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Wake for Herb McKenley to Feature Traditional Folk and Cultural Performances

December 5, 2007

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Persons attending the wake or ‘nine- night’ of late Jamaican sports icon, the Hon. Herb McKenley, OM, at the National Arena on Friday, December 7, will be treated to a wide array of traditional folk and cultural performances.
“We are going to be having the wake in a cultural fashion. All aspects of our Jamaican culture will be represented,” said Cultural Organizer at the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), Leighton Jones. “It will be a wake in every kind of form and fashion,” he added.
Mr. Jones told JIS News that the event, which will get underway at 9: 00 p.m., will feature a bruckins party, revival and kumina performances, as well as traditional folk songs.
Among the groups slated to perform are the Manchioneal Cultural Group and the Hurricane Mento Band from Portland; the Hartford Cultural Group from Westmoreland; the Revival Mission in Clarendon; and the Dusk Till Dawn Kumina Group from St. Thomas.
“This is a real nine-night. People must come and play dominoes, drink chocolate tea, eat fish and bread and we just have a wonderful celebration for the life of the Hon. Herb McKenley. The whole Jamaica is invited to come out,” Mr. Jones said.
In the meantime, a musical tribute to the late sports hero will be held at the National Arena on Saturday, December 8, before the 1:00 pm start of the official funeral service.
The life and work of Mr. McKenley will be celebrated with performances by the Methodist Chorale, the Jamaica Constabulary Force band, Jody-Ann Johnson, as well as the Carifolk Singers. This will take place from 12:00 to 12: 45 p.m.
During the funeral service, tributes in the form of songs will be performed by students from Calabar High School, which Mr. McKenley attended, the University Singers, and gospel artiste, Jimmy Tucker.
Mr. McKenley, who was awarded the Order of Merit in 2004, died on November 26 at the University Hospital of the West Indies. He leaves behind his wife, Beverly and four children.

Last Updated: December 5, 2007

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