A multiple-award-winning documentary about Jamaica’s vibrant and fascinating dancehall scene is set to enthrall audiences as part of the annual We Beat festival in St James.
The screening of Hit Me With Music, which takes place at the St James Amphitheatre on Saturday 2 June from 7pm, is part of the trinidad + tobago film festival (ttff) and bpTT Community Cinergy series of film screenings. Presented in association with the St James Improvement Committee, the screening is free of charge, and open to all persons sixteen years and over.
Released in 2011 and directed by Miquel Galofré, Hit Me With Music is a brilliant exploration of the various facets of dancehall culture, including feuds between rival musicians, skin bleaching, and the “daggering” phenomenon. Dancehall pioneers Yellowman and the late Bogle make appearances in the film, as well as more recent stars Elephant Man, Mavado and Vybz Kartel.
The film—which has been playing to enthusiastic audiences in North America and Europe—won both the jury and audience awards for best documentary at the ttff/11.
Following the screening there will be a Q&A session with the director.
The ttff is held annually in September and is presented by Flow, given leading sponsorship by RBC Royal Bank and bpTT, and supported by the Trinidad & Tobago Film Company, the National Gas Company, the Tourism Development Company, the Tobago House of Assembly and the Ministry of Arts and Multiculturalism. For more information visit www.ttfilmfestival.com.
Source: repeatingislands.com
Image from Wikipedia
Friday was the 31st anniversary of Bob Marley’s death. The legendary reggae singer was born February 6th, 1945. Today, Bob’s estate is worth an incredible $1billion. The compilation album Legend, released three years after his death, is reggae’s best-selling album and has gone Platinum ten times.
Marley is mostly known for his iconic renditions of “I Shot The Sheriff” and “Buffalo Soldier” as well as the focus of the new documentary “Marley.”
From a young age Marley struggled to survive extreme poverty and being the child of mixed race. He often turned to music to vent his frustrations and would eventually discover an affinity for the ideals of Rastafarianism and the slow beats of reggae. The principles of pride and honesty, along with easy rhythm and relaxation can be found in any Marley song.Marley traveled the world spreading harmony, peace and his music. Many of his songs would be covered by fellow artists, but none could match the smooth vocals Marley effortless used.
At 36, Marley would tragically die of cancer. He was on his way home to Jamaica when his condition worsen and he was rush to the Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Miami, Florida. He had 10 children.
At Marley’s eulogy, Jamaican Prime Minister Edward Seaga said “Bob Marley was never seen. He was an experience which left an indelible imprint with each encounter. Such a man cannot be erased from the mind. He is part of the collective consciousness of the nation.”
What’s your favorite memory of Bob Marley? Favorite Song?
The 4th Caribbean Cinema Travel Exhibition will begin on May 10 in eastern Santiago de Cuba province and will tour the island until July 5, when it will arrive in this capital to be enjoyed on the screen of the Chaplin movie theater. Cuban producer Rigoberto Lopez, president and promoter of the Exhibition, told ACN that this is one of the most significant meetings of the region, because it gets to 31 countries and overcomes the language barrier. With the purpose of preserving the audiovisual memory of the Caribbean in all of its diversity and favor its visibility, the exhibition compiles the best of the region’s cinematography and translates it into Spanish, English and French, its official languages. Frantz Voltaire, Norman de Palm and Bruce Paddington are some of the filmmakers that, under Lopez’s direction, have been part of the selection committee. The present edition is dedicated to the Caribbean Diaspora, and its program includes 33 movies, between documentaries, animated films, shorts and feature films, coming, among other nations, from Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Barbados, the United States, Haiti, the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic and Cuba. The Exhibition became a regional meeting on July 8, 2006, when its first edition was convened. Anabel Fernandez, Communication specialist with the office in charge of the Exhibition, told ACN that on this occasion there will be other showings, like those dedicated to Haitian cinema, after the earthquake that devastated that country in January, 2010.
Source: repeatingislands.com
The Cayman Islands will join other Commonwealth countries and territories in celebrating the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II this year, marking her ascension to the throne in the United Kingdom upon the death of her father King George VI in 1952.
Mary Lawrence, chairwoman of the Cayman Islands celebration committee, is asking families and organisations to support significant events taking place to mark 60 years of the Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s reign over the British Empire, of which the Cayman Islands remains an overseas territory.
On Saturday, 26 May, a beacon run starting at West Bay and North Side will end at Pedro bluff with the Acting Governor Franz Manderson lighting the beacon being erected on Pedro bluff. The beacon will remain lit until the 5 June.
At Pedro Castle, a proclamation will be read by Cayman Islands Premier McKeeva Bush declaring the Diamond Jubilee celebrations officially open in the Cayman Islands.
On Saturday, 2 June, the committee, along with the Cayman Islands Olympic Committee will host a luncheon with funds going to support athletes participating in the 2012 Olympic Games in London. The committee will also host a “flotilla” at 6pm in Hog Sty Bay and people are encouraged to participate with decorated boats. At 11pm, a fireworks display will light up the sky.
On Sunday 3 June, churches will host a special worship service and jubilee luncheon as part of the celebrations. The official prayer has been circulated to be read in churches. At 2pm, the official church service of thanksgiving will take place at the Elsmlie Memorial Church in George Town.
On Monday, 4 June, which is a public holiday, uniform and civic groups will gather at the Government Administration Building to make its way to the Legislative Assembly Building for the Queen’s Birthday celebrations and day of international culture and food.
The events will be duplicated on the Sister islands of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman with Wanda Tibbitts and the committee heading the events on the two Islands.
On World Environment Day, trees will be planted around Grand Cayman. The goal is to plant 6,000 trees by the end of the year; 1,000 for each decade of the queen’s reign in the Cayman Islands.
The Commonwealth Society is also launching a Jubilee time capsule with a collection of stories, pictures and memorabilia of the past 60 years to mark the occasion. Lemuel Hurlston, committee deputy chairman, is encouraging schools and the community to get involved, which can be submitted online at www.jublileetimecapsule.org.
The Cayman committee is also working on highlighting the Queen’s visit to the Cayman Islands and encourages communities to participate with materials to be on display at the George Town Public Library. Flags, commemorative coins, memorabilia and stamps will be available from the museum. The official emblem for the Jubilee can be found on the royal website.
“The problems we have had in developing our country is we have never focused on our history. Our children and grandchildren need to know who we are and how we got where we are. I am hoping that these events will help us focus once again on where we came from and how we got here,” Ms Lawrence said. “The Quincentennial celebrations brought to the forefront that we did have a past, history and culture as a people and we hope this Jubilee celebration will imprint in peoples’ minds once again that the Cayman Islands are a part of something big and something great.”
Ms Lawrence said cost of the events will not be as much as Quincentennial celebrations. “When it comes to finances there is not enough money. Most of the things done during Quincentennial will act as a backdrop for the celebrations,” she said.
When asked if the Christian Heritage Park on North Church Street will be a part of the celebrations, Ms Lawrence said there is not enough money to develop that area at this time.
Source: www.compasscayman.com