ADVISORY/English Speaking Caribbean's First International Literary Festival to be Held in Jamaica.

Travel, Arts and Feature Editors

ADVISORY..for Friday-Sunday (May 25-27)

TREASURE BEACH, Jamaica--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 19, 2001

Calabash International Literary Festival Takes Center Stage

at Jakes Village, May 25-27 2001

"The Calabash is a powerful symbol of unity
and integration. In the Calabash bowl all tastes
and textures overlap. In traditional Jamaican
society, the calabash was the vessel In which
the matriarch served the communal meal."
                         Colin Channer, FESTIVAL DIRECTOR

The first annual Calabash International Literary Festival, will take place from May 25-27 at Jake's Village, a quirky, eco-friendly resort in the parish of St. Elizabeth on Jamaica's undiscovered south coast.

The three-day festival will bring together established and emerging writers from countries, including Ghana, Peru, the United States, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados and host country Jamaica, for readings, discussions and music under canopies in the day time and beneath the stars at night.

Set on the edge of a bay in one of most stylish and romantic locations in the Caribbean, Jake's has been hailed by Britain's Evening Standard, as "officially the coolest place to stay in the world."

All events will be free and open to the public.

"There is an old Jamaica proverb," says festival director, best-selling novelist Colin Channer, "nutten nevah done before the time. Jamaica currently has more writers being published by global houses than at any time in its history. The Jamaica Tourist Board is actively developing new and more interesting reasons for people to come to Jamaica. And Jake's Village has found an event that speaks to the values that have made it such a welcome member of an environmentally sustainable fishing community. But most importantly, the people of Jamaica want this festival. It belongs to them. That is why we had to make it a public. The people are demanding real excitement. And that is what we are going to deliver."

One of the most exciting components of the festival will be Calabashment, a free and open public concert on legendary Treasure Beach on the night of Saturday, May 26th.

Programmed by Award-winning producer Mikie Bennett, Calabashment will feature exciting acts from his Grafton Studio roster of established and emerging artists.

"This is one of the most exciting things that I have personally ever done," says Bennett, who has worked with artists such as Cindy Lauper, Roberta Flack, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Maxi Priest, Shabba Ranks, Gregory Isaacs, and Dennis Brown. "We have some young artists like Abijah and Chanter that have been refining their singing and stage craft for just a big international moment like this. Plus it is rumored that Calabashment will mark the big reunion of the Home T Band, which gave you hits such as Mr. Custom Officer and Don't Throw It All Away in the eighties."

The rumors might be true. Bennett was the leader of the band!

"I am excited as well," says radio personality Kathy Owen. "The Jamaica media will be there in full force. And not just to cover the event, but as performers. Yes, the bravest ones among us are going to take the stage at Calabashment...It is going to be quite funny...hopefully in the right places."

Another marquee performer will be Suzanne Couch, a lyricist of grace whose vocal stylings span a range including latin, jazz and pop.

"I am performing at Calabash because I like beautiful things," says Couch. "I sing beautiful music. Jakes is a beautiful place. Literature is a beautiful art. Jamaica is a beautiful country."

One of the many beautiful dimensions of Calabash is the way in which it organically integrates education and outreach in its program.

Writers will meet with school children to share the joy of the writing life. And emerging writers in Jamaica will have the opportunity to take workshops with their more experienced peers.

Featured writers include Sonia Sanchez, Kamau Braithwaite, Ruth Forman, Kalamu ya Salaam, Ernesto Quinonez, Jean "Binta" Breeze, Mutabaruka, Kwame Dawes, Joan Morgan, Erna Brodber, Perry Henzell, Mervyn Morris, Staceyann Chin and Roger Bonair-Agard.

The festival's title sponsors are Air Jamaica, Cariforum, UNESCO, QBR the Black Book Review, JAMPRO, Island Outpost and Jakes Village. The festival has been endorsed by the Jamaica Tourist Board.

For reservations call your travel agent or 1-800-jamaica. For more information on the festival send an email to [e-mail] or visit the festival website at www.calabashfestival.org