Creatives continue to tap into Ja’s culture of storytelling
Brings new meaning to Christmas with ‘Corona Chronicles’
JAMAICA HAS a strong legacy of animated storytellers, from poets and playwrights to thespians and musicians, in all categories that are often described as colourful in their delivery. However, storytelling as a part of the culture has not been translated into the traditions of the present generation, even with the works of the late, great Louise ‘Miss Lou’ Bennett-Coverley, and Barbara Gloudon, Dr Amina Blackwood-Meeks, Mutabaruka, Yasus Afari and Joan Andrea Hutchinson still carrying the torch by creating memorable pieces and projects.
Media personality and dancehall selector Richie Feelings tells The Sunday Gleaner that he grew up hearing the stories of his elders, which many times were shared as a form of entertainment in his family home. He said that being born in the 1970s and raised in the following decade, the novelties of smartphones and Internet were not available to children.
“There was radio as well, but there was not a lot of content that would interest children in terms of the content. Miss Lou paved the way. We used to sit down and listen to Bredda Anansi stories, which is a central figure in Jamaican folklore. In times when light gone, storytelling was the main means of entertainment,” Richie Feelings said.
He added, “This generation don’t know about the stories and those that eventually transformed into series like Lime Tree Lane or Oliver At Large; it would be good if TVJ could bring back these productions to television.”
The selector is one of several
personalities featured on the upcoming presentation of ‘ Long Story Short’. Others like actor and musician Everaldo Creary and radio announcer Joy Kelly are also on the line-up.
Richie Feelings explained, “It is an art that many like Johnny Daley, Ity and Fancy Cat don’t get enough credit for their expression. We were taught speech and drama in school to hone our vocal skills with the language of our bodies, because remember, to entertain one person is hard, so imagine an audience of 1,000 to 10,000.
“We need to reposition it into our culture, as we have lost much of our roots and the Internet plays a big part in that, that we get so Americanised. I’m not sure it is happening in homes, but it should because our elders have untold stories, unknown to the younger generation, and I personally have stories I can tell my children for days even though they are grown, but it’s something to look forward to,” he continued.
“Storytelling is a dying art form, which is deeply entrenched in our culture,” said the originator of the ‘Long Story Short’ series, Daniel Edwards. “It’s not only about the stories that are told, it is how they are told, and it is also a tool for healing while it preserves our history.”
Like Jonkanoo, Gran’ Market, Pantomime, Christmas dinners and church service, storytelling is embedded into Jamaica’s cultural landscape, and what once was a popular form of recreation may re-emerge to have a strong place in this holiday celebrations, said Edwards.