PRESS RELEASE: KINGSTON JAMAICA
NOVEMBER 5, 2025
ANANSE SOUNDSPLASH STORYTELLING CONFERENCE AND FESTIVA 2025:
A CULTURAL CONTRIBUTION TO NATIONAL RECONSTRUCTION
“Before we can leverage our rich cultural heritage for economic development, we must protect it and actively work to ensure that we build on it.” (Amina Blackwood Meeks)
“Constructing meaning through story…. the goal is not just to discover a world or provide an interpretation of the world that allows us to live in it but rather to discover and interpret a world that allows us to live with ourselves.” (Herbert Anderson and Edward Foley)
ANANSE SOUNDSPLASH STORYTELLING CONFERENCE AND FESTIVAL 2025: A CULTURAL CONTRIBUTION TO NATIONAL RECONSTRUCTION
Ntukuma, The Storytelling Foundation of Jamaica, is acutely aware of the unprecedented needs of the people of Jamaica at this time, following the passage of Hurricane Melissa. We have reviewed the plans which are far advanced for our annual storytelling festival, scheduled for November 16 – 23, 2025. Mindful of our role as artists as development workers and mindful of the value and purpose of the arts to heal, transform and build community Ntukuma has decided to proceed with the festival.
Festival Founder and Artistic Director Dr. Amina Blackwood Meeks explains that “the decision is in part guided by Toni Morrison on the appropriateness of employing our sacred gifts as storytellers in the national reconstruction efforts”. She quotes Morrison as follows, “This is precisely the time when artists go to work. There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write, we do language. That is how civilizations heal.” Using the theme Town Mouse, Country Mouse from the story of the same name by Aesop, the 2025 edition of Ananse SoundSplash was conceived to focus on the value of green spaces and the imperative of good environmental stewardship to health and well-being, food production and food secutiry. “The programme and stories which we have been rehearsing could not be any more applicable” is the assessment of Damian Herridge, Logistics Manager for Ntukuma and teacher of Theatre Arts.
Schools are especially reminded to be guided by Schools Bulletin #129/2025 issued previously by the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information supporting the festival. In particular schools are invited to register to attend the Opening Gala for Schools on Tuesday November 18, 2025 by contacting Ntukuma by November 12 or sending an email to jamaicantukuma@gmail.com. Ntukuma uses this opportunity to remind all teachers and principals of our commitment to partner with them in the use of storytelling for the wellbeing and education of the whole human being.
Contact: Amina Blackwood Meeks
876 465 9824 OR 876 225 9591 jamaicantukuma@gmail.com
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