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(L-R) Howard Dodson,
Chief, Schomburg Center, Hon. Edward Seaga,
Andrew Cocking, Deputy Group President, Capital
& Credit Financial Group and Steven Hill,
CEO, CIN TV.
Photo: Bob Gore
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24 October, 2006
New York: Former Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Hon.
Edward Seaga in his first public engagement in New
York in many years packed the Schomburg Center for
Research In Black Culture in Harlem where he was the
special guest speaker at the third annual CIN TV Lecture
Series.
Mr. Seaga captivated his audience with profound, perceptive,
comical and at times controversial views about "The
Folk Roots of Jamaican Cultural Identity." He
touted the arts as the most widely recognized area
of folk talent in Jamaica saying, "Jamaica 's
contemporary music is a product of the raw talent
that enables untrained, unlettered composers to produce
an impressive range of rhythms, lyrics and melodies
that have excellence and international recognition."
He further stated that 'hip-hop music, which is dominant
in North America , owes its origin to impromptu interjections
of rhythmic rhymes in pop songs popular in Jamaica
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In sports he said the Jamaican tradition of excellence
is supported by studies which assert that "permissive
child rearing practices often result in superior muscular
coordination."
He also focused attention on the strategic role that
mothers play in the matriarchal Jamaican culture and
said many women are symbols of achievement in Jamaican
folk culture and are the backbone of political support,
determined players in civic organizations, achievers
in scholarship and a great reliance at any work place.
The former Prime Minister also revealed that the preoccupation
with skin shades is a legacy of slavery and colonialism.
"The phenomenon of lightening skin color by 'marrying
up' or bleaching, terms like ''pretty' hair, stem
from a system of slavery and colonialism that saw
everything associated with the master and therefore,
everything European as better" he noted.
Stephen Hill, CEO of Caribbean International Network
(CIN TV) who delivered the vote of thanks, told the
gathering that for the past 12 years CIN has been
the premier presenter of quality Caribbean programming
in the New York Diaspora. He announced that in a strategic
move planned for 2007, the network anticipated expanding
its weekly programming to 30 hours, up from 15 hours
which is beamed to approximately 5 million viewers
in NYC. With the many exciting new programs that will
be added to the schedule - including Back Yard TV
that will provide New York content - viewers will
get a wider choice of programs from a brand name that
they know and trust.
Among the dignitaries who attended were Andrew Cocking,
Deputy Group President, Capital & Credit Financial
Group who flew in From Jamaica ; Howard Dodson, CEO,
Schomburg Center; Louie Grant VP of Irie Jam Radio;
Christopher & Joan Roberts proprietors of The
Door Restaurant; Bob Gore, CIN NY and Mr. Jose Richards,
president & CEO of the Sons and Daughters of Jamaica.
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