Calabash in focus on volcanic Montserrat (cont'd)
Lecture Symposium
Special guest at the Lecture Symposium was Professor J A George Irish, a gifted Montserratian who is Director of Latin American and Caribbean Studies at the Medgar Evers college of New York State University. He is also Chancellor of the People’s University in Panama.
In the 1970’s Professor Irish headed the University Centre here in Montserrat. While there he co-founded the Emerald Community Singers, a folk choral group who are now in their thirty-fifth year, as well as dance and drama groups. He was a prolific writer of social commentary, poetry and other writings. He also dipped into politics and unsuccessfully ran for election, before leaving for the United States. Now the lecture series, of which this was the first, has been named after him.
Professor Irish explained that earliest knowledge of the calabash comes from the Amerindians, known as Tainos or Arawaks, who used and disseminated the calabash for centuries from tribe to tribe, attaching ceremonial value to the tree and its fruit in their music and religious rituals.
“With the disappearance of the Tainos after the incursion of the Europeans, the Africans and poor white indentured workers adopted their unique instruments and integrated them into the percussion family that has become so uniquely Caribbean” Irish said. “The calabash therefore cuts across races and ethnicities to build national bridges of understanding”.
“Out of circumstances of poverty may emerge a creative energy and vitality…… theculture of the poorcan be rich in folklore, religious faith, oral history, oral narratives, literature, painting, sculpture, carving, arts and crafts, performing arts, costume design and community theater”, he said
This calabash event, according to the professor, invites us to reflect on the meaning, challenges and opportunities offered by the symbolism of the calabash. “We may celebrate the diversity of forms in which the fruit is popularly used, as well as the creative forms that our artists utilize to enhance its utility and national significance”.
He stressed the importance of exploring the role of the calabash in Montserrat’s history and cultural development, as well as the symbolic value of both the calabash and the Festival in terms of cultural nationalism. “It is equally important for our artists to identify the features of the calabash that are uniquely Montserratian to justify its national symbolism”, he said.
Also taking part in the Symposium were businessman and former senior civil servant Kenny Cassell, and former Chief Minister, economist and builder Reuben Meade.
Presentations covered the cultural, economic and social aspects of the calabash. After the presentations there was a lively discussion from the floor, and the entire symposium was recorded and aired on Radio Montserrat. <<< Previous - Next >>>Page: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6
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