Dates: August 1-7, 2024
Locations: San Donato di Lecce, Trepuzzi, Lecce, Leverano, Diso, Nardò, Lizzanello, Casalabate, Otranto, Santa Maria di Leuca
Discover the Jamaican Spirit in Italy’s Own Salento
This August, the vibrant culture of Jamaica meets the warm spirit of southern Italy in the first edition of JAMIT, the Jamaican Culture Week. From August 1 to 7, 2024, the picturesque towns of Salento, also known as the Jamaica of Italy, will host a week-long celebration of Jamaican heritage, featuring art exhibitions, cinema, workshops, music and authentic Jamaican cuisine.
Curated by the Salento-Jamaican cultural association JAMIT, founded by artist and cultural activist Joan “Nanook” Webley, JAMIT promises to be an immersive journey into the heart of Jamaican culture. The timing of the festival is particularly significant, coinciding with Jamaica’s Emancipation Day on August 1 and Independence Day on August 6, collectively known as “Emancipendence”—a period rich with historical and cultural significance.
“After decades of working in reggae and other areas of Jamaican culture, I am still amazed at the profound impact this music has had in Salento. It has fostered a sense of pride in local dialects and the region itself,” says Joan “Nanook” Webley.
“Inspired by the work of my husband and local groups like Sud Sound System and Bag a Riddim Band, I felt compelled to deepen the cultural exchange between Jamaica and Salento by founding JAMIT. Our festival celebrates emancipation and the vibrant connections between our cultures, adding food, art and cinema to enrich this cultural fusion. The synergy between Italy and Jamaica is always electrifying!”
Highlights of JAMIT 2024
Jamaica House at the “Gino Perrone” Municipal Library in San Donato di Lecce will be the festival’s hub. This special venue, transformed into a “Jamaica House”, will feature exhibitions curated by the Jamaica Tourist Board and other cultural presentations. Highlights include:
- Music and Dance: Enjoy performances by reggae legends and local artists, including Julian Marley & Uprising, Sud Sound System & Bag A Riddim Band, DreJa, Justess, Maestro Garofalo, Adriatic Sound, Massive B and many more.
- Workshops: Dive into dancehall with the Dancehall School Lecce and the international Jamaican Dancehall Dancer, Teacher and Choreographer Global Bob and learn about Jamaica’s rich musical history from Herbie Miller, director of the Jamaica Music Museum.
- Culinary Delights: Savor the flavors of Jamaica with themed tastings and fusion cuisine events.
- Cinema: Watch iconic Jamaican films such as “Life and Debt,” “Rockers,” and “The Harder They Come”.
Supporting a Cause
On August 6, join JAMIT for a special charity auction and buffet at Masseria Provenzani in Trepuzzi, featuring performances by Massive B (NYC) and other notable artists. Proceeds will support “Stand Up for Jamaica Charity,” an organization dedicated to solving social issues in Jamaica, led by Maria Carla Gulotta, the Italian Consulate in Kingston.
Detailed Program
THURSDAY 1 AUGUST
**External Event: Julian Marley & Uprising LIVE – La Ghironda, Fossato del Castello, Otranto, at 9.30
pm
*Partner Event: Sud Sound System & Bag A Riddim band – Birra E Sound, Leverano, at 10 pm.
FROM FRIDAY 2 TO WEDNESDAY 7 AUGUST
At JAMAICA HOUSE – SAN DONATO DI LECCE, Biblioteca Comunale “Gino Perrone” – Art Exhibitions:
from 6 pm to 12 am
- Jamaica Music History by Herbie Miller, director of the Jamaica Music Museum, with photos
selected exclusively for the event. - SSS ’91-’96 Traditions by Salento Sound with photos by Salvatore Pellegrino. (Photographic
exhibition and history of Sud Sound System from 1991 to 1996). - “We Represent Jamaica” includes photos, illustrative totems and printed material, under the
patronage of the Consulate of Jamaica – Rome and the support of the Jamaica Tourist Board. - “Survivor Story” a collection of original artistic productions by the followings artists: ALL Alek
(Jamaica), Miguel Rodriguez, Frank Candlewick and Chekos Art (Italy).
FRIDAY 2 AUGUST
At JAMAICA HOUSE – SAN DONATO DI LECCE, Biblioteca Comunale “Gino Perrone”
Music: Santo Mighty Bass, GG Selecta Petra De Sule, DJ Set at 6 pm.
Workshop: Dance Up with Dancehall School Lecce at 7 pm.
Aperitif: Fusion Jamaican – Salento Food at 8 pm.
Music: Maestro Garofalo Dub International UNPLUGGED at 8 pm.
Cinema: Life and Debt 2001 (JA) directed by Stephanie Black at 9.30 pm.
*Partner Event: Dre Ja & Justess Joan (Jamaica) with Morello Selecta, in Lecce at Il Barroccio in Porta
Napoli at 10 pm.
*Partner Event: Salento Reggae Party, Papa Leu at Controlli, at DB10, San Donato di Lecce at 10.30
pm.
SATURDAY 3 AUGUST
At JAMAICA HOUSE – SAN DONATO DI LECCE, Biblioteca Comunale “Gino Perrone”
Cinema: Rockers 1978 (JA) Theodorus Bafaloukos with Leroy “Horsemouth” Wallace at 6pm.
Music: Koolomeetoo Sound System, DJ Set at 6 pm.
Music: Toni Tarantino & Dre JA, Reggae Jam Session at 7pm.
Workshop: “Traditions” prof. David Katan interviews Papa Gianni, at 8 pm.
Aperitif: Fusion Jamaican – Salento Food at 8 pm.
Cinema: The Harder They Come 1972 (JA) directed by Perry Henzell with Jimmy Cliff, at 9.30 pm.
*Event Partner: Ghetto Eden – Flavio & Giorgio Rude, in Diso at Il Sole a Mezzanotte Festival, at
10.30 pm.
*Partner Event: Out ‘n’ Bad – Bad Side Sound and Heavy Hammer, at Fico d’India, Porto Selvaggio at
11 pm.
SUNDAY 4 AUGUST
Music: JAMIT Beach Fest featuring Massive B (NYC), Adriatic Sound, Digital and Frescheria crew, at
Frescheria Jamaica, Taranto at 6 pm.
*Event Partner: Pon Di Boat Reggae Cruise, One Love Hi Powa, J-LOF, Celestino Hi-Fi/Giusto, at
Porto Turistico, Santa Maria di Leuca, at 3 pm.
TUESDAY 6 AUGUST
Workshop: Independence Pool Dance with Global Bob, at Masseria Provenzani, Casalabate, at 12
noon.
Buffet and charity auction: Featuring Massive B (NYC), One Love Sound (Rome) Adriatic Sound, at
Masseria Provenzani at 9 pm.
WEDNESDAY 7 AUGUST
*Partner Event: JAMIT/Streets of Jamaica, Heart on Fire with guest Treble “Lu Professore”, at Negril
Café, Lizzanello, at 9 pm.
The festival is organized in collaboration with: Adriatic Sound Association and Jamaica Tourist Board
and has the patronage of: Puglia Region, Province of Lecce, Municipality of San Donato di Lecce,
Municipality of Trepuzzi, Kingston and St. Andrew Municipality; realities that have create the
synergistic conditions for a cultural and territorial “town-twinning”.
The festival also enjoys the support of: UTECH University of Technology of Kingston, Edna Manley
College for Visual and Performing Art, Kingston Creative and University of Salento, which have
expressed their support for the initiative in view of possible interdisciplinary collaborations and
exchanges.
Check every additional info on the website https://jamitfest.it/
Eugenia Conti
