Blog on cultural events, attractions, news from Jamaica | Jamaica Cultural Enterprises

New Jamaican Music for COVID-19

4/6/2020

Wawa aba adinkra symbol at Emancipation Park

Wawa Aba symbol at Emancipation Park which means hardiness and perseverance.

If you're like me, you wake up every morning having to convince yourself all over again that this new state of affairs is not a bad dream. No hugging? Stay at home?! A wha really a gwan? It does not feel real. So now more than ever, I feel grateful that I live in Jamaica, home to some of the most creative people on the planet. (It's not just me, UNESCO also says so.) Science and medicine of course are critical at the moment, but art and creativity will also prove essential in getting us through these times. Music of course is one of the areas in which Jamaicans shine.

Jamaica has over the years gifted the world with Reggae music (you're welcome) and nothing is better at spurring creativity than adversity. Of course, the COVID situation in Jamaica is scary, as it is all over the world, but we have so much to be thankful for, so far (we expect the situation to peak in another 6 - 8 weeks). To date, we've officially recorded only two deaths. We mourn the two but we're grateful that, so far, it hasn't been more. The government reassuringly keeps us apprised of the situation daily and several measures (school closures, nightly curfews, closed airports, and more) have been implemented to "flatten the curve". Jamaicans are, for the most part, adhering to the guidelines, although of course we do have our fair share of "covidiots". And of course we continue to create and be the artistic beings that the world loves. There have been songs, jokes, memes, videos that have been shared and streamed across the internet which show that resilience is indeed in our DNA.

A YouTube search will show evidence of that musical resilience in the form of Dancehall and Reggae songs. Reggaeville has compiled a playlist titled "Corona Infects Reggae Music", a grouping of songs that have been inspired by COVID-19. It's worth checking out. Not all are Jamaican and the quality ranges from so-so to very good. Three of the more interesting ones are posted below; they were chosen because I found them to have helpful instructions, a generally positive message, and catchy.

It is not a secret that music has the ability to inspire and stir a whole range of other emotions. Rebellion, community spirit, fun, and of course love are themes which are easy to find. Here's hoping these songs will put a smile on your face and inspire you through these current and transient difficulties.

Stay safe and bless up.

What's Happening at Jamaica Cultural Enterprises

3/2/2020

Magic in the city - Lignum Vitae Butterflies

2/1/2020

The butterflies are baaaack.

All cities tend to have a little edge to them and Kingston is no different. Some things though help to soften out those edges. Friendly greetings from strangers. Hearing people singing without a care in the world as they walk down the street. Lignum vitae butterflies, proper scientific name krigonia lyside. This commonly seen butterfly is a pale yellow (see video above) and quite unremarkable, except that they sometimes it isn't. The females will deposit her fertilised eggs in the lignum vitae trees so that the caterpillars will have a ready source of food when they transform. When the lignum vitae trees bloom their delicate purplish blue buds, you can get magnificent swarms of the butterflies. With their wings opening and closing in the sunlight, they look like flashing neon lights beaming on the trees. Or like twinkling magical fairies casting spells.

They are beautiful.

And by the way, on any tour with Jamaica Cultural Enterprises you can expect to learn about our wonderful birds, flowers, bugs, and other life forms.

Bless.

Of Calabashes

1/29/2020

In the South Side community of Downtown Kingston, I recently witnessed this gentleman (see video above), who goes by the name Loyal, scraping the calabash fruit. After the insides have been removed, the next step is washing and drying and then ta da! you have nature's most perfect eating vessel. Seeing him do this made me think of the Calabash Literary Festival.

This year (2020) the festival will take place between May 29 - 31. I highly recommend it. In addition to incredible Jamaican and Caribbean authors, the festival has been able to pull major international literary celebrities, from Salman Rushdie to Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche. If you love books this is time well spent, and with the hypnotic background of the Caribbean sea lapping the shores at Treasure Beach, there are worse way to spend a weekend. Like the literal calabash, the festival serves up a meal perfect for book lovers.

I love books, I love reading. This year being a Calabash year Jamaica Cultural Enterprises is going to revel in literature. We will be providing transportation for a select few to go down on Saturday, May 30 with return on May 31. We are also planning literary themed tours of Kingston in the days before and after Calabash. WATCH THIS SPACE. We will make announcements in the weeks and months to come.

To find our more about the festival itself you can check their web page or social media feeds. We hope to see all our book loving friends there.

Calabash Literary Festival 2020

CALABASH LITERARY FESTIVAL 2020

Explore the National Gallery of Jamaica with us

1/28/2020

Kapo in National Gallery of Jamaica

Contemplating Kapo's art at the National Gallery of Jamaica in Kingston

We hear this a lot : "I'm not really into art".

A visit to the National Gallery of Jamaica in Kingston will likely not convert a non art loving person into an art lover but, the way we do it, it will certainly illuminate a number of issues and moments in Jamaican history. On your tour of the National Gallery led by our knowledgeable guide, you will learn the social and historical context surrounding the art. We don't interpret the art for you, we provide you with the stories, important moments, and the history of the epoch in which the art was created.

