THE EDITOR, Sir:JAMAICA HAS inherited a rich, admirable cultural heritage from our ancestors - the Spaniards, the English, the Africans, Indians, Chinese and Syrians.
We inherited our language, music, food-cuisine, dances and games, religion, folklore and architecture from them.
Therefore, when we celebrate National Heritage Week annually, let us incorporate more deeply the heritage of all the ancestors, though some are in the minority of the populace.
Our motto says "Out of many one People", so shouldn't one be exposed to an amalgamation of all the cultures of our people?
Whatever is being done in the schools and communities should reflect the mixture of all our ancestors.
For example, a school or church is having a fete "Jamaica Night", one should not only prepare African dishes, such as fufu, dokunnu, blue drawers, coconut drops, run-down, grater cake and cornmeal pudding, but should also showcase Chinese cuisine like sweet and sour chicken/pork, chop suey and curry goat and roti from the Indian pot; not to mention the jerk meat inherited from the Spaniards which was preserved by the Maroons.
Heritage Week should also remind us of the music/musical instruments, dances and games, folklore and stories we obtained from all the ancestors.
Much more should be shown on television and broadcast on radio. Veterans from our different racial groups could visit schools and community centres in deep rural areas during this period of celebration and give talks, show exhibits, costumes and videos to many of our citizens.
Less than all this, and soon we might be celebrating "Heritage Weak". Oops!
I am, etc.,
M.L.M. Hoffy
Manchester
