The Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT) has planned a stacked calendar of events that showcase Jamaica’s rich and diverse heritage and culture, in celebration of Heritage Month, which starts next week.

The month is being commemorated under the national theme ‘Resilient People with a Proud Heritage’. Customarily, activities for the month involve outreach with a focus on built and material heritage, but this year will be different in that it will highlight the history, culture, and contributions of all the different nationalities that came to Jamaica.

JNHT Public Relations and Marketing Officer, Tamika Clough, explains, “It’s a month-long programme designed to engage the public in Jamaica’s rich and diverse cultural heritage. We have various days that we dedicate to the different [cultures] and explore their place within the Jamaican story.” 

Calander of activities

The programme begins Thursday, October 1 with ‘Adventures in Time: Books That Bring Heritage to Life’, targeting primary and secondary-school children and exploring Caribbean literature and the recording of heritage through stories. The setting is Devon House, and] people can come and enjoy book reading on that day, storytelling, and just interact with the various authors. 

There’s a book exchange on that day as well. The following day, On October 2, ‘Mek Wi Play Ring Ding’ will celebrate Jamaica’s play heritage by exploring play from the days of the Taino, the period of enslavement and the archaeological discovery of dolls and similar objects.

Acknowledging that aspects of Jamaica’s play heritage are disappearing, there will be workshops that will include gig-making, kite-making, box-truck making and slingshot making. Participants may also play marbles, ‘laskit’, ‘dandy-shandy’ and ring games.

More planned activities

On October 5, ‘From East Indies to West Indies’ will focus on Indian culture, how Indians made Jamaica their home and India’s influences on Jamaica. Displays are expected from the Indian High Commission and the Institute of Jamaica (IOJ).

The geospatial information system (GIS), showing how Jamaica looks on the map, how it used to look and how GIS is used, will be the focus on October 7. Mapping will illustrate how Jamaica’s heritage has changed over decades and centuries because of natural disasters, earthquakes and hurricanes.

October 9 will feature ‘Back to Africa’ and ‘Jamaica Boom’, the launch concert. On this day, JNHT will be showcasing African retention in Jamaica. Already, the cultural agency has engaged the Nigerian High Commission, IOJ, the Rastafari Institute and the African Caribbean Institute of Jamaica (ACIJ, which will all come on board to bring Africa to life.” 

On October 12, ‘Enter the Dragon: The Rise of the Chinese in Jamaica’ will focus on Chinese influence in Jamaica. The event will showcase Chinese influence on food, supermarket culture, shopping and music.

On October 14, ‘Taino World: Xamayca Before Jamaica’ will be the focus for October 14 at the Seville Heritage Park in St. Ann alongside the Seville Heritage Expo where visitors may tour the museum’s Taino exhibit. Jamaica’s recorded heritage in film will be in the spotlight on October 16 for ‘Reel Jamaica’.

On October 23, ‘Dung a Town’ will celebrate the marketplace and its role in Jamaican culture, where several things will be on sale and members of the public are being encouraged to come and buy. On October 27, ‘Two Empires, One Island’ at Port Royal will showcase how the Spanish and British empires caused a shift in Jamaica’s governance and their influence on the country.

The calendar concludes on October 30 with ‘Shalom Jamaica’, which will explore Jewish heritage in Jamaica at the Shalom Synagogue, 92 Duke Street. JNHT will be showcasing their culture and talking about the influence of the Jewish community on Jamaica in terms of real estate, in terms of commerce as well. 

All activities are free of cost with the JNHT also offering 50 per cent off tours in Kingston on October 21, 26 and 27 at their Headquarters House at 79 Duke Street, the Bustamante Museum at 24 Tucker Avenue and the National Heroes Park.