Bernet Spence's jerked salmon served with braised vegetables and a glass of white wine at last year's Jamaican Jerk Festival held at Markham Park, Florida. - photo by Barbara Ellington

The story of famed Jamaican National Hero Nanny will come to life at this year's fifth annual Jamaican Jerk Festival, presented by Air Jamaica, set for Sunday, September 24, at Markham Park in Sunrise, Florida. The short 30-minute play, entitled If It Wasn't for Nanny, will be one of the featured presentations at the Western Union Cultural Heritage Village.

The play features the familiar folk character Anancy and reveals several little-known facts about the Jamaican heroine who was credited for leading the Maroons to victory over the English. Nanny outsmarted the famed British Redcoats using guerrilla warfare and her brilliance became legendary.

Evolution of 'Jerk'

The method of 'jerking' was instrumental in the survival of the Maroons during warfare, as it produced little smoke, which prevented the British from identifying their villages in the hills as well as preserving meat for long periods.

Written by Maxine Osbourne of Queens Entertainment Troupe, the fictional play is set in the present-day village of Nannyville with flashbacks to the past. Scenes reveal the legendary powers of Nanny and are meant to educate, especially children, about their heritage, but the writer hopes everyone will learn something about Nanny.

The play will be staged twice during the festival, at 1:00 p.m. and again at 3:00 p.m.

Other activities at the Western Union Cultural Heritage Village include Ring Ding Games in memory of 'Miss Lou', as well as drumming, dancing and a Maroon circle. Many indigenous fruits and foods will also be on display along with historic artefacts to interest every family member. Jamaicans may participate in the popular jerk meats contest by checking out the website jamaicajerkfestival.com for more details

Premier Carib family event

The Jamaican Jerk Festival, presented by Air Jamaica, has rapidly become one of South Florida's premier Caribbean family events. It celebrates authentic Jamaican jerk in its various forms, and includes a Jerk Cook-Off Competition, cultural displays, live entertainment, domino competitions and a children's fun zone.

Produced by Ridims Marketing and Jamaica Awareness, Inc., it is sponsored by Western Union, Grace Foods, Maroone Toyota, Tinge, D&G Sodas, People's Telecom., Comcast Cable, Sun-Sentinel, CN Weekly and WAVS Radio.

For further information contact Riddims Marketing at 305-891-1242.