Braata Productions presents the Bankra Caribbean Culture Festival celebrating the 60th anniversary of the independence of Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago on Saturday, August 6, 2022, from 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm, on the lawn of the York Performing Arts Center, 94-45 Guy R. Brewer Blvd, Queens, NYC. The event is free, but donations are accepted at braataproductions.org/bankra2022.
The festival is an annual staple in the community and promises to be a day of fun and entertainment for the whole family. Showcasing the best of the Caribbean, the Festival offers a chance for New Yorkers to experience the islands’ folk culture and sample its unique cuisine.
“The Caribbean community has a lot to offer and this Folk Festival is a unique opportunity to showcase our rich and diverse cultural heritage with the residents of the borough and its surroundings,” said Andrew Clarke, founder. “We look forward to the support of the Queens community and the greater New York Tri-State area to ensure the success of the Festival.”
The festival will feature authentic traditional folkloric forms and experiences from various Caribbean territories. The Braata folk singers perform an impressive line-up of popular cultural groups, all of whom are either from Trinidad, Tobago and Jamaica or have a particular focus on those island traditions, including JC Lodge (Jamaica), Marva Newton (Trinidad & Tobago) and carnival dancers (Trinidad & Tobago).
There are three main components of the Festival: the Stables/Island Baskets, cultural performances and a pop-up cultural show. These three components distinguish the Bankra Caribbean Culture Festival from other Caribbean festivals, as it is dedicated to folk forms and popular culture. It provides nostalgia for those who grew up with it, learning opportunities for others who had no knowledge of it, and helps restore the relevance and importance of Folk culture as a sustainable and vibrant contributor to the Caribbean brand.
The name of the Festival is derived from a large woven basket or “bankra”, made from materials indigenous to the Caribbean islands and often used to carry a variety of food and cultural items in Jamaica. This is exactly what this festival repeats: the great beauty of the folk culture represented by each island.
The festival offers a full sensory experience of traditional music, dance, crafts and food. In addition to cultural performances, the Festival will also have:
Drum circles, folk games and dances and cultural exhibitions
A Play Zone, where the young and the young at heart can play traditional Caribbean games
A Food Pavilion, with cuisine from different islands
About Braata Productions
Braata is a colloquial Jamaican term meaning ‘more’, which is what this company aspires to do — give its supporters and audience something more at all times. Started by actor/singer Andrew Clarke in May 2009, the aim for Braata has always been to provide entertainment and education to our customers and to give voice to diverse experiences, performers, writers and directors. We aim to authentically represent the culture of the Caribbean islands and prioritize the cultivation and retelling of Caribbean stories and legends for generations to come. Braata is dedicated to giving Caribbean and Caribbean-American artists a platform through which to showcase their work and talent. Braata seeks to establish its position as one of the premier performing arts organizations in New York City. We maintain strong ties to the community and have a reputation for artistic excellence, educational innovation and fiscal responsibility. Giving immigrant voices a chance for creative expression, our core activities include theatre, music and folk arts, in addition to education and community outreach. These activities take us to engagements outside of the 5 boroughs of NYC in Connecticut, Rochester and Boston to name a few. Braata’s goal is to rekindle an appreciation for Caribbean culture and heritage among Caribbeans and non-Caribbeans by engaging community members in New York and surrounding areas. For more information, visit braataproductions.org.
