By the Observer Staff
(Charlestown, Nevis) – The Nevis Culturama Committee has chosen a Patron of the 34th annual festival and a slogan to help promote the event.
Norman Liburd, 84, of Rawlins Village, Gingerland, has been chosen as Patron.
“Mr. Liburd has been involved in folklore on Nevis for the past 68 years and has participated annually in the Culturama festival since its birth in 1974,” according to a press release from the Culturama Secretariat.
To promote the event, this year’s slogan will be “Participate! Make it great! Culturama 2K8!” It was chosen from 108 entries.
The winning slogan was submitted by Mr. Earl “Foble” Rawlins of Pond Hill, Gingerland.
Mr. Rawlins will receive a plaque along with two complimentary tickets to all Culturama 2008 activities.
This year’s patron, Mr. Liburd, has a long history of involvement with Nevis’ cultural life. According to the secretariat’s release:
“Mr. Liburd can be best described as one of Nevis’ premier cultural preservationists. He began dancing masquerade at the tender age of 16 years under the leadership of the late Cedric ‘Blakc-a-Dem’ Liburd of Rawlins Village. In 1950, at the age of 26, Mr. Liburd further demonstrated his love for Nevisian folklore by starting his own Blue Ribbon troupe in Rawlins Village.
“At the age of 84, he continues to have a deep passion for the Nevisian folklore and is still actively involved in the promotion and preservation of Nevis’ rich cultural heritage by teaching masquerade dancing and the platting of the Blue Ribbon to the young children in his home town of Rawlins Village.”
Mr. Liburd will serve as Grand Marshall for the 2008 Culturama Cultural Street Parade on Tuesday, Aug. 5. He is expected to attend all festival activites.
