Talking drums grace St Mary shores
Published:Sunday | August 22, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Inflecting the message of peace, talking drums will stir the waves in the ocean, ruffle the leaves on the trees and, hopefully, open the hearts of men next weekend at Strawberry Fields, Robins Bay in St Mary.
Organiser Hugh Shim says the evening-to-night vigil, tagged 'Jamaica Drums 4 Peace', is more pivotal to Jamaica now than ever.
Since the start of the year, some 960 Jamaicans have been killed, statistics reveal.
"The country is too tense and stressful. If you step on a man's toe, he wants to hit you and if you are not careful, he may shoot you. Everybody is just too angry," said Shim in an interview with The Sunday Gleaner.
Facilitating peace
For Shim, his countrymen are too quick to respond with violence and his mission is to foster harmonious interpersonal relationships by facilitating an attitude of peacefulness in the society. He said the most powerful medium is drumming and rhythm, as it evokes emotions.
Strawberry Fields, Robins Bay, is really just the starting point for this message that the 'Jamaica Drums 4 Peace' team plan to take throughout the island. Other stops include the Accompong Maroons Independence celebration, January 2011, the Bluefields Fishermen Regatta, Westmoreland and the Rastafarian Indigenous Village, St James.
At next weekend's event, which starts on Saturday, August 28 and ends the following day, persons and groups have been invited to share their messages via drumming, the spoken word, songs and art, explained Shim.
The conceptualiser has pulled on maestros such as Kim Chase and Everton McKenzie, Strawberry Fields, Mike and Judith Brown Gospel Productions, Wolde Christos, Reliable Adventure Tours, Arlene McKenzie and Eddie Wray of the IION Station Rasta Indigenous Village and Peter Manbode, businessman and tourism and hospitality instructor.
The drummers confirmed to perform include Prince Tebah and the Sons of Thunder, Bethel Baptist Rhythm Ensemble, Niahbingi Drummers and the Accompong Drummers.
With the ocean forming the backdrop for what is expected to be an incredible weekend of spiritual vibrations and energy, Shim said, "The main event will be the creation of a drum orchestra to convey a common message. The rhythm and lyrics (Peace Is Only A Heartbeat Away) will be taught and played, demonstrating the uniting force and the power of positive words".
Healing principles
He said the result of the drumming should be based on four healing principles, "Hear peaceful voices, emanate peaceful vibrations, articulate peaceful visions and live peacefully".
According to him, a team -building mechanism has been adopted from the Tourism Product Development Company's Team Jamaica programme - one of "fostering pride in country and self".
The idea now, he said, is the building of a peace team using the 'Team Jamaica' methodology.
Team members have been recruited using social networking and personal invitations. From this, groups will be encouraged to create their own Jamaica Drums for Peace teams.
"Sponsorship and funding will be mainly voluntary in the first year, as it is hoped that corporate sponsors will be attracted as the movement grows."