London -- Jamaicans celebrated their 50th year of Independence
and Olympic victories on Monday at Jamaica House.
Jamaica House is inside The O2 arena and is the official
location for Jamaican activities. The arena is also the location for the
gymnastic competition. When the PNP won the election last December they started
working on establishing a venue in London where Jamaican culture could be
celebrated.
“We couldn’t have planned it any better,” said Aloun
Ndombet-Assamba, Jamaica’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. “I’m overwhelmed by everything happening on
the track but I really didn’t expect the response of people coming here too.”
Starting last month Jamaica House has been the backdrop for
a string of cultural events. Some of the best Jamaican musicians and dub poets
have played at The O2 in honor of Jamaica’s 50th Independence: Lee
Scratch Perry, Damian Marley, Sly and Robbie, Monty Alexander, Mutabaruka with
The Lloyd Parks Band, Benjamin Zephaniah, Tarrus Riley, Morgan Heritage and one
of the closing acts for Independence was Jimmy Cliff & Oneness, among
others. Jamaican comedians also performed, including Ity & Fancy Cat.
There’s a gallery showing on British music and “Messenger: The Bob Marley
Exhibition.” There’s also a small store where visitors can purchase popular
Jamaican products, and an indoor lounge and outdoor terrace where people can
hang out while eating, drinking, and watching the large monitors featuring the
Olympics.
On Independence night Justine Henzell’s, One People: Out of Many, One Documentary
was shown. It was streamed live and
simultaneously to viewers at Jamaica House, the BAM Rose Cinemas in Brooklyn,
New York and the National Stadium in Kingston.
Absolutely everyone in attendance wore one of the national
colors. All generations were represented
as children played games while parents looked on and others danced to live
music by the mostly female group Harambe Drummers. But everyone remembered why they were
gathered. The same monitored that showed
the One Love documentary also showed
the track and field events. When the
Jamaicans came on the screen everyone cheered.
After Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce and Veronica Campbell Brown ran Round
1 of their 200m heats the DJ immediately played Buju Banton’s Champion. The success of the women made
the Independence celebrations better.
“We didn’t think we could find so many Jamaicans in one
place,” said Donald Anderson, Chef de Mission to Team Jamaica. “Every Jamaican is so proud to put on their
colors and cheering.”
Given the expectations for more medals on the track there
will probably be more nights of celebrations at the Jamaica House.
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