JAMAICANS are being encouraged to take part in this year’s vibrant line-up of national Emancipation and Independence events.

The events started Thursday night with the Emancipation Jubilee at Seville Heritage Park in St Ann. This is a celebration in which four cultures – Taino, African, Spanish, and English — converge, blending their influence through music, ministry, and memory.

It was slated to end at 6:00 am today.

Minister of Culture Olivia Grange, who is leading the push for Jamaicans to turn out, noted that the events — the majority of which will be staged at National Stadium Complex in St Andrew — are designed to honour the past and celebrate the present.

Grange pointed out that the Independence Village will be established at National Stadium Complex from August 2 to 6, showcasing the best of Jamaican creativity, including cuisine, art, concert performances, and cultural expressions.

The National Festival Queen Coronation takes place at National Indoor Sports Centre on August 2; the Gospel Star Final and Jamaica Praise Concert, August 3; Mello-Go-Roun’, August 4; and ‘Vintage in the Village’, August 5.

The celebrations will culminate on Independence Day, August 6, with the Grand Gala, which organisers expect will be spectacular, at National Stadium.

According to Grange, a key highlight of the Gala will be a segment celebrating the recent United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) inscription of Port Royal. She added that Jamaica’s rich musical heritage will also be prominently featured.

“We will bring to life the story of the sunken city, its rich history and the dramatic experience of the 1692 earthquake, all through powerful dramatisation. We will also celebrate our music, which has also been honoured by UNESCO; it will be a vibrant tribute to a sound that has carried Jamaica’s message around the world,” said Grange.

She pointed out that that mini galas will be staged in each parish capital.

“So you don’t have to journey from the country to come to Kingston… you will be able to celebrate Jamaica 63 in your parish,” added Grange.

This was supported by director of the Community Cultural Development Services Division at Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) Marjorie Leyden-Kirton, who recently told JIS News that the celebrations will be taken to as many communities across the country as possible.

“We take all our work, all our festivals, all our competitions to the deep [rural] areas of Jamaica. We have about 800 communities. We may not reach all 800, but we definitely will be spreading and taking our celebrations to many of the communities,” said Leyden Kirton.

In the meantime, Grange has encouraged Jamaicans to wear the national colours — black, green, and gold — with pride, and adorn their homes and buildings in celebration of the nation’s heritage.

“Jamaica’s story is one of perseverance, faith, and of bold joyful praise, even in adversity. Sixty-three years ago, on August 6, 1962, Jamaica stepped boldly onto the world stage, a free and sovereign nation, ready to shape its own destiny.

“As we prepare to celebrate 63 years of Independence, I invite all Jamaicans at home and abroad to embrace this year’s theme, ‘Be Proud, Be Bold in Black, Green and Gold’. Let it be more than a phrase; let it be our declaration,” declared Grange.

Meanwhile, JCDC St James Parish Manager Collel Blake has called on parents and guardians to make a deliberate effort to take children to the Emancipation and Independence celebrations.

Blake argued that participating in the celebratory activities across the island, organised by the JCDC, provides meaningful opportunities for children to learn about Jamaica’s history, traditions, and national heroes.

According to Blake, understanding Jamaica’s journey from slavery to freedom is essential to fostering a strong sense of national identity.

“They first need to learn. If they don’t know what our heroes went through, what we went through during slavery, certainly they can’t appreciate the freedom they have now. In learning about what our foreparents went through, we get a better appreciation and understanding.

“So please bring them out to these events, have them come out so that they can appreciate and learn more about the culture and hear about it,” Blake urged.

Culture Minister Olivia Grange (right) greets Rita Marley, widow of reggae king Bob Marley, at the 2019 Independence Grand Gala at the National Stadium in Kingston.