Looking for the Obeah in the Redman's Desert--The Calabash Literary Festival, Jamaica 2007
The Calabash International Literary Festival is on my list of things "to do", much like Yari Yari ( Jayne Cortez directed a documentary: Black Women Writers Dissecting Globalization about this). The Calabash Literary Festival has a lot of things going for it. First of all, it's in Jamaica. And as anyone else who has been to Jamaica, will tell you, Jamaica is a special place. I'm not just talking blue water and white sand beaches either. Although I've never been to an African country, Jamaica is the only place I've ever been to where I felt close to this continent. There is something in the air, something in the spirit of the people I met with that testifies to the endurance of the human spirit. It's music is a great example of this spirit--it's devouring of Western music, only to be regurgitated, back out into the world for all the Universe's sons and daughters to vibe to. From Jackie Mittoo and other Studio One recordings to dub and dancehal...