By Tanya Batson-Savage, Staff WriterPOETRY, BELLY Dancing and an exploration into a raw food diet were a part of the mix at Fi Wi Sinting, a cultural Festival at Nature's Way, Buff Bay, Portland, last Sunday.
The first hint of poetry came early in the morning during the open microphone segment. Young Pretty Russell of Lion of Judah Basic School, delivered some poetic thoughts on society.
"Most criminals as created by parents. So consider this and be better parents," she told the
audience, going on to discuss
the family and respecting
the elderly.
MEL COOKE ON MIC
Much later in the day Mel Cooke took his turn at the microphone, during the concert segment of Fi Wi Sinting. Cooke's poetry centred on the issues of race and equality.
He began with issues stemming from slavery in 'Deh Ya Same Way'. "In terms of African history, slavery is just a small part, but it has come to dominate us," he said.
He mixed the lessons and horrors of slavery with the importance of events such as Fi Wi Sinting which mark the value of African culture.
From there he swung to human rights, with 'The Real USA'. Playing on Douglas Scolnick's statement when he was finger-printed going into Brazil and felt it violated his American rights, the poem argues that it should not be a matter of 'American' rights but human rights.
POETRY AND STORYTELLING
Cooke also looked at Haiti in 'Si Freedom Deh'. Apartheid also came under the attack of his pen in 'Apartheid (Is Not Over Yet)'.
Atiba presented a mixture of poetry and storytelling. Armed with first a jembe and later a sonza (hand piano), he told the audience, "I greet you as a Pan African in the tradition of Book-man and Marcus Garvey."
In his poetry he spoke of the black race's ability to survive "through the trials of nature and the schemings of man."
Atiba then told an engaging story with a rapid fire style of delivery. As the words almost tripped over themselves he quickly engaged the audience, regaling them with the story of a sonza player.
While poetry engaged the mind a belly dancing demonstation brought a visual treat. Wreathed in vivid beautiful colours, three dancers from the United States allowed the audience to explore the sensual arts of belly dancing as they swayed, jiggled and bounced seductively.
The trio were a part of the 'All The Way Live' retreat, several members of which were at the festival. After the demonstration, members of the audience tried their swing. The audience was delighted by their attempts as they tried to tame the inclination to 'wine' into the tamer art.
One participant from the All The Way Live retreat, Aris Latham, brought a demonstration of "sunfire" power with his raw food recipes. While preparing lunch for the retreat participants, Latham simultaneously gave a demo to the curious festival goers, who 'oohed' and 'aahed' and shook their heads unbelievingly while he prepared a raw plaintain dish.
Fi Wi Sinting provided the chance to eat, dance, and think, in a mix that celebrated an Afro-centric way of life.
