Minister of Youth and Culture Lisa Hanna is calling for a cultural revolution in Jamaica anchored in traditional cultural values in order to stem the negative influences she says are affecting the foundations of society.

She notes that a withdrawal from traditional values serves to weaken the Jamaican spirit and the society as a whole.

Speaking at the annual Maroon Celebrations in Accompong last weekend, Hanna lamented the many manifestations of the problem.

"Some people retreat from parenting, withdraw from community engagement, and develop indifference to governance. It is when there is a move away from the wholesome values of the Ashanti and the Maroons that there is the bleaching of faces and hearts, the creation of warfare against each other where there should be constructive engagement; and some people delight in each other's failures where there should be compassion and support," said Hanna.

Devaluation tendency

The culture minister said in addition, our artistes and musicians have much work to do in reversing the tendency towards the devaluation of Jamaican women, the promotion of brutal and unwholesome behaviour and the reinforcement of negative stereotypes.

She called for more dialogue between stakeholders in the music industry and the wider society, focusing on content and expression that promote national development and social upliftment.

The Accompong celebrations this year commemorate the 275th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty between the British and the Accompong Maroons as well as coincide with the 175th anniversary of the emancipation from slavery in 1838.