Calabash's rich literary traditions

Groundins

By: Charles H.E. Campbell

Sunday, June 03, 2012


LONG before the event, I had made up my mind that I would immerse myself into the Calabash Festival programme, having seen the various personalities who would be interviewed, read, or have their prose/poems read, spin records, or play live music. The producers had promised us a special event celebrating our Golden Jubilee and the programme was thoughtfully designed to achieve this objective.



No-Maddz

My biggest anticipation on Friday, was to see how well the literati would receive the performances of Raging Fyah and No-Maddzs. It is my belief, that in our anxiety for Jamaica to join the renaissance in live reggae music being experienced by the rest of the world,in our renewed appreciation of live reggae music, sometimes, we give unadulterated love and uncritical support to the young groups who have been coming to the fore, over the last five years or more. When I attend their events at the few venues, where they have "cut their teeth", the audience at times, seem so sycophantic that one feels compelled to behave likewise and remain silent on any perceived flaws, which if moderated may enhance their stage craft.

By now, all my readers know that in my view, Raging Fyah is one of the hottest young groups in Jamaica at this moment; furthermore they have the kind of lyrics and music that the world is clamouring for. Their lead singer has the kind of charisma and mystical aura that makes him a potential super star.

Raging Fyah's performance on Friday night, however, was not as electrifying or dynamic as one has come to expect from them. I have concluded that they have become too reliant on audience response to propel their usual high-energy stage routine. This performance came at a critical time, just prior to them embarking on their international career. I hope they have come away recognising the need to rap with their audience in-between some of their songs to connect intimately. Lead singer, Kumar Bent's natural charm and charisma are well suited for this purpose.



Raging Fyah performing at the Calabash Festival 2012

The open mic sessions at Calabash on Saturday and Sunday were an eye opener in the versatility and creativity of our young poets and novelists. One of the poignant observations, from some patrons, was that the pieces presented by the students and purveyors of the written word, were much better poems than that of our professional performing poets, who seem to have become so caught up with their ability to string "big" words together, that they may be better defined as word-smiths rather than poets.

For me, the two other memorable features of the festival were the interview of South African revolutionary and author, Ronnie Kasrils, which confirmed the inspiration that Jamaica provided, by way of our symbolic banning of trade with South Africa in 1957, followed by the music of Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Jimmy Cliff, during the bitter anti-apartheid struggle. Unwittingly, he also provided us with a stark contrast to our local arm-chair revolutionaries of the period.

I had a eureka moment, sometime during the festival, when it dawned on me that the success of our modern pop music is to a degree, because of this rich, literary tradition on which it has been built. Calabash ended on a high, with the live musical review of 50 years.


Email: che.campbell@gmail.com

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Calabash-s-rich-literary-traditions_11586424#ixzz1wuX6hV4w