." The next piece, Jungle Jim Fails His Screen Test was a severe, repeated slashing of muscleman turned movie star turned politician turned Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Baraka ended with the poem for which it was advocated that he resign as New Jersey Poet Laureate. There was quiet as he started low with "somebody blew up America," then continued with:

All thinking people abhor terrorism/both domestic and international/but one should not be used to cover up another.

Then Baraka went into an extensive and exhaustive series of questions about 'Who?', like "Who lives on Wall Street, the first plantation", "Who stole Puerto Rico", "Who forced opium on the Chinese?" and "Who made Bush president?".

And he asked, "Who told 4,000 Israelis working at the Trade Centre to stay home that day?". "Who is the ruler of hell?" Baraka asked, before ending in a howling hoot like an owl in a frenzy over its missing young.

Johnson read from three decades of his verse in Mi Revolushanary Fren, saying that the first two poems represent my earliest attempts to find my voice as a poet by drawing on my Jamaican heritage. They were written in 1972 and were part of four pieces called Notes on Brixton. His pre-poem patter was in English, the poems in Jamaican language, and he started out with Yout Scene, then moved on to Five Nights of Bleedin.

"I know I could not come to Jamaica and do a poetry reading and not do this poem," Johnson said, the announcement of Sonny's Letter sparking applause.

He moved into the 80s with Reggae Fi Dadda, written in 1982 for his dead father, who stayed in Jamaica while he moved to England with his mother as a child, sending him home with 'galang go smile in de sun'.

The beautiful pair of the love poem Hurricane Blues and the sad Reggae Fi Bernard for his mysteriously killed (by a train in a subway station) nephew marked the '90s, before Johnson ended with Top Notch Poet.

The close of the event the host of 'Two The Hard Way', Kwame Dawes, called Baraka and Johnson back to the stage for a final appreciation, noting that the moment was 'big history'.

If you were moved either good or bad by the words above, then you have just encountered the true spirit of the literary festival sharing and listening to different ideas whether you agree with them or not. Isn't it great to have a festival celebrating free speech where many can agree to disagree and where opposing opinions are given the opportunity to be heard.

Sunday morning caught many of us a bit blurry eyed, but still determined not to miss a bit of the festival.

Voices Under the Window: Four Jamaican icons celebrate the 50th anniversary of a great Jamaican book. Eddie Baugh, Oliver Clarke, Faye Ellington, and Perry Henzel.



Perry Henzell

Each person read an excerpt from Voices Under the Window giving their personal interpretation and touches to each reading.

Then An hour with one of Canada's most important poets and fiction writers, Dionne Brand (Canada).



Dionne Brand

Exquisite lyrics, I could have listened to her all day! My favorite poem, a love poem dedicated to the sea.

The Craft of Jimmy Cliff; An exploration of the lyrics of the global superstar through voices and guitar with Wayne Armond (Jamaica), Stevie Golding (Jamaica), and Billy Mystic (Jamaica).



Left to Right: Billy Mystic, Wayne Armond, and Stevie Golding.

What a great segment. Each artist spoke of their personal experiences with Jimmy Cliff, how his music influenced them and the world. Their commentary interspersed with everyone's favorite Jimmy Cliff songs. The audience sang along and all were on our feet dancing and applauding to the encore of The Harder They Come.

The final segment was Akashic Books presents: A tapas serving of inventive fiction and life stories from a Brooklyn indie press. Daniel Chavarria (Uruguay), Miles marshall Lewis (USA), Krist Novoselic (USA), and Lauren Saunders (USA).

Alas, my energy quit after the Jimmy Cliff segment and I limped home missing the final section and closing remarks.

As I stated before, what an incredible weekend! Informative, thought provoking, controversial, entertaining, socializing, and so much much more.

One thought which continued to pass through my mind as I was sitting in the audience looking on the stage and enjoying such talent, was that just 9 months ago this very stage was used for water storage tanks. The entire community was coming to this stage to receive potable water for drinking after hurricane Ivan. If you stood at this stage back then and looked around, you would have seen the roof off of the house which was being used as a book store all weekend long. Jack Sprat was in shambles, and there was so much debri on the beach and surrounding area you could not walk through.

Treasure Beach has come so far in 9 months thanks to so many coming together. I wish I had even a bit of the talent of those I heard all weekend to be able to express my gratitude in writing to all who united in putting our beautiful community of Treasure Beach back together again making this weekend possible for the 5th year in a row. We've come so very far!

We could not talk about this weekend without mentioning a part of the festival which has come to be many persons favorite part:

Open Mike: Head to the food court or stay for the best talent show this side of American Idol!

