THE Jamaican Folk Singers is set to focus on the beauty of Jamaica’s folk music culture as it presents its 2011 concert season from September 9-11 at Kingston’s Little Theatre.

The singers note that this year’s concerts feature entertainment for the entire family, and promises to take patrons on a journey down memory lane, through areas of Jamaica’s folk music culture, including school days, traditional folk fairs, work, plantation life and the spirited Kumina experience.

The 2011 concert season also offers the folk singers another opportunity for the group to use Jamaica’s folk music and its messages to uplift Jamaica — highlighting the values of ‘old Jamaica’ — respect for self and others, being polite, disciplined and, overall, loving our neighbours as ourselves, with the music encouraging respect and understanding among people of different backgrounds.

The Jamaican Folk Singers, which was founded in 1967 by Dr Olive Lewin, says it has strived through the years to remain true to its mission, which includes unearthing and exposing the beauty and artistic worth of Jamaica’s folk music heritage.

It has been 44 years of overcoming challenges and helping to keep alive the folk foundations of Jamaica’s music, being a bridge between the senior citizens who have nurtured the values and lore of old Jamaica and the youth who are the hope and architects of tomorrow.

The group began as friends who were invited by Lewin to share her enthusiasm for Jamaica’s folk music, which developed with her experience in collecting and researching Jamaica’s folk music.

From the group’s first public performance to this 2011 concert season, the group maintains respect for traditions and for the people who have kept them alive.

With a repertoire of over 200 songs arranged by the founder, Lewin, the group has sung to enthusiastic audiences in Jamaica and several other countries including Martinique, Barbados, Cuba, Mexico, USA, Germany, Canada, Great Britain, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago and Argentina.

As exciting as it has been to win gold medals and other awards internationally, nothing has been as rewarding as being welcomed by Jamaicans in the nooks and crannies visited on the group’s island tours. The most recent such tour was in 2009/2010 and sponsored by Mother’s and saw the group singing in markets, parks, churches and on streetsides.