Five Questions: Jamaica 60 edition

Jamaica 60 celebrations will reach their peak next week with the return of the Emancipation float on August 1 and the popular Grand Gala on August 6. With the year-long celebration being observed under the theme ‘Reigniting a nation for greatness’, we asked members of the local entertainment industry to share their hopes, dreams and aspirations as the island marks its diamond jubilee.

1. What are your expectations for the Jamaica 60 celebrations?

Aidonia: The celebrations [always] gwaan good. I have no particular expectations for the overall celebrations. My expectations are really for Jamaica and the Jamaican people. We have strayed from [our] authenticity, [the] love we show to one another; the idea of looking out for one’s neighbour as themselves does not exist any more. I am hoping, as a people, we see our worth and find ourselves, because that is the solution to every issue we are having in our society.

2. Is there anything in particular you want to see happening during the Jamaica 60 celebrations or future ‘Emancipendence’ celebrations?

Elephant Man: You know say we shoulda have something that gives more exposure to dancehall and how it adds to our culture, like a road tour. It could include a tour uptown and downtown, across the island, all ‘bout, that takes you from places to places, parties to parties; and everybody that come from the dancehall community, from dancer to artiste, a represent on this tour as our contribution.

3. The Jamaica Festival Song Competition is a major event on our annual Independence calendar. Do you have a favourite song in top 10 this year?

Wesrok: For me, every artiste that puts something out, I give them a lot of credit, because it takes a lot to go out and write a song, put music to a song and perform it. Big up all those who entered the competition. I, too, have done a song this year titled Humming Bird, which was submitted for Festival Song, but it never made [the] top 10. I never asked why it wasn’t selected. I accepted the [decision of the] powers that be, and I would never use the platform to shed any negativity. It’s my contribution to Jamaica 60 and our culture, because music is something [that] you will never be able to catch it and put it into a box. It’s a river that keeps flowing, and I’m just happy to be part of the experience. Out of many, one Wesrok.

4. What are your hope and dreams for Jamaica as we celebrate our 60th year of Independence?

Michael Ward: To just keep growing stronger. At the end of the day, we all want Jamaica to succeed, especially when you are from here and born here. I want Jamaica to be in history [as] one of the greatest places to ever [have] been established. I just want it to keep rooting its culture in authenticity across the world and making more and more people aware of Jamaica — if they don’t know — and also encouraging more people to come here and invest here.

5. How will you be spending ‘Emancipendence’?

Pamputtae: Jamaica’s Independence time now coincides with the anniversary of my mother’s death which was on August 6. Still, I always try to look forward to positively spending the Independence [period], and I don’t know what I’m doing yet, but I will celebrate with Jamaica. Death, no matter how long the person has passed away, is still hard and sometimes [it] makes me sad to remember, but I still wish for a happy Jamaica 60.

entertainment@gleanerjm.com