Ska and Reggae workshops - Maroon Town

Nate Holder
2 days ago
3 min read

Updated: 20 hours ago

Today's guest blog comes from Cynthia Gerald, a former internationally touring backing vocalist and workshop leader based in East London. In this blog, she details her journey creating the Maroon Town workshops, and the impact they have had on young people around the world.

Maroon Town workshop leader Cynthia Gerald

I have worn many hats under the musical umbrella. My beginnings were that of a professional singer. I was self taught, but lucky enough to be chosen to tour with Womack and Womack on the ‘Teardrops’ Tour many moons ago (Yes that’s me in the video). Cut to today, after a transformative 3 years at Goldsmiths University, I transitioned into becoming a Community Music Leader and Facilitator, choir leader, songwriter, storyteller teaching in primary, further education and team-building environments.

After 5 years teaching in my local area, I noticed that when Black History month came around there seemed to be the same historical figures studied, with the teachers trying to enthuse students about these ethereal characters, which never seemed to come to life for them. I started to think about how I could use music from my Caribbean heritage namely ska and reggae, which my mother loved to sing and dance to with records played on our ‘Gram