The Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA XV), which began on Friday (August 22) in Barbados, has returned with a vibrant showcase of cultures, cuisines, fashion, performances, and visual arts from across the region, celebrating the theme, ‘Caribbean Roots; Global Excellence’. Now in its 15th staging, the event, returning for the first time since 2019 after a COVID-19-related hiatus, runs until...

For twin brothers Vinton and Dwayne Haughton, music is more than a profession; it's a lifelong calling rooted in purpose, passion, and a commitment to service through the arts. That unwavering dedication was recognised when they received the Mayor’s Special Spirit of Independence Award in the field of arts and culture, during the Independence Flag Raising and Civic Ceremony held...

The Jamaica Festival Song Competition carries with it a long and storied tradition of musical excellence, attracting thousands of artistes over multiple decades and eras of Jamaican popular music. The competition is organised annually by the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, through the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC). Many artistes compete to have the winning song that will...

Members of the public can now view the works of 17 of western Jamaica’s talented artists, which are on display in the Due West Exhibition in Montego Bay, St. James. The pieces, showcased at National Gallery West, include ceramics, paintings, photography, printmaking, and fibre arts, among others. They were created using a diverse range of materials. The themes largely centre...

It was 265 Easters ago when Chief Takyi (also Tacky) led a daring uprising against the cruelty of colonialism, thus igniting a flame of resistance across the island that would serve as a catalyst for Jamaica’s emancipation decades later. Those events of the 1760 Easter rebellion or Tacky’s War that unfolded in the North Eastern parish of St. Mary are...

Director and Curator of the Jamaica Music Museum (JaMM), Herbie Miller, is of the view that this year’s staging of the Grounation series “lived up to the expectations”. The annual series showcases cultural and educational lectures, panel discussions and performances organised by JaMM, a division of the Institute of Jamaica (IOJ), which is an agency of the Ministry of Culture,...

Young people looking to make a career in social media or content creation are being advised to focus on making authentic content that builds trust, enhances engagement, and creates meaningful connections with the audience. Authenticity in content creation refers to the quality of being genuine, honest, and true to oneself. It is building an audience based on making content that...

The recent raising of the age limit to 30 for participants in the Miss Jamaica Festival Queen Competition has sparked favourable responses, including from former contestants. Traditionally, the competition, organised by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) is open to women between the ages of 18 and 25. This year, the rules have been updated to permit young women up...