JULY 24th - AUGUST 3rd 1999!
*Book Your Flight Now* !
It was in February of 1974 at a general meeting of the Nevis Dramatic and Cultural Society that the previous Christmas festival was part of the discussion. It was felt that much of the old familiar trupes were missing and that some of the activities indigenous to Nevis at Christmas time were lacking.
Lengthy discussions as to what improvements could be made and suggestions
of another festival at Easter time was looked at. At that time the suggestions
of another was not given serious consideration, but it was at the next general
meeting of the group that Calvin "Cabo" Howell, the Vice President stressed
the need and urgency to start to preserve our customs and folk art, as these
were rapidly declining in our community.
Having secured a name, the time of the year was the next step. The people
of Nevis are mainly of African descent and since we celebrate the freedom
of slaves (Emancipation) on Nevis the first day in August, it was decided
that there was no better time than the August weekend for the event. The
first programme included Dancing, Drama, Display, Old Fashion Troupes(i.e
Johnny Walkers, Giant and Spear, Bulls, Red Cross, Blue Ribbon etc.) Folk
Singing and Arts and Crafts. A local recipe competiton and the Miss Culture
Show and Calypso Competition.
The Nevis Dramatic and Cultural Society's main purposes for this Cultural
Festival are:
1. to give a vital thrust to our dying traditional customs.
2. To stimulate an interest in the wealth of our cultural heritage(local
folk art).
3. To receive and create a climate in which indigenous folklore can reassert
itself and flourish. And of course a secondary purpose was to raise funds
to build a Community Center to serve as a necessary base for the projection
of Cultural Awareness Programmes.
The creation and planning of this event which has been one of the outstanding
Caribbean festivals was the work of Mr. Calvin "Cabo" Howell. A dramatic
enthusiast, along with his group came up with the idea for such a celebraton
out of his love for just 'plin ole' puttingon shows. Also responsible for
the sucess in the creation were the first organizers of the first ever
celebration. Among them were Irma Johnson, Victor Jay Martin, Lyra Richards,
Tyrone "Bahowlah" O'flaherty, Melford Henville and Clifford "Boots' Griffin,
and many others who worked behind the scenes. The one common quality within
the small nucleus of founding members was a sense of dedication to the
promulgation of the Arts. Through their extensive research and documentaion
attempts to better 
understand the influences which shaped the lives of our forebearers and to
present these through a medium of stage in song, dance and other art forms
during these celebrations. From its inception, Culturama is the bringing
to life of Nevisian Cultural Heritage. It is a time when our people are awakened
to appreciate our unique life-style. It is a time when our people become
aware and are taught to respect our culture. It is a five day(sometimes seven)
day exposition of folk art in all forms. It is festival with a difference
and it is educational and entertaining. The first festival held in 1974 did
not set out to outdo the National Carnival, neither is it competitive , but
year after year hundreds of Nevisians from abroad and visitors alike feel
somewhat compelled to return for the occasion and to grasp the essence of
the true Nevisan life.
SANKOFA: Finding our way through
Culture.
June 1st 1999.
© 1998 The Nevis Department of Culture - All rights reserved.