This is, simply put, a fantastic way to understand Jamaica and a fun stop on a tour of Kingston. Plus, if you're an actual art lover, well, even better.

National Gallery of Jamaica entrance

Edna Manley's "The Lesson" in front of the National Gallery of Jamaica in Kingston

Rae Town offers community tourism product

1/21/2020

The community of Rae Town in Kingston will on Saturday, January 25 be the location for a Kingston Creative community tour. Rae Town located in downtown Kingston is a vibrant neighbourhood famous for music events and its fishing village. It also has significant remnants of 19th century buildings scattered throughout which tell an interesting story of post slavery Jamaica. With the efforts of Kingston Creative, it will now have additional mural art. Two tours on January 25 will take individuals through the community explaining its history and showcasing modern life; the first tour will be at 11 am and the second at 2 pm.

These tours are the initial steps to a more sustained community tourism product. In the future there will be a regular walking tour that can be booked on demand. Jamaica Cultural Enterprises is looking forward to taking visitors to Rae Town in the future and enhancing our current offering of Kingston tours.

Tour Kingston, Jamaica with us

1/12/2020

KINGSTON CITY TOUR

KINGSTON CITY TOUR

No trip to Jamaica is complete without a trip to the capital, Kingston. The beauty of a vacation in Jamaica is that there is much variety that you may not necessarily get in other destinations. Yes, there are the beaches, but you also have music. Yes, you have the mountains, but you can also visit an art gallery. From drumming of the Maroons to dolphin watching (we recommend seeing them in the wild) to Dancehall street parties, you can find it all in Jamaica if you know where to look. To add to the variety of your trip, a visit to Kingston is a must.

On a tour of Kingston with us you will be able to learn about Jamaican history, feel the rhythm of the city (an infectious mix of reggae and dancehall), see Jamaicans in their natural element, not staged for tourists, and gain a deeper understanding of Jamaican history and culture. We offer a variety of options and ways to explore the city from music to art to heritage to walking and everything in between. We have been doing this for close to 10 years and have consistently great reviews because of our great value and knowledgeable guides.

Feel free to sign up on our booking pages or drop us a line at info@jaculture.com to ask for more information.

Happy New Year from Jamaica Cultural Enterprises!

1/1/2020

Happy new year arrival. Happy rest of 2020. May we all remember in this year and beyond to focus on what is important - peace, love, health, and playing our part in making a more harmonious world.

Hugs from Kingston, Jamaica.

One love.

Merry Christmas from Jamaica Cultural Enterprises!

12/26/2019

From sunny Jamaica we wish you a Merry Christmas. In Jamaica there are many things that are special at Christmas time. Here is a very short list of some of the items that are (or have been at some point) special to me. As Jamaicans say, mi love mi belly so many of these items are food related and I've even included meat and even pork dishes (fire bun!) even though I am now strictly vegetarian; in the past it was part of the joy I got from the season.

Rice and gungu peas
Sorrel with rum
Jonkonoo
Christmas carols
Christmas ham
Curry goat
Grand Market
New clothes
Gift giving
Family love
Church service
Christmas breeze
Christmas pudding with wine and rum
New curtains
Parties
New shoes

To learn more about Jamaican food and other aspects of Jamaican culture, take one of our excellent tours. We will be happy to arrange one for a time that is convenient to you. Drop us a line at info@jaculture.com or call/whatsapp us at 87 540 8570.

I hope you enjoy your holidays immensely and even more so, I wish for you peace and love. Bless.

Blue Mountain Tour in Jamaica

12/23/2019

Blue Mountain tour

Blue Mountain tour

There are few things as satisfying as an excellent cup of coffee. You smell the heady aroma, you tip the cup to your mouth, and you experience a feeling of supreme delight as the amber, punchy liquid glides down your throat. On our tour of the Blue Mountains we visit Craighton Estate known for its top quality coffee, and among the many delights of the tour is that you are treated to the estate brand.

Other things for you to enjoy on our tour if the appeal of the coffee isn't enough:

Beautiful bird sightings, including our one of a kind national bird, a special kind of hummingbird that is a petite, delightful surprise.
Walking through enchanted gardens inhabited by fairies and sprites. Okay, there are not really any woodland creatures but there are plenty of almost magical flowers, birds, and butterflies.
Your informative and super helpful tour guides, both on the farm and supplied by us.
Learning the history of coffee cultivation.
Understanding the economics of coffee cultivation in Jamaica.
Dining on delicious Jamaican food in a natural setting.
Fresh air. With all the environmental issues around the planet, this is thankfully still something we enjoy in our mountains.
Delicious, aromatic coffee. It's worth repeating.

This is a tour that we can easily arrange for you. Why don't you join us on our group Tuesday tours? Our groups are small but if you would prefer a private/custom experience at a time and date more convenient for you, that can also be provided. This excursion is a fantastic way to learn about Jamaica, coffee, and nature, and the Blue Mountains is one of our favourite places to be in Jamaica. Really, for us offering this tour is just a great excuse to get a coffee and nature fix. We're very sure you will enjoy the experience too.