Calabash festival highlights the best of Montserrat
|
| Published on Wednesday, July 23, 2008 |
Email To Friend Print Version |
By Cathy Buffonge
BRADES, Montserrat: “Gi’ me me calabash, Gi’ me me calabash ….. when I hungry, le’ me full up me belly!” The catchy lines of this song were heard on Radio Montserrat all over the island as Montserrat prepared for its third Calabash Festival. Two years ago Calabash Festival was a new thing for Montserrat but now into its third year it is well established, and the week’s programme contained even more events than ever before.
The Festival was organized by the Montserrat Hospitality Association, spearheaded by Mrs Florence Griffith Joseph, in collaboration with the Montserrat Tourist Board. The intention of the Festival is to brighten up the summer months when people tend to go away and things can be quiet, and to attract more visitors to the island.
Important among the week’s events was the calabash exhibition at the Montserrat National Trust. This was preceded by a two week calabash workshop, conducted by professional calabash craftsman Noel Duncan of Tobago, who now resides in Switzerland. Mr Duncan was “discovered” for Montserrat by musician, craft producer and promoter Mrs Pat “Belonger” Ryan, who saw an article about him in a local magazine when on a visit to Tobago, and tracked him down. Mr Duncan passed on his skills with the calabash, and also included jewelry making and coconut leaf crafts at the workshop.
 |
Calabash craft. Photo by Pat
"Belonger" Ryan |
The exhibition, held at the Montserrat National Trust, displays some beautiful calabash items made during the workshop, as well as additional calabash items and other craft items made from local materials. Simultaneously at the Trust exhibition hall is the continuation of an exhibit on the former capital, Plymouth, now destroyed by the volcano. Here, photos of buildings on the main street, blown up close to life size, have been arranged as they had been in real life, so that one can imagine oneself walking down the street as it used to be before the volcano. This exhibit blends in well with the calabash exhibition, and both should remain in place for the next few weeks.
Another event was the food fair, featuring foods from Montserrat, Dominica, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, all of which have nationals residing on Montserrat, and representing our diverse community. The fair also featured for the first time a “Man-pot” competition, where three men competed to see who could cook the best fish water (fish soup or steamed fish).
The calabash boat tour took folks down the coast of the island view the volcanically destroyed southern areas including the capital, Plymouth, from the sea. There was a hike in the steep, thickly forested Centre Hills, where the shy national bird, the Montserrat oriole, could be glimpsed. A sightseeing bus tour took visitors to see the Volcano Observatory, the exhibitions at the National Trust, and other places of interest.
The annual Calabash Week lecture is named after distinguished Montserratian academic, commentator and writer Professor George Irish of Medgar Evers College, New York. This year’s lecture was delivered by Montserratian law lecturer at the University of the West Indies Miss Dorcas White, who spoke on the topic Colonialism.
 |
Jazz musican Paul Lunga. Photo by Pat
"Belonger" Ryan |
Religion was not forgotten, and the first event of the Festival was a church service to bless the week, while later in the week a service of thanksgiving was held to commemorate the start of the volcanic activity on July 18, 1995. Calabash Festival is planned to coincide with this anniversary each year. There was also a neighbourly day, a beach splash, and a domino challenge, where the Mahogany domino team from Antigua competed with a national team from Montserrat.
The last event on the calendar was a “Night of Opera and Jazz”, featuring exciting jazz performances by international jazz musician Paul Lunga of Zimbabwe on the trumpet, and prize winning saxophonist Tony Chambers of Carolina. Several local performers also took part. Local band Black Rhythms was outstanding in backing up Mr Lunga’s jazz numbers.
For those who still believe that Montserrat is “dead”, this Festival should be an eye opener. The Hospitality Association members and other supporters did a great job in bringing it off. | | | | Reads : 1173 | | | |
|
|
