Garifuna Come Home
The three-week ‘Garifuna Cultural Retrieval Workshop came to an end with three separate presentations in different locations around the country.
Performance venues
The entire entourage of facilitators and participants introduced the public to the indigenous Garifuna dance, drumming and song, bringing “Garifuna” home to its roots in the most adaptable manner. On Friday, 19th before a crowd in front of the Lime telecommunications company, the showcases began. On Saturday, 20th it moved to the Peace Memorial Hall, and then on Sunday, 21st it took to the hard court at Greiggs.
The sad experience
In each production, the children showed mastery of the singing of the National Anthem in the Garifuna language.The ‘Garifuna Story’was unraveled in a most profoundly moving performance called “Our Sad Experience”, which involved the exhortation on the lives of the Garifuna, and their interactions with the British. The ‘experience’ continued to unfold with the death of the Paramount Chief Joseph Chatoyer, which caused gut-wrenching cries and wails to escape the lips of those who remained. “Our ancestors survived because they treated each other as sons and daughters of one woman,” implored the speaker. A look around the Peace Memorial Hall on Saturday showed teary eyes of those among the audience who were completely absorbed by what was taking place.
Poetry in motion
The audience was then treated to a series of Garifuna poems which spoke about “Drums of my Father”; “St. Vincent Was Our Home”; and “Ask and Seeking to Know”, to name a few. Each of these was illustrated with drumming and accompanying movement. Most of the poetry was done in the Garifuna language and then in English.
With all of this happening, Garifuna literally ‘came home’ in the drumming and dance. After exhibitions of the genres of Chumba, Punta, HunguHungu and Wanaraguwa, the audience was invited and enticed to participate, and many chose to experience the euphoria emanating from the Garifuna rhythms. It had truly come home.
Committee’s feelings
But was that homecoming sufficient to meet the objectives of the workshop organizing committee? Mr. James Cordice, workshop coordinator told THE VINCENTIAN that, while the entire performance of the children exceeded their expectations – during the workshop and at the presentations, while they were ecstatic that the language had been so well received by them, they were rather disappointed with the turnout of individuals at the functions. He was not daunted, however. “We are going to try to continue this, though. That is not stopping us. It’s going to happen!” he emphatically stated.
High Praises
He gave high praises for the Ministry of Culture who secured the Peace Memorial Hall as a venue for one of the activities; EGH Designs upstairs the Sprott Bros. Mall, who made the Garifuna wear for the children free of cost; Standard Grocery for hosting the team at a reception at the New Montrose Hotel; and many other private individuals who willingly gave of their time and resources to make sure that the workshop, the presentations and their stay here went well.
Certificates
For all their hard work, the participants of the workshop and presentations were rewarded with certificates of participation on Saturday. Everyone looks forward to a continuation in the upcoming year, and the committee will be forthright in seeking sponsorship to ensure that the activity could be held in several locations simultaneously.
Source of article:
The Vincentian
by: Gloriah...
26/08/2011
www.thevincentian.com
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