My Two Cents » Death of Calabash : A Jamaica Gleaner Blog

Death of Calabash

I have focused our attention on the need to develop alternative tourism models especially those that provide significant benefits to small communities. That is why it saddened me to see that the annual Calabash Festival would be cancelled this year.

This is exactly the type of project that is needed in Jamaica. It was relatively inexpensive to stage but it attracted a world class field in the area of poetry and literature. It might not be an event that I would attend but it had its following and the residents of St. Elizabeth benefited from the holding of this festival. What makes this occurrence especially sad is that no one has been forthcoming about why the event has been cancelled.

It is particularly distressing given the fact that last year the event almost did not happen due to lack of sponsorship. Could it be that the organisers have encountered the same problem this year and have thus called off the event from now? If this were the case then the public ought to have been told to see whether there were any other parties interested in sponsoring the event. This Festival added to the diversity of the tourism product on offer. The Jamaica tourist board might have seen fit to sponsor an event of this type rather than spend so much on the Jazz and Blues festival which although it has a large attendance does not add significantly to tourism arrivals. Calabash occurs in March nearer to the end of the winter tourist season and thus could be used to draw in visitors at a time when they are most needed.

It could be that people don’t see these events as being important because we place so little emphasis on reading but around the world there are many large events surrounding literature and poetry that draw thousands of visitors. Many of these events had small beginnings like Calabash but have grown over years into major events. One only has to see the huge crowds that J.K. Rowling attracts to understand the potential benefits.

It might be that the organisers could no longer get along with each other and have parted ways. This too would be a tragedy as the concept could have been passed on to someone else who could have taken it over. Often times the creators of festivals fail to recognise that although they started the event after a period of time the event belongs to the people who should have a say in whether it stays or go. A part of putting on an event is the need for succession planning i.e. who will carry out the event when the original organisers are no longer able to do so.

It maybe that we will never find out what is the real cause but I will join in with others who mourn for an event that seeked to inspire us with quality rather than subjecting us to mindless noise.

Tags: Carl Wilson

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3 Responses to “Death of Calabash”

Dahlia says:

March 2, 2011 at 12:17 pm

I am also saddened by the cancellation of such an event. This event needs to be brought back and is to be fully supported by both the Minister of Tourism and Education. This is a positive and educated festival and can and will be beneficial to both tourism and citizens on a whole.
Anna Williams says:

March 2, 2011 at 4:14 pm

We the public do not know why Calabash has been disbanded. However, one has to wonder if perhaps there is no money to be made in literary efforts. I believe the foreign literary festivals have been around for some time and they also probably had their share of hurdles before they succeeded. In addition, people worldwide are simply not reading or buying books as they previously did, hence the decline in interest in authors, in general. Perhaps if the festival were marketed differently, more creatively, it would have survived. Why not “marry” the literary festival with other forms of cultural arts? That would widen the appeal and make sponsors more eager to embrace the idea. I reference the annual Jamaican Jerk Festival in South Florida and find it amazing that what is to be a food festival is so successful because of the live performances as well as the retailers who sell a variety of merchandise above and beyond jerk food. Furthermore, the marketing of the Calabash Festival leaves a lot to be desired. I’m in NY and I don’t recall seeing advertisements or any type of marketing of the festival aimed at the huge Jamaican population here. Most college students here are not even aware of its existence. Who better to attract than college students who like to travel on break from school? I also think they should have made room for newer or younger writers, both in Jamaica and abroad, thereby bringing some excitement to the festival.
Jo Bent says:

March 2, 2011 at 6:44 pm

Its really sad that the this annual event
has come to an end, its seem it was an
inexpensive event and the locals around Treasure beach made some money.

I have never been, but I planned to go this year, after contacting quite a few villas and hotels I recievd emails that everything was sold out(close by) I emailed Calabash organizers since January but never got a respond, 5 of us was planning this trip so
when a friend in the know called to inform me
its cancelled (permanently) It was dissppointing, however after the announcements formally came out, I was told ppl may still show up and do their own thing which would be
great.

I Can say the reason i dont know but we have to sponsor intellectual events not just bashments, and overseas act; teaching our youths to only whine & grind will not prepare future leaders, reading is still alive & well, not everyone want or can afford Kindle in this country, or was the sponsors listening to local authors/writers that complained that the the big name publishing houses and overseas authors were the only ones highlighted at
Calabash? some says independent authors were
overlooked & slighted while some singers, well-known ppl here were also recognized. With so many Jamaican authors in the USA, Canada and the UK, no matter what genre, Jamaican kids and
ppl should know about them so the young ppl here that aspire to be authors/writers will
see that it can become a reality, not only dance hall queens and DJs should be promoted. Maybe Andrew Holness can step in