Grand Gala back with a bang

KINGSTON, Jamaica – The National Stadium, packed with patriotic supporters decked out in their bold Jamaican colors of black, green and gold and armed with mini flags, was the site of a magnificent production and display of top class talent, enthusiasm, passion and splendor that was Jamaica’s 46th Independence celebrations.

Making a magnificent comeback after almost two decades, the Independence Day Parade and Grand Gala was nothing short of spectacular. Intricately designed floats reflecting different aspects of the country along with uniformed groups in the parade traveled through sections of Kingston and St. Andrew, as people lined the streets to get a glimpse of the elaborate exhibition. 

Sights of Jamaica 46th Independence!

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Floats like the ‘Olympic Dream’ highlighted Jamaica’s rich Olympic legacy and with the current Olympic Games in Beijing a couple days away, and Jamaicans poised to mine gold, this float really hit home. But the float de jour was the one that brought to the fore, the current dancehall craze, Passa Passa. The float, which bears the same name, featured a motif of an enlarged dancer whose head appears to be coming through the speaker, bobbed to the heavy beats of the sound systems. The parade also featured effigies of the island’s seven national heroes and two ‘unofficial’ heroes, reggae icon, the late Bob Marley and cultural icon Louise Bennett-Coverley.

Then all roads led to the National Stadium where the day’s events culminated into the awesomely grand Festival Grand Gala, Rhythms in Motion.

A gala of epic proportions

A motorcade of officials, including leader of the Opposition, Portia Simpson Miller, Prime Minister Bruce Golding and Governor General Kenneth Hall, heralded the beginning of an extensive program.

The Grand Gala, which was all inclusive, highlighted every aspect of Jamaican people and culture and brought everything together in one place, personifying this year’s theme, One Love… One Family. Well over 2,000 costumed dancers from the tiniest of children to full grown men and women from across the island showcased Jamaica through dance from the traditional dances like Dinky Mini and Bruckins and Ska to Bogle and Willy Bounce. Dancers dressed like Africans, East Indians, Chinese and Europeans truly showcased Jamaica’s Out of Many One People motto. Children who have never seen Jonkanoo, had their fill. Choreographers like L’Antoinette Stines and Neila Ebanks captured the essence of the time period they represented flawlessly.

But the entertainment was definitely not limited to dance. Following a display of classic cars, race cars and go-carts blazed up the cycle track, revved up the engines and riled the crowd. Of course the only female race car driver got an applause that rivaled the one received by Simpson Miller.