This segment is wonderfully organized by Dr. Carolyn Cooper (UWI, Kingston).



Dr. Carolyn Cooper

Anyone and everyone is encouraged to sign up with Dr. Cooper and have their two minutes on stage. Amazing talent!!!

Hey isn't that our very own Joshua Stein?



And Miss June, who brought the house down with laughter!

Thanks must always be given to the organizers and sponsors, as without them, none of this would have been enjoyed!

The founders and organizers, Justine Henzel; production director, Kwame Dawes; program director, and Colin Channer; founder and artistic director





The festival is produced by the Calabash International Literary Festival Trust (the Trust), which also produces publishing seminars, writing workshops and a film series. The Trust is affiliated with the Friends of the Calabash International Literary Festival, a registered 501(c)(3) corporation in the United States.





The Calabash International Literary Festival Trust
14 Montego Freeport Center
Montego Bay, St. James
Jamaica, W.I.
876.965.3000
calabashfestival@hotmail.com

Sponsors include:

Jake's
Chase Fund
DFID
American Airlines
Jamaica Tourist Board
Dhering Bunting & Golding
McMillan
US Embassy
Island Outpost
Super Plus Food Stores
Wisynco Trading
Wray & Nephew
Reed Foundation
Akashic Books

Now what festival held in Jamaica would be complete without The Food!!

Red Pea Soup, Conch Soup, Corn Soup, Peppered Shrimp, fresh coconut water, fresh pineapple cut up while you wait, fresh fruit dishes, festival, bammy, jerk chicken, jerk pork, curried goat, rice and peas, and thanks to Little Ochie . . . garlic shrimp, curried conch, stewed conch, curried shrimp, steamed fish, escovitch fish, and so much more.















I believe I gained 10 lbs. this weekend!

Images of The Calabash Literary Festival 2005!

Images continued . . .

























See ya next year!

My mother sure looks like she had enough fun for all of us. Thanks for the pix Rebecca. I wish with all my heart that I was there.

D

Thank you Rebecca - I wish I had been there, maybe next year!

I had been in Treasure beach all this time25 year and have never been to the Calabash Festival but from the comments i hear other people make i certainly will be there next year.

Calabash Festival 2005 - "the fire is Lit"
Treasure Beach, Jamaica

The 5th Calabash Literary Festival promised to be even better than before. By Sunday, few would quarrel that this promise was not fullfilled. Beginning Friday night with new poets, my group did not arrive until the headline event: Amiri Baraka ,fka LeRoi Jones, and Linton Kwesi Johnson. Both men captivated the audience, though they differed greatly in style. Baraka hummed, sang, chanted, waved arms, grabbed crotch and pounded his fist, as he performed his wide ranging, always political, works. "Bushit World" started with humming from Stevie Wonder and the thought that "There was once the belief that we were stronger than the devil." His regard for GW Bush was clear: "Oh President, named after a reefer.
Jungle Jim Fails His Screen Test was a severe, repeated slashing of muscleman turned movie star turned politician turned Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. (Do people still remember the Jungle Jim Show? Baraka described it as the show that was developed once Tarzan got a beer gut and couldn't wear a loin cloth anymore!) He ended with the poem for which it was advocated that he resign as New Jersey Poet Laureate, which began: "somebody blew up America," then continued with: All thinking people abhor terrorism/both domestic and international/but one should not be used to cover up another.
After thunderous applause Baraka took a seat and LKJ took over, mezmirizing the audience.
LKJ's strong bearing, top hat and tie, mere presence commanded attention. He began with several poems from Mi Revolushanary Fren, published in Pengiun's Modern Classics series, only the second living poet and first black poet to do so. His performance was perfectly cadenced, rhythmic, as he painted vivid pictures with his words. Loud applause accompanied his annoucing he would read "Sonny's Letter," often called "Mama," a poignant letter home from England where Sonny is imprisoned and trying to explain circumstances to his mother back home. With little chatter between poems, he let his poetry speak for itself, and it came through loud and clear.

When the program came to a close, the crowd was on its feet cheering for more.....and More was given.

By 10:30 a screen had been set up on stage for a late night showing of "The Harder They Come," outdoors under the stars. Of course, most of the audience knew all the songs, and many seemed to know the dialog throughout. Perry Henzell, author and co-director, was in attendance as was Trevor Rhone, co-director and actor.

After the film came to a end, Mutabaruka sheparded the crowd to the beach for a midnight beach party. With Muta spinning the discs, the music was hot, hot, hot. I fell asleep in my bed to the party still going strong.

A Great first day for Calabash.

georgiajan

what a pleasure to see, to read, you!
I miss you all...
what else to say...
thank you!
one love
peace
respect
be bless
G