Alessandro Boyd, Gleaner Writer

A SEA of black, green and gold flooded Sts Peter and Paul Preparatory School last Friday as students who were decked out in the national colours gathered to watch performances during the institution's annual Heritage Day expo.

The students looked on attentively as fellow members of the student body participated in activities such as the playing of congo drums, dancing to music from our folk culture and skits.

Karen Siyanbola, principal of the Old Hope Road-based institution, noted that this year's expo was extra special as it transpired when Jamaica is celebrating its 50th anniversary of Independence.

Global influence

She said the expo played an important role in teaching the children about their heritage.

"It is very important for them to learn about their culture, especially because we are surrounded by global influence coming from areas such as Europe and North America. What they see on television is not the same JBC station that I grew up with, when the whole island saw the same thing at the same time and that was our influence, now it is coming from cable and another culture," she told The Gleaner.

Siyanbola added: "They have to understand our heritage through the displays, research, they need to look at our artefacts, even the food we eat as without that, they will be overcome by pizza and French fries," she added.

She also highlighted the impact that the dramatisation of the national heroes had on the students as they went beyond just reading about them in textbooks or learning in class.

"It was good that they got to focus on the national heroes, they often hear about them, but they are not quite sure what the impact of their contribution means. Dramatising it allowed them to research and learn so much more about what these people did, they got to make the connection," Siyanbola said.

alessandro.boyd@gleanerjm.com