Lyrics fly at Pon di River

It was a refreshing day of literary arts on Sunday, June 30, as Kingston Pon Di River served up a delightful bellyful of the spoken word.

The lawns of the Hope Gardens' Shell Bandstand provided an oasis of literary arts and traditional music that was well received by patrons.

It was a reflective Robert Lalah who opened the festival with readings from his sojourns through Jamaica. The experiences of his encounter with 'Wentiko' and the 'Duppy Woman' provided much-needed laughs to the afternoon, and spooks, as eager listeners took in word for word, some left unsure whether or not ghosts really exist.

Emcees Judith Fallon-Reid, who also doubled as an artiste for the day, and Karen Harriott-Wilson, ensured that between each act, patrons were kept entertained with a bellyful of laughs, with Harriott also showing off her dancing skills.

South African ambassador to Jamaica, Mathu Joyini, delivered a fitting tribute to Nelson Mandela as she read from his autobiography - Long Walk to Freedom, which was complemented by Tribe Sankofa's rendition of 'If We Must Die' by Claude McKay.

Other notable acts included another star from The Gleaner, Mel Cooke, whose social commentary had patrons reflecting as he lamented on the Tivoli incursion and the bleaching phenomenon - stark realities of the times.

The 'Intellectual Bad Gal' Cherry Natural had young and old on their feet as she spat out lyrics after lyrics. "Poets a write from before Kartel come outta nappy, before Beenie, before Bounty" from one of her most loved pieces - 'Long Time Poets A Write'.

Cultural icon Mutabaruka, the headline act, delivered a scintillating performance and in a militant, yet hilarious commentary had patrons hungry for more. "Muta is like fine wine, he gets better with age," were the words of Marcia Wright's mouth as she stood transfixed, listening to this phenomenal writer and dub poet.

As great as Cherry Natural and Muta were, they were almost upstaged by Blossom O'Meally-Nelson, who is known as a lyrical genius.

Kingston Pon Di River brought not only lyrics and art, but the drumming by the Charles Town Maroon dancers and drummers who ended the festival on a high note, and the sounds of the Kingston and Akwaaba drummers will live in the hills of Kingston for years to come, as African ancestors accept the tributes bestowed upon them.