News Summary - week ending April 5th, 2003

Carriacou’s Third Maroon Music Festival kicks off Friday 25^th April until Sunday 27^th.  Carriacou’s number one festival, which is growing ever larger every year, is an annual exhibition of unique Maroon heritage, culture and foods, scintillating displays of Big Drum Nation Dance, String Band Music and Quadrille Dancing.

The three-day programme, begins with an all day indigenous maroon, this culminates the maroon season in grand style, which traditionally begins before lent, and ends just before planting season. The venue is Belair Park, which will be converted into a huge Maroon Compound and entertainment village packed with non-stop activity.  The Friday will feature the Maroon feast and visitors will witness the indigenous skills of maroon cooks at the three village camps installed for the event.  The setting is enveloped in sheer nature and offers visitors and natives alike the opportunity to blend into a natural environment.

The Maroon Festival will showcase cultural presentations and groups from Carriacou, Petite Martinique and Grenada dominating Friday night’s program.  The events will begin with an official opening by the Hon Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell and include speeches from noted Caribbean folklorists. 

The weekend will include the very finest of local, regional and international talent.  These will fall into the following: Maroon Day, Carriacou Cultural Heritage, Regional, Roots, Culture and Art.  Already confirmed are:  Grenada National Folk Group, Tobago Cultural Group, Union Island Dancers and Les Ballets D’Afrique Noire from Senegal, Africa.  Square One and Allison Hinds will close Saturday night performing until daybreak.   

Maroons are age-old ceremonies in Carriacou and Petite Martinique.  It brings villagers together to express various aspects of their culture, which is based in the agricultural activities of the islanders.  The day ends with the traditional Big Drum Nation Dance. The ‘Drum’ is the lifeblood of the Maroon celebration as is true of many African rites.  The dancers are colorfully dressed and sing songs in patois.  The lyrics recall their history, trials, suffering, preoccupations, glorious moments as well as aspirations.   

To many, Maroon means coming together to celebrate: life, work, people and history.  It is a community reunion.  It gels the community.  It is sharing: food, time and spirit and the social hub of a community.  The pulsating beat of the drum lifts the heart and cures the soul.  It evaporates the pain in the bones and beckons the celebrant to join the ring and the rhythm. This is the spirit of the ‘Maroon Festival’.  Just as the local maroon brings the villagers together, the Festival goal is to gel our people in one big global reunion accentuating our rich heritage.

This cultural expression is a unique Tourism attraction.  The Festival is packaged in such a way that these are enhanced.  It brings together all the village maroons in one major island wide celebration. The Festival also brings together all the indigenous cultural music and dances of Carriacou.

Traditional foods will be accentuated, cottage crafts will be on display along with an art exhibition which includes work by the legendary folklorist Canute Calliste   The three-day cultural extravaganza will feature leading Caribbean and Grenadian artistes plus native-born Carriacouans whose cultural exploits are our joy and pride.

The objective of the Festival is to promote our cultural resources to the International Community.  The Festival features music and art, discoveries and innovations.  It is more than a celebration.  It is about people, their accomplishments, gifts, talents and capabilities.   The entire celebration is an exhibition of our kinfolk’s endeavors.   Thus the Maroon Village will radiate a kaleidoscope of booths showcasing our wares - from literature and artifacts, to music and art and craft.   

Carriacou Maroon Festival is being marketed throughout the Caribbean with particular emphasis in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica.    All-inclusive package tours will originate from London, Miami and New York.  Regional Weekend Packages are also available.  

In association with Grenada Board of Tourism, Ministry of Carriacou & Petit Martinique Affairs.  Sponsored by Heineken Beer, Grenlec, Carib Beer, Western Union, Chivas Regal, Martell, Ministry of Culture, MNIB, Sky Construction, Matheson Enterprises, Digi-Soft Computer Services, Down Island Ltd, SVG Air, Trans Island Airways (TIA)