Festival heavily supported

Gareth Davis Sr, Gleaner Writer

The annual Fi Wi Sinting cultural festival, which alsofeatured African exhibits and displays, localfood, and clothing, was from all indication, a huge success.

Held last Sunday on the grounds of Somerset Falls in Hope Bay, Portland, the event attracted hundreds of visitors from Holland, France, England, United States, South Africa, Nigeria, and the Bahamas.

"The support from outside is always overwhelming," said event promoter Pauline Petinaud.

"This is a cultural event, which is now in its 21st year. We continue to attract hundreds of tourists, and this festival should be deemed as a viable tourism product. This festival is aimed at bringing people together from uptown, downtown, from country, and town. Ninety-nine per cent of Jamaica's people are from African background and we need to celebrate that. This festival is Afro-centred and it seeks to celebrate the lives of those, who survived the middle passage journey, and the legacy that they have left us."

determined team

The success of the festival over the years has been attributed to a determined and energised set of team members, who with the exception of Petinaud, are below the age of 30.

According to the cultural festival boss, Corporate Jamaica has over the years, turned a blind eye on the festival, despite the many letters sent by them seeking sponsorship.

Various schools including U-Tech, Excelsior College, and Boys Town, have presented cultural items at the event. Various local food including bammy, roast yam, puddings, fruit juices, roast fish, ackee and salt fish, rice and peas, water coconuts, stew, vegetable patties, and escoveitched fish were available.

In addition colourful African clothing, herbal products, roots, herbal perfume, beads, health and herbal books, goat skin drums, and other exhibits were showcased.

lauded promoter

One of the vendors, Colin Bryan, who prepared fruit juices, vegetable patties, a variety of puddings, and other pastry items, lauded the promoter for keeping the festival afloat, amidst the economic challenges.

"I never miss this festival," he said. "The turnout is always good, and I look forward to greet and serve the many visitors, who turn up each year. I am happy that someone is able to stage a festival where the Jamaican roots are connected with African roots. I am already looking forward to next year," he pointed out.

Cost to enter the festival was $600 per person.

Among the popular persons present were dub poet and musician, Mutabaruka, who provided the large crowd with some carefully selected African music, Bongo Herman with his drumming, and Amina Blackwood Meeks, who also told tales of Anansi to adults and children.