Working Together Paradigm for Progress

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cmcketty 22 posts --- Location: Brooklyn United States

24.10.2011 18:18 A Paradigm for Progress Notice of a conference by a guest on a broadcast earlier this year turned into a rewarding visit to Jamaica during which Sharon Gordon, chairperson of CPR and I introduced CPR to members of the media corps and forged alliances with leaders in the reggae industry. The initial reason for the visit was to make a presentation at the first Rex Nettleford Arts Conference staged by the Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts (EMC) after being invited by attorney Lloyd Stanbury during an interview on Real Talk. Our presentation at EMC was titled Philosophizing the Arts, and was well received by the standing room only audience that packed the reference room on the first day of the conference. Starting with the Mighty Sparrow's Dan is the Man (1963), and ending with Jah9's Warning (2011), the presentation used recordings to demonstrate that over the last fifty years, Caribbean arts expressions, reggae music in particular, have consistently philosophized the human condition in regard to various areas of human development but the record shows that we have failed to adequately philosophize the arts and consequently, have not derived maximum benefit. On Real Talk, our broadcast which airs on Thursdays from 7-10pm on CPRLive, I often comment that the message is in the music but the reality is in the practice and we took advantage of this trip to put into practice, our motto of working together to make things work by forging several meaningful alliances in Jamaica. After meeting with the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA), we agreed to recommend to our board of directors that CPR and JaRIA work together to advance music education and to advocate for an enhanced role for reggae music in Jamaica's education system. We were guest presenters at a general meeting of the Jamaica Association of Vintage Artists and Associates (JAVAA) where we were warmly received. Look for CPR to work with JAVAA in raising the profile of roots reggae artists and honoring the legacy of those who contributed to the development of the national treasure while CPRLive airs the music of our vintage artists While in Jamaica, we also interfaced with Desmond Young, president of the Jamaica Federation of Musicians, Vernal (Junior) Weir, General Manager of the Jamaica Association of Composers Authors and Publishers (JCAP), June Isaacs of the GregoryI Foundation, Janine Cunningham of Manifesto JA, an organization dedicated to youth empowerment, and nation building through arts and culture, Andrea Davis of International Reggae Day and a host of practitioners in the industry including veteran selector Ilawi of the legendary Jah Love Muzik. At our media event, we were humbled by the public expressions of praise and admiration for CPR's work from counterparts and officials in Jamaica all of whom pledged to join in working together to make things work. Among them was Sid Bartley of the Ministry of Culture who conveyed Minister Grange's endorsement of CPR's work while Principal Denise Salmon and Vice Principal Carol Hamilton of Edna Manley College shared their enthusiasm for the work. We welcomed the acknowledgment of the vital role of the Diaspora and the world community and look forward to support from near and far in preserving the virtues of our beloved reggae music.