Voices of Jamaica Podcast

On November 26, 2021, the hosts of the Voices of Jamaica podcast met for the first time in a roundtable discussion convened by Zahra Henry. Hear from Breadlockx, Tameika, Demario, Damian, Melville, Kavelle, Russell, Saundrie, Waldane and Natalia as they discuss the communities featured in their podcasts as well as their podcast experience - from idea to reality. The Voices of Jamaica is presented by the Alpha School of Music and made possible with support from the Embassy of the United States, Kingston.

Echo Chamber hosts, Melville Cooke and Tanya Batson-Savage, invite four of Jamaica's living cultural luminaries, Professor Mervyn Morris, Owen Ellis, M'Bala and Nadine Sutherland, to share their personal perspective on four of Jamaica's most significant writers who have transitioned - singer/songwriter Peter Tosh and poets Louise Bennet -Coverly, Mikey Smith and Jean ‘Binta' Breeze.

Russell Thompson and friends, Joshua Paul and Saeed Thomas, draw on their experience in filmmaking, from start-up to the big screen, in a wide ranging conversation between ‘reel friends' about the industry and how Jamaica is really the perfect place to make a movie.

Waldane Walker speaks with Mr. Richard Derby from the Manchioneal Cultural Group out of the parish of Portland, Jamaica. Through discussion about this endangered Jamaican traditional form, Walker highlights the history and significance of Bruckins, and by extension, community art forms island wide. Walker and Derby finish with a call to action for the public to protect and engage with Jamaica's unique culture.

Out of many, one people; Jamaica is a delightful melting pot, rich in culture and strong heritage that began with the original people, the Tainos. Tameika Hutchinson takes us into the heart of Contemporary Taino Culture in Jamaica by speaking with a member of the Jamaican Taino Community, Erica Neeganagwedgin. Erica and Tameika discuss ancestry, heritage and the continuity of Taino ways of living that still remain as part of everyday Jamaican life, not only for Tainos today, but for all Jamaicans.

In this episode, Peter ‘BreadlockX' Harvey explores the historical and contemporary Rastafarian community at Bob Marley Beach in East St. Andrew featuring elder Vince "Macka" Thomas. The Bob Marley Beach Experience reveals how the community has played a significant role in the development of Jamaica's musical culture while preserving and experiencing Rastafari Culture for practitioners and the public.

Host Damian Scarlett gives youth the chance to share their voices on the challenges and opportunities of life during the pandemic. Jahvoughn Francis and Trishana Burgher, both from the community of Marverly in Kingston, discuss their top ‘pande-opportunities' and offer a youth-centred framework for their peers across Jamaica.

Host Natalia Whyte welcomes four dancers of different backgrounds for a deep dive into dance culture through lived experience. Featuring outstanding dancers Kimiko Miller aka Kimiko Versatile, Careen Walton, Steven Cornwall, and Dancehall Wazzy, the discussion tackles education, career development, mental and physical challenges as well as lessons learned for a comprehensive, contemporary statement about one of Jamaica's most important and respected art forms.

Demario Livermore reveals the fundamental elements of authentic Kumina culture which is primarily practiced in the parish of St Thomas, what the culture represents and how it has influenced Jamaican culture and society. Mr Livermore also speaks with Linval Walker, based in the community of Bath, St Thomas and who has practiced and taught Kumina drumming for more than 30 years, about the personal and community benefits of Kumina practice.

Lending creative storytelling, career guidance and, of course, science, host Kavelle Hylton puts STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) literacy in Jamaica under the microscope. In this episode, STEM ambassador, Ms. Desan Watson, reveals how she became fluent in applying science to a variety of fields, from education to wellness to creative arts, by not letting the same old perceptions of STEM learning get in the way.

Saundrie Shaw visits the site of the Kendal train crash in the parish of Manchester and speaks with community members who were there or have been affected by the crash. While the crash happened more than 50 years ago, we learn how memories of this tragic event survive just below the surface of everyday life and continue to shape the community as well as impact future development.