Breadfruit Can’t Be Separated From Our Heritage

Clem Derrick, Chairman of the North Leeward Tourism Association is pleased with the staging of the Breadfruit Festival which came off at the Beach Front Restaurant last Saturday. The event was part of activities to mark Emancipation Month.

Observances took place in various parts of the state, and North Leeward which has been coordinating the Breadfruit Festival for the past nine years, maintained its outlook.

Derrick described the session as “successful”, and he wants to see new dishes put into recipe format so that they become part of the Vincentian menu.

It was the first time that the Festival was being staged at the Beach Front. Derrick looks at the Festival as a way of helping to boost the economic potential in the area.

He acknowledged that some effort was put into the staging of this year’s festival. He attempted to trace the connections between Breadfruit and slavery. But some sections of the audience were perhaps more interested in the celebratory aspect and were intolerant of reflecting on the real reason for the event.

Derrick however is anxious to maintain traditions which enhance cultural and traditional links.
He noted that Breadfruit cannot be separated from our heritage.

Derrick pointed to the aspect of pride as it relates to breadfruit, and he is hoping that more persons see the importance of broadening the variety of dishes prepared with breadfruit.
Saturday’s exercise was affected by the passage of Hurricane Irene which caused some turbulence. But a number of persons braved the weather and assembled at the venue to be part of the action.

Among the participants was reigning Calypso Monarch Maxwell ‘Tajoe’ Francis. He presented two songs including the number ‘Memoirs of an addict’ which propelled him to royalty.

And in keeping with the observation, Tajoe rendered a song paying tribute to Haiti.
The Rose Bank All Stars Steel Band also entertained the audience.

The band, comprised of mainly youngsters, displayed aspects of African culture which coincided with the commemoration of Emancipation Month activities.

Representatives from the Richmond Vale Academy also took part in the festival. The Richmond Vale sector performed two items, one being a Rain Dance which was presented to a backdrop of African sounds.

That group was led by South African born Gugu Mbila who is a teacher at the Academy.
She admitted that her institution had been part of the Breadfruit Festival and that it was the second time that she was taking part.

“I feel at home,” Gugu stated, and added: “the people are nice.”


Source of article:
The Vincentian
by: William 'Kojah' Anthony
26/08/2011
www.thevincentian.com