THE 20th staging of Fi Wi Sinting, held recently at Somerset Falls in Portland, was a thrilling affair despite the early drizzle and mild showers during the day.

The venue was transformed into a market place with African craft; natural foods; Phillip Henry doing his portraits; African Dance Party hosted by Mutabaruka, with his vast repertoire of rhythms from the continent, with emphasis on Haitian music. Ted Emmanuel was also present with his health talks.

The LaCadco dancers and drummers made a captivating presentation as they danced to their drums and had patrons moving along to the rhythms. Excelsior Community College presentation of the history of our music from beginning to present received rousing applause.

One of the main attractions, the Ancestral Raft saw patrons placing offerings as they gathered before it went floating in the Caribbean Sea.

Host Sista P (Pauline Petinaud) was philosophical, “It has been going good and we have been able to survive. We believe in Black History

Month and we have the biggest event for the month in Jamaica. We are in solidarity with Haiti and we used to go there when slavery was abolished so we just want to give thanks and big them up.”

— Everard Owen