Reggae And Soca In Zanzibar

Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor

Dears, this here scribe simply cannot get enough of All Things Jamaica, and especially all things celebrating and or commemorating the country's 50th Independence. And luvs, while Jamaicans at home in their jubilation often mistakenly assume and/or behave as if all the celebrations marking our Golden Jubilee independence celebrations, indeed, there were celebrations all around, and from each 'corner' of the globe.

Luvs, one such celebration took place over there in Zanzibar, the salutary celebration to mark Jamaica's 50th Independence was hosted at Velisa's, owned and operated by famed Jamaican restaurateur and diva of haute style, Betty Delfosse-Ingleton.

Dears, the buzz is it was a double celebration as, indeed, the event became a Caribbean affair as with guests from Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, visiting Zanzibar, in Tanzania, the spirit of Caribbean unity and camaraderie saw the nationals of the two nations, whose actual independence are mere weeks apart, coming together in one fine celebration that has been the talk of the town and then some!

And little wonder here as, indeed, Betty Delfosse-Ingleton, known and celebrated for her fabulous artsy food and joie de vivre has been flying the Jamaican flag high on the African continent since relocating to Zanzibar almost two years ago, and since then, her celebrated Velisa's has been a required stop for Jamaicans visiting Tanzania and/or East Africa.

Dears, call it nostalgia or simply just call it a fabulous party, celebrating the milestone of their mother country, but the buzz out of Zanzibar is that guests got down to reggae and soca in celebration of their country's independence anniversaries and partied on the beach, bonfire and all, like it was everybody's business.

Dears, another such celebration was the Jamaica homecoming feature in The Toronto Star, published in mid-June and featuring a very informative and fabulously written story by Toronto Star columnist Royson James, whose feature article was based on a return trip to the land of his birth, and discovering the Jamaica he never knew.

Special thanks to Elizabeth Buchanan-Hind of the Grand Jamaica Homecoming 2012 Secretariat in Toronto, Canada, for sharing the special advertising feature with this here scribe as, indeed, the special feature was a fabulous tourism advertorial, not only highlighting the journey of Jamaicans and Jamaica over the 50 years of independence, but it also serves as a timely intervention and a blueprint for the Tourist Board on one mode in which to market and promote Jamaica to Jamaicans in the diaspora and the wider travelling public, in and around historic calendar events, such as our Independence, etc.

In a signature piece titled 'Beyond Sun and Sea', the Jamaica Homecoming supplement in the Toronto Star should be replicated in all major tourism markets. The feature captured and communicated the very essence and lifestyles of Jamaica and Jamaicans. It also showcased the sun, sea and rum side of the country through a selection of well-placed adverts by leading resorts, real-estate dealers, travel and booking agencies, etc, such as Sandals, Breezes Grand Resort and Spa, Negri; Hedonism 11, The Jewel Dunn's River Beach Resort and Spa, The Jewel Runaway Bay, Braco Beach Village Hotel and Spa, The Spanish Court Hotel, Hermosa Cove, GoreHomes, and a selection of service providers and suppliers that made for a complete supplement.

Produced under the patronage of Jamaican Canadian business leaders Michael Lee-Chin and Raymond Chang, the Toronto Star Home Coming Feature wholly and truly embraced and showcases in words and photographs, the beauty and appeal of the island, its impact and entertainment icons.

Indeed, kudos all around on a fabulous job by the Toronto chapter of the Grand Jamaica Homecoming 2012 team.