A NUMBER of Portlanders were treated to the infectious rhythms of the drum at the Port Antonio Square in the parish on Wednesday evening, Emancipation night.

The event was organised by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission.

The evening’s stand out were drummers from Aldos Laidley School, some as young as six years old, doing Brukins and Dinki Mini songs. They are the 2017 Festival Gold medallist and Class 2 drumming champions.

They were followed by Philip Henry’s Amdrokele Drummers, who did a number spiritual songs including By the Rivers of Babylon and Zion songs.

The Seaforth Kumina group stirred up a storm with their drumming and dancing on stage. Group members went into the audience to continue their performance.

“More people need to come out and enjoy and learn more about our culture. It is important for the younger ones to learn about what our forefathers fought for, for us. Independence is good for us and some things are better now than before Independence. It is good that we went that way. It is also good that we have the Emancipation and Festival celebrations and this should continue,” Eunice Spence, who was there with her husband Eric, told the Jamaica Observer.

— Everard Owen