Sunday November 12 to Monday November 20
September 11, 2023
The 2023 staging of Ananse SoundSplash Storytelling Festival and Conference, will exuberantly locate itself within sustainable economic and social growth by celebrating stories of first peoples of Jamaica. It will also highlight how we honour the aspirations and accomplishments of people, by putting their needs first.
Speaking of the inspiration behind this year’s staging, Founder of the Ntukuma, the Storytelling Foundation of Jamaica, Dr Amina Blackwood Meeks explained, “Every day in Jamaica, we feel the impact of our First People, they are not invisible, they are not lost, they are not extinct.” Ntukuma will showcase stories of the Tainos, and the creolised peoples from all around the world who have all brought something valuable into our culture. These performances will feature will be performed by Jamaican Taino Kasike Kalaan of the Hummingbird Tribe in presentations with other members of Ntukuma, Amina Blackwod Meeks, Damian Herridge, A-dZiko Simba, Hassane Gordon, Elizabeth Saddler and visiting international storytellers from South Africa, Panama and Costa Rica.
The eight-legged festival will be anchored at the Festival Village at The Mico University College from where it will travel to other locations. The festival is also being supported by the Ministry of Education and Youth which has endorsed the Ananse Goes To School leg which will be hosted by Region 3 of the ministry.
All schools wishing to participate in the opening children’s gala, as well as storytellers who wish to perform at any leg of the festival, are invited to contact Ntukuma for details.
Sunday, November 12, 4PM to 6PM, “Ananse Goes to Emancipation Park”, Kingston, a family event featuring ring games and storytelling.
Tuesday November 14, 10AM, Childrens’ Gala at The Mico University College, “Lovers’ Leap” a story of the indigenous people.
Wednesday November 15, Ananse visits sick children in the Sav-la-Mar Hospital and Bustamante Hospital for Children.
At 12: 30, the Lunch Hour concert will be held at the Festival Village featuring University Director of the UWI Institute of Gender Studies for Development, Dr Diana J Fox. Dr Fox is a cultural anthropologist, decolonial feminist scholar-activist, professor, and documentary film producer.
Thursday, November 16 2PM, Ananse Goes to College at the Festival Village “The Voice of Ananse, a discussion on the decade of indigenous languages and the validation of hitherto marginalised voices”.
Friday, November 17, 11AM – 1PM Ananse goes to School will be regional online presentations of the Ministry of Education.
Saturday, November 19, International Men’s Day cookout at Pear Tree Grove, “Ananse Inna People Backyard”.
Monday, November 20, National Storytelling Day at Liberty Hall, Downtown Kingston, and selected parish libraries under the theme, “Garvey and Me”.
The festival is being staged by Ntukuma the Storytelling Foundation of Jamaica in partnership with the Mico University and College, and the Jamaica Library Service.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the first ever storytelling festival in Jamaica and the eleventh anniversary of the rebranding of the festival as Ananse SoundSplash.
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CONTACT: Ntukuma Secretariat: 876 225 9591 Email: Ntukuma_ja@yahoo.com
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