It was with great pride that members of the Jamaican community gathered at SADACCA on 30th March 2006 to launch the Sheffield Branch of the Jamaican Diaspora, headed by Chairperson Miss Carmelita Duncan (pictured, far right).
With many Jamaicans settling here since the 1940s… It is still good for us as a people to come together and support each other, recognising and adapting a high sense of responsibility in building stronger communities wherever we are.
It all began with the Diaspora Conference, June 2004 in Jamaica, with the aim of forging better links between Jamaicans at home as well as those living oversees to enhance the future growth and development of ourselves as a people.
In attendance was the High Commissioner of Jamaica, Her Excellency Ms Gail Mathurin, (pictured centre left) and Lord Mayor of Sheffield Councillor Roger Davison.
There was an attendance of about 200 people throughout the day. Jamaicans from Preston, Leeds, Huddersfield Manchester, Chesterfield and as far as London came together to mark this event. There were displays from various Black organisations within the community as well as an exceptional display on Jamaica and our Heritage.
As it approached lunch time, food trollies were brought in and the lovely aroma of various Jamaican dishes filled the room, bringing back nostalgic feelings of being home.
The day’s events ended on a high note when Eddie Hypolite, one of the facilitators from London spoke, reminding us not to lose our sense of history and to remember where we came from. The values instilled in us by our parents, of good manners and respect for each other, should be passed on to our own children. “Howdi an, tenk yu noh brok noh square” – simply saying how are you and thank you is a good thing – this is slowly becoming a thing of the past.
He went on to say that it is being replaced by the ‘ghetto tragic’ – valuing quickly made money (Bling, bling), or the ‘ghetto fabulous’ – doing well despite living where not much is expected of us. The former being more readily embraced. If this continues we will slowly lose our identity as a people.
Eddie Hypolite’s presentation had interjections of humour though addressing serious issues, but he definitely left us with lots of food for thought.
by Camille Daughma