Kriol culture celebrated at festival
This is only the second Kriol Festival, but from the heavy turnout today at the Belize City House of Culture, it’s clear this event is quickly becoming a favourite on the September Celebrations Calendar. And true to the theme of “Wan, Wan okro full baaskit” the very best in Kriol food, music, language, and cultural traditions were offered up by the basketful. News Five’s Karla Heusner was there.
Karla Heusner, Reporting
It was a day of old things and new experiences. And some of us who came thinking we were just going to watch some dances or demonstrations, ended up doing a little work. In my case, grating coconuts… There was something for everyone, from country wines for the adults to dolls for the children. And it was the school children who came out in droves, their pencils ready.
And while the Kriol Festival was all about Kriol Culture, today’s event also featured the opening of a centre for the National Kriol Council, sponsored by the National Institute of Culture and History, NICH.
Musical superstar Lela Vernon is an active member of the Kriol Council and she says the centre is just what the organisation needs to carry out its work.
Lela Vernon, Vice President Kriol Council
“What I am seeing here is the best thing that ever happened to us, because we did not have an office before. We were working out of our house and you know and our kind hearts and dedicating our time and our monies for this cause. But what I am seeing here with the help of NICH and this little area here, we can disseminate all our information from here, we have a place to house our documents and things like that. I think it’s the best thing happening to the Kriol Council and its people at this time.”
Kriol Gyal herself Silvana Woods says the festival just gets better and better.
Silvana Woods, Secretary, National Kriol Council
“We have a lot more soul, we have soul, we have joy, we have happiness, we have wine, we have food, we have music, we have history, we have the donation of a coconut grinding mill back when how they does grind coconut, hundreds and hundreds of cucnut, and this was donated by Miss Euphemia Bennett. By the way, she mi meet we in Boom at wah next festival. Dah like wah lee rolling stone weh start back in the late eighties finally today we have the resource centre…wan wan okro full baaskit.”
“Well we have the Maypole, because you know pickney love that. That we have the traditional games for pickney, Myrna actually di collect that, Outsaid Joobel and all kind of games for the children. They could learn in five minutes a quick, quick guide to?if they done talk Kriol?how to read and write Kriol to get them excited to explore more. They could see videos, Dr. Cally Young when he mi talk about the origins of Kriol names, we have videos on DVD di show over and over. Medicinal herbs, Burrell Boom deh yah with their booth, their wine, we have Gales Point Manatee; we have Sambai music from four to seven. We have live music from Mr. Peter’s, David, Erwin Jones, Lela Vernon. And we have also di happen, the judging of some of the village booths. We have five hundred dollars first prize and other cash prizes fi how they portray their Kriol culture.”
The festive mood was clearly contagious as even the Minister of Culture got into the act. Perhaps he may even go on stage next year.
Karla Heusner reporting for News Five.
Taking home top prize for the best booth at today’s festival was Gales Point Manatee, followed by the St. George’s Caye Day Committee, and Burrell Boom. They were awarded five hundred dollars, two hundred and fifty dollars, and one hundred dollars respectively. The prize money came courtesy of NICH.
