datebook If you’re in . . . JAMAICA MIAMI St Lucia PAUL ATKINSON/shutterstock.com Accompong Festival 6 <strong>January</strong> Marcus Garvey said “a people without the knowledge of their past history, origin, and culture is like a tree without roots.” That isn’t the case below the wide-spreading Kindah Tree in Accompong, the headquarters of the Maroon community in St Elizabeth, Jamaica. Every year, hundreds of Maroons and non- Maroons gather to observe their independence from the British, and the honoured Kindah Tree is the main stage. Storytelling and traditional dances go down under this sacred mango tree <strong>—</strong> a symbol of unity. Before 1739, Captain Cudjoe, the fierce Maroon leader, held important meetings and ceremonies there. Today, in the spirit of remembrance, the abeng horn <strong>—</strong> once used for communication among isolated settlements <strong>—</strong> is blown to commence the festivities. Women chant and men beat the drums in procession towards the tree. Prepare for libations of white rum flicked into the crowd, to fend off evil spirits and bring luck. But what good is a rum shower without food? To end the ceremony, the crowd gathers for a meal of unsalted and unseasoned pork with yams. And, of course, a sound-system party that continues until dawn. holbox/shutterstock.com Art Deco Weekend 12 to 14 <strong>January</strong> artdecoweekend.com In downtown Miami, skyscrapers embrace the horizon, and architectural elements from various cultural influences abound. But if you appreciate the historical phenomenon of Art Deco, head over the bay to Miami Beach, which boasts one of the world’s most celebrated collections of Art Deco buildings <strong>—</strong> described as a “modern take on neoclassical, one that is equally historic, retro, and fabulous.” Over eight hundred structures built between 1923 and 1943 make up the Miami Beach Art Deco Historic District <strong>—</strong> including a row of lavishly refurbished, rainbowhued hotels with prime views of the Atlantic. And even if you’re not into the architecture, but just want to shake a leg and be entertained, the Miami Art Deco Weekend programme will keep you on your feet. “Art Deco Around the World” is the <strong>2018</strong> festival’s theme, and over 150,000 people will be on Ocean Drive in Miami Beach for educational events organised by the Miami Design Preservation League. There’s something for everyone <strong>—</strong> theatre shows, Hollywood movie tours, classic car shows, dog shows, fashion shows, culinary delights, and activities for children. Arrive early, as many of the events are free. Nobel Laureate Festival Last two weeks of <strong>January</strong> Venues around St Lucia Hear ye, hear ye, all devoted followers of <strong>Caribbean</strong> literature: St Lucia’s highly anticipated Nobel Laureates Festival has returned, and as usual it coincides with the shared birthdate of St Lucia’s two luminaries: Sir Arthur Lewis and Sir Derek Walcott. In 1979, Lewis won the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics, while Walcott received his Nobel Prize in Literature in 1992. A year later, a captivating and prestigious festival celebrating the achievements of these achievers was launched, and has been a significant literary affair in St Lucia’s calendar ever since. Music, theatre, and visual arts events always feature on the programme, with distinguished lectures dedicated to Lewis and Walcott being popular highlights. Academics and cultural luminaries such as the late Professor Rex Nettleford from Jamaica, Barbadian author George Lamming, Haitian filmmaker Raoul Peck, and many others have delivered the featured address at the annual lectures <strong>—</strong> impressing audiences and forming loyal returnees. This is the first year of the festival since Walcott’s death in 2017. Expect the organisers to pull out all the stops. Event previews by Shelly-Ann Inniss courtesy farrar, straus and giroux 20 WWW.CARIBBEAN-BEAT.COM
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