Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Global Voices

    Despite Some Ambivalence, the Expanded Jamaica Carnival of 2017 Was a Hit

    Jamaica Carnival is still considered an import from Trinidad and Tobago, but that doesn't mean that Jamaicans haven't been embracing the festival and its economic benefits.
    by Emma Lewis Apr 29, 2017 2 minutes

    A masquerader at Jamaica's 2017 Carnival. Photo by Emma Lewis, used with permission.

    Jamaica has a love/hate relationship with its Carnival. A cultural import founded in 1989 by Jamaican musician Byron Lee, it provokes mixed feelings among many Jamaicans. This year, after more than a day of torrential rains and flooding in many parts of the island, the weather miraculously held up on the day. Participation was greater than in recent years, since Lee's family, who this year were back to carry on the tradition after his death in 2008, offered more affordable costumes to supplement the upscale Bacchanal Jamaica, via two new bands, Xaymaca and Xodus.

    Columnist Patria-Kaye Aarons revived the now decades-old “soca vs dancehall” music debate:

    Even with Kingston's designation as a creative city of music by UNESCO, dancehall still doesn't hold pride of place here. How is dancehall being accommodated, let alone promoted, in City Kingston? Dancehall continually is made to feel like an inconvenience in its own home. Sure, it isn't everybody's cup of tea, but the oppressive shroud under which it must always happen in back alleys, hiding from police after hours, shouldn't still be. There still exists the struggle with the Noise Abatement Act forcing early closure, which is completely against dancehall culture.

    Fellow columnist Gordon Robinson is vehemently opposed to Carnival:

    Not everyone agreed:

    Businessman Zachary Harding was among those pointing out the economic benefits of Carnival, including highlighting Kingston as a tourist destination:

    And well-known broadcasters Archibald Gordon and Simon Crosskill made a point: Do Jamaicans actively support their “indigenous” music?

    Nevertheless, the general consensus on social media was that 2017 was an excellent year. One tweet noted:

    Human rights activist Jaevion Nelson added:

    HWT refers to Half-Way Tree square, a popular gathering place in Jamaica.

    Many Jamaicans embraced Carnival wholeheartedly, and simply had fun. Several photos of the celebrations went viral. The Jamaica Gleaner tweeted:

    Of course, politicians also took the opportunity to gain some visibility. Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia “Babsy” Grange and Kingston Mayor Delroy Williams were on the scene, tweeting:

    Originally published in Global Voices.

    More from Global Voices

    Global Voices4 min read
    Thirty Years Ago Today, West Indies Cricketer Brian Lara Made History
    Lara broke Sir Garfield Sobers’ record of the most runs in a Test by playing the ball all the way to the legside boundary; he was eventually caught out for 375.
    Global Voices4 min read
    Getting To Know L’Office Du Jèrriais: A Q&A With The Team Promoting The Jèrriais Language
    Europe's linguistic diversity is increasingly finding a home online. Rising Voices’ @EuroDigitalLang campaign showcases narratives from language activists who will be sharing digital initiatives working with the Jèrriais language.
    Global Voices7 min readWorld
    How China Is Trying To Turn Xinjiang From Concentration Camp Into Tourist Paradise
    Overall, the accelerated and intensified assimilation program appears to have worked, and the authorities seem to have loosened the reins.

    Related Books & Audiobooks