Agent Sasco, IWayne to perform at July 15 Ital Food Fest

The first-ever staging of the Ital Food Fest is set for July 15 at Grizzly’s Plantation Cove in St Ann.

The one-day celebration of Jamaican Ital cuisine is set to highlight Rastafari’s role as pioneers of the global plant-based movement and the best of Ital livity. It aims to promote Jamaica as a culinary destination and is also geared at attracting reggae and culture lovers with a diverse line-up of performers, workshops, and culinary experiences.

Ital Food Fest’s lectures and live food demonstrations will take place on the Ital Food Lab stage and will be conducted by renowned Rastafarian chefs, led by the Dr Aris Latham.

The festival will also showcase holistic practitioners, along with more than 150 vendors, selling elevated Ital cuisine, natural products, fashion, arts, and wellness practitioners offering healing treatments.

Ital Food Fest is the brainchild of UK-based Michael Cunningham and his wife, Felicia.

According to Michael Cunningham, a native of Portmore, St Catherine, with roots in Darliston, Westmoreland, the event is not only about food, but also music.

Artistes set to perform at the festival include IWayne, Agent Sasco, Sister Carol, Queen Ifrica, Jah Mason, Natural Black, and Warrior King. Upcoming acts Khalilah Rose, J’Adiore and Azalineage will also hit the stage.

“I was born and bred in Portmore, Jamaica, so the whole concept of Ital has been something that we grew up with. We believe that food has the power to unite people and a plant-based diet can nourish both the body and soul. This event represents a culmination of my passion for Jamaican cuisine and a desire to share our rich culinary heritage with the world. It’s an opportunity to showcase Jamaica’s commitment to sustainability, health, and wellness through the power of plant-based foods. Rastafarians have been living this lifestyle. Before vegan, before plant-based, there was I-tal,” Michael Cunningham said.

According to Felicia Cunningham, the artistes billed for the musical aspect of the event were hand-picked specifically because they truly embody Ital livity. “We were especially interested in having artistes on board who live that way, and who have farms … So it was very important for us to have artistes that understand the roots and culture,” she said.

In addition to the Ital food offerings, Ital Food Fest will feature a herbology stage, where prominent herbalists and wellness specialists will conduct educational sessions on the use of herbs and plant-based remedies, to promote health and wellness, and enable patrons to discover new ways to incorporate these into their daily routines.