KEN CORSBIE is "Caribbean Voices" |
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GIMISTORY
FESTIVAL The only
storytelling festival in the West Indies and one of the most
important cultural mini festivals in the Caribbean. It
is the highlight of my year since 1998. Nine days in the Cayman Islands during
the last week in Novembers. Produced by the
Cayman Islands National Cultural Foundation, it is the most relaxed, holidayish,
sociable festival imaginable. Venues include the town's
amphitheatre square , schools and a different beach each evening Super Memory Man GODFREY CHIN launched his book NOSTALGIAS at the Brooklyn Library Friday 31st August. It is a remarkable recording of his wondrously detailed memories of growing up and living in Guyana during the 1940's to the 70'. He has also launched it in Vancouver, in DC, Orlando, Miami, Toronto and most recently in his homeland, Guyana. Plans are afoot for Barbados and Toronto launchings. NOSTALGIA has been praised as a social history gem by literary and cultural heads throughout the diaspora. THE
LAST OF THE REDMEN is Michael
Gilkes' very unique cultural biohistory one-man play of growing up in "The
Taitt's Yard" in Georgetown, Guyana. "Woodbine" was a one and
only house and yard that foundationed some of Guyana's top athletes,
dancers, actors, artists and musicians. Ex professor of literature, now
playwright, director and actor, Michael wrote, directed and acts all seven
characters in this tour de force theatre piece that has won him the Guyana New
Play Award. REDMEN was workshopped in the Cayman Islands for five days in
December and is being rewritten to make it more "universal" in
theme. CARIFESTA
X , the only comprehensive cultural festival
in the Caribbean, is scheduled in Guyana, August 2008. Within minutes of Bahamas
backing out of hosting it because of lack of time and preparation (they had two
years run-in time) the Guyana government leaped into the breach and
declared they would host it with just eleven months preparation time. Despite
much misgiving by a few older (wiser?) artists in the diaspora, most Guyanese
artists everywhere are already thinking of their participation. CARIFESTA has
become stale over the past decade and needs a rejuvenation of concept and format.
Although Guyanese artists are overjoyed, time will tell if the rest of
the Caribbean responds with equal enthusiasm. For more information -
CARIFESTA Secretariat, attn. Col. Linden Ross, at
KEN'S
CHOICES - Ken has produced four
CD's |