NEW BOOK HIGHLIGHTS JAMAICA’S WOMEN MUSICIANS—11/23/14
A new book by Heather Augustyn is putting Jamaica’s female musicians into the spotlight. The book, entitled “Pioneering Women in Jamaican Music,” is focused on women involved in the country’s music industry between the 1940s and the 1980s who were instrumental in developing the music. She was prompted to write the book during work on trombonist Don Drummond. Augustyn realized the important contributions to reggae music made by Drummond’s girlfriend, Anita “Marguerita” Mahfood, a rumba dancer and singer who Drummond was convicted of killing in 1965,
JAMAICAN REGGAE ARTISTES TO SUPPORT EDUCATION PROJECTS IN GAMBIA—11/24/14
Gramps and Peetah, globally famous Jamaican reggae stars, plan to perform in a concert to raise monies for educational projects in Gambia. The event will be organized by Masta Lion Foundation on Education, a non-government organization based in Finland. Local Gambian artistes will also participate in the concert event, which is scheduled for February 14, 2015.
JAMAICA’S BEST WOMEN POETS FEATURED AT POET LAUREATE SERIES—11/25/14
Professor Mervyn Morris, Jamaica’s poet laureate, promised to revive the nation’s poetry scene, and delivered on his promise during a poetry reading held in Kingston that featured the works of Ann-Margaret Lim and Millicent Graham, two of the country’s best female poets. They read their works as part of the Poet Laureate Presents series.
DOCUMENTARY EXPLORES DANCEHALL QUEEN CULTURE—11/27/14
A new documentary, entitled “Bruk Out!” will be released in the summer of 2015. The documentary focuses on the lives of dancehall queens and intends to put a positive light on dancehall culture. According to Brad Martin, associate producer, this is the first documentary that goes into the real world of dancehall queens by following the top queens from Japan, Italy, America, Poland, Spain and Jamaica. It shows has these individuals are more than just dancers and inspire women to overcome daily struggles and transform their lives for the better.
