Entertainment

Jamaica Diaspora Conference Attendees get Supn’ fi Laugh About

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica – Would the thought of only being able to afford butter with your dumplings make you cry with laughter?

That was one of the subtleties, given time and place, which the ‘on form’ comedians Ity and Fancy Cat, used to get delegates at the recent Jamaican Diaspora Biennial Conference howling, from just such a recollection of life in everyday Jamaica.

The duo highlighted the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) sponsored “Supn’ fi Laugh ‘Bout” concert at the Hilton Rose Hall Resort and Spa, Montego Bay, Jamaica last month at the Jamaica Diaspora Conference.

The energetic Ity waded into the filled banquet hall at one point during his performance, to ask whether it was possible to have a gathering of Jamaican women, without ‘acquired’ hair being present. His own response, in the tones of an evangelical preacher was, “It is going to take a miracle.”


Fancy Cat (left) and Ity on the prowl in the Hilton Rose Hall Resort and Spa ballroom

The saucy humour of Dufton Shepherd was not lost on delegates as he questioned the frame of mind of the carvers of the nude male sculptures seen in Fern Gully. As they gently sandpaper certain unique areas of the sculpture, he wondered, “What must they be thinking.”


Comedian Ity reaches out to the Supn’ fi Laugh Bout audience

Christopher ‘Johnny’ Daley took the audience back to an earlier Jamaica, using his well-known role on the 1990’s television series, “Lime Tree Lane,” to spur hilarious memories.

Pulling the event together was Pretty Boy Floyd, as the Master of Ceremonies, whose barbed wit speared only willing victims. He advised them with a smile that, “I mean no harm.”

“You can be overwhelmed by the deluge of information presented at conferences. Everyone needed to relax and just have a good laugh,” said Chris Bennett, President of the Florida-based On Demand, marketing services provider, and one of the ‘victims’ of Pretty Boy Floyd. “This comedy concert was a great idea.”

Nathaniel Peat, Chairman of Jamaicans Inspired UK (JIUK), the official Jamaican Youth Diaspora organisation in the United Kingdom, said “I have heard Johnny before, but the other comedians were new to me. It was really good to see these local entertainers and they were able to connect with everyone.”

The JIUK Chairman added that the concert also served as a good networking opportunity. “I managed to set up some very good business connections during the cocktails,” he said.


Earl Jarrett (left), General Manager, Jamaica National Building Society and Sheryl Lee Ralph, Jamaican-American actress, were among the large audience enjoying the Supn’ fi Laugh Bout” concert.

With a responsive audience numbering more than 200, Denise Gocul, Marketing Operations and Special Projects Manager at JNBS, one of the planners of the event, said she was pleased with the outcome.

“The performance of the comedians was excellent, and the response from the audience resonated,” Ms. Gocul stated. “Our aim was to remind Jamaicans in the Diaspora, of just what life was like back home on the island. The artistes delivered, and the delegates had fun as the memories flowed.”

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