Braata Productions hosts Bankra Caribbean Culture Festival

The Queens-based Braata Productions has announced this year’s Bankra, a multidisciplinary Caribbean Culture Festival celebrating Dominica, Bahamas and St. Kitts & Nevis.

Braata Productions said on Wednesday that those three nations will be the focus of this year’s Braata programming, “and, as always, Jamaica.”

The free event will take place on Saturday, Aug. 12, at 1:00 p.m., at Archie Spigner Park, 111-65 Merrick Blvd., Queens, NY 11433.  Reservations are recommended at https://www.betterunite.com/BraataProductions-bankracaribbeanculturefestival2023

“This annual festival celebrates Caribbean folk traditions, including music, dance, storytelling, and culinary arts,” said Braata Productions in a statement. “It aims to preserve and showcase the rich cultural heritage of the Caribbean Diaspora.”

Braata Productions said the festival takes its name from the Jamaican Patois word “bankra,” which means “bundled straw” like a basket or “burlap sack.”

“The term symbolizes the resourcefulness and creativity of Caribbean people in transforming simple materials into beautiful and functional objects,” Braata Productions said.

“This festival serves to carry on a bankra of traditions,” said Andrew Clarke, the Jamaican-born executive director, urging everyone — parents, children, grandparents, church groups and more — to join the group in celebrating their heritage.

Braata Folk Singers huddle for “Banana” during the 3rd Caribbean Heritage, Juneteenth Festival in June at Seaview Park in Canarsie, Brooklyn.Photo by Nelson A. King

Clarke said the Bankra Caribbean Culture Festival features live performances by Caribbean artists, interactive workshops, craft demonstrations, and food vendors offering traditional Caribbean cuisine.

“It provides a platform for Caribbean artists and performers to showcase their talents and engage with the community,” he said.

Clarke said the day’s events feature a drumming circle; steel pan orchestra; basket-weaving demonstration and instruction; storytelling; a pop-up cultural exhibit, featuring life-sized puppets of Anansy, Rolling Calf, Bacoo, among others; and the Play Zone, featuring dandy shandy, marbles, hopscotch and ring games, among others.

The event also welcomes special guests, Captain I Can! and Mrs. Sonshine (Altano and Tamara Morgan), “who are on a mission to promote the social wealth of children and adults, through positive and inspirational words and songs, which encourage, enhance self-esteem, good values, and positive behavioral changes,” Clarke said.

“It is proven that words create thoughts, thoughts create actions and actions create your destiny,” he said.

Clarke said Braata is a Jamaican colloquial term meaning “more, which is what this company aspires to do – give its supporters and audiences something more at all times.”

Started by actor/singer Clarke in May 2009, he said the goal for Braata has always been “to provide entertainment and education to our patrons and give voice to diverse experiences, performers, writers and directors, plus bring Caribbean folk culture, music movement, stories, artists and theatre to the United States.”

In its brief history, Clarke said Braata Productions’ projects and programs have served over 350 artists, directors, designers, technicians and young entrepreneurial artists, and has enjoyed many successes, including the creation of The Braata Folk Singers; Braata Education & Outreach, titled “Project BE”; Braata Theatre Workshop; and The Braata Award.

Karl O’Brian Williams is Braata Productions’ artistic director.

For more information, visit braataproductions.org.