A rollicking 'Kingston Pon Di River' - Third staging of literary arts festival produces powerful performances

Marcia Rowe, Gleaner Writer

Carrying all the disciplines of the arts, the 2013 Kingston Pon Di River Literary Arts and Music Festival meandered through the lush green foliage of the Royal Hope Botanical Gardens on Sunday, depositing its cargo at the Shell Band Stand.

And the enthusiastic who followed the river were treated to a full package of well-written and clearly read works from Jamaican and international authors of different ages and backgrounds.

African-influenced musical arrangements performed by energetic drummers as well as the opportunity to purchase items of jewellery, garments and paintings were also for the taking. But the focus for many was the reading of literary selections. And they were not disappointed.

Among the authors were Gleaner writers Robert Lalah and Mel Cooke. Cooke read poems that were scorching social commentary from his book 11/9 and from his CD Seh Sup'm: Live from Kingston while Lalah read graphic but hilarious encounters with a duppy woman and Joseph, the Obeah man. The two were read in the first of two segments.

Judith Fallon-Reid, who also doubled as host for the first segment, addressed romantic relationships in excerpts from two of her books: Here Is a $100, Go Buy Yourself a Life and Are Mirrors Cleaner in Paradise.

It was a poignant moment when Mathu Joyini, South Africa's High Commissioner to Jamaica read from Nelson Mandela's autobiography Long Walk To Freedom.

Before commencing her reading, the high commissioner acknowledged the role Jamaica played in her country's struggle against apartheid.

The book, dedicated to his children and grandchildren, was written during Madiba's (Mandela's tribe) presidency. The first of the two excerpts was read as a mark of respect. It provided background information on the ailing former South African president.

The second excerpt spoke of the treatment of black African women during apartheid.

Joyini ended her reading with the last paragraph of the book: "I have walked the long road to freedom. I have tried not to falter. I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest. But I can only rest for a moment for with freedom comes responsibilities and I dare not linger. For my long walk is not yet ended."

The first segment ended with a dynamic performance from Tribe Sankofa. With their signature style, "words of soul" as described by the group's artistic director Fabian Thomas, they began with a compelling delivery of Claude McKay's poem, 'If We Must Die' and ended with a taste of revivalism. They had earlier walked on to the stage to the sounds of Mutabaruka's 'Everytime A Ear di Sound'.

Segment two was no less intense, but with more consistent humour. It began with one of the festival organisers, Janet Silvera, conducting an interview, with 10-year-old author of three books, I'deyah Ricketts from Chicago.

Born of Jamaican parents, and oozing with confidence and intelligence the young author expressed her love for patties and festival, her passion for reading and writing.

Then she read, first a poem titled 'Single Pen', and from her book Lyla Lyte and the Li'berry Fruit. She read chapter one: Lost for Words.

But the second segment really belonged to three-the-hard way. They were the riveting, hard-talking no-nonsense Cherry Natural, the very humorous Dr Blossom Omeally-Nelson and the edgy veteran, Mutabaruka.

Natural and Muta's poems were of the dub poetry genre while Omeally-Nelson's were in Standard English and dialect.

But while their works are of a high quality, well-written and read, it was their chit chat before, and between their readings that had the audience cracking up.

Finally, the eventful festival, being staged in Kingston for the first time, ended with performances from Akwaaba Drummers, Charles Town Maroon Drummers and Dancers, and Kingston Drummers.

A delighted Silvera provided background information.

Kingston Pon Di River Literary Arts and Music Festival was established to fill the void left by the demise of the Calabash Literary Festival.

This year's festival is number three, the first two were held at Boon Hall Oasis in St Andrew.