Amina Blackwood-Meeks, Contributor
CHRISTINE NEIL-WRIGHT. Ana and Samantha Strachan. Kivana Coleman.
These are some of the young and talented Jamaicans who will be participating in the World Championships of the Performing Arts beginning October 3, 2003 in Hollywood. At their own expense. Others would have gone before them having excelled in previous competitions at the local and regional levels. Notice that we did not say "who will be representing Jamaica."
There might be an issue here of when participation in an international activity with the attendant media coverage becomes representation. And at what stage of such representation is the individual entitled to assistance from the wider community, from Government agencies, from private sector organisations to do the best job possible. Furthermore, what kind of rewards should they be given should they return, like others before them, with gold medals and exposure in the overseas press at least equivalent to a JTB promotional campaign?
Suppose for a moment that the Honourable Robert Nesta Marley were alive when Time Magazine and the BBC decided that this little man from St. Ann had created both the song of the millennium and the album of the century? Well, first things first. Would we have had the courage to make such a declaration and would anyone have taken us seriously? See? The issue is perhaps about representation.
NATIONAL IDENTITY
The fact is as soon as anyone of any nationality appears in a forum removed from the land of their birth, they are branded with their national identity. It is a double-edged sword. If they do well, there is a great flag-waving, at least among those members of the given audience who share the national identity of the performer. Someone "back home" may or may not care. In fact no one "back home" might ever be aware of the unsolicited ambassadorial exploits, thus it is never factored in the tremendous goodwill Jamaica enjoys around the world or the fact the Jamaica Label sells. On the other hand, if such a performer "flop de show" you could expect a veritable traffic jam of e-mails and telephone calls of people demanding to know "is who dat unnu send come represent we?"
DOING ON THEIR OWN
That's only a small part of the burden borne by these unnamed ambassadors. Whether they work or attend school they are too often on their own. They have to find rehearsal time, long hours they will tell you, in addition to their regular schedule. If they are employed they have to use up sick leave, departmental leave, vacation leave and any other leave they can conjure up for the preparation and the actual event. How many of them manage to prepare and then successfully perform is its own miracle.
Try rehearsing to sing in front of hundreds of people in your living room without a microphone or knowledge of how to use one. Try leaping and landing on a concrete floor in pursuit of dream to dance your way into hearts and minds of men with a budget to balance and important conferences to attend. The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission could write volumes about the numbers of children in the various competitions each year, who see a real stage for the first time, minutes before they are due to make their appearance.
No wonder 'it's a miracle' is often the only comment some people are capable of as this little rock turns out star after star in every endeavour. It is a miracle how students strategise to participate in those events that fall during vacation breaks. There is little, if any, incentive from the educational institution. There are no marks that go towards a term grade. Not even for participating in the "extra-curricular" arts programmes of the schools. In fact too many students who excel in the arts, outside of school have been asked to show reason why they should be "treated differently" than whatever mandates appear in official documents regarding what is required for 'graduation'. This, in an age when we are demanding that our people, our children in particular "become more rounded", show more "invlovement in community activities".
And it is nothing short of wonderful, as in full of wonder, how we trace out the last drop of Jamaican blood, especially if it has deep rural roots, in every internationally acclaimed performer that ever lived.
'Thank you' at the end, "may I have your autograph" are simple not enough. Facilitating stardom is something which we have yet to learn to do.
CULTIVATING TALENT
So what do we owe the Christines, Samanthas, Anas, Kivanas and others who continue to demonstrate how well the Jamaican labels sells? Certainly facilities for the best possible preparation. A cadre of coaches who are paid and maintained to undertake the related tasks.
Wouldn't it be 'wonderful' if graduates of the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts could one day hope to be recruited into such a fold? The people who are trained, who have excelled also need opportunities to work and earn a decent living from their skills and talents. The uniqueness of the culture of this country is what keeps attracting tourists to our shores. It is what brings Hollywood directors and movie makers. It is what makes us proud to see our people on the big screen, on this or that television sitcom.
And we are angered, at least embarrassed when they get it wrong, when the accent is just off or any of the thousand and one incorrect portrayals based on... only they know. But we know and we could improve our ability to insist that they get it right if more of us were facilitated to make that contribution.
It is at this level that we get another opportunity to demonstrate a real grasp of what it means to create successful cultural industries. We could help to get the wagon started or we could just hop on when it returns successfully from Hollywood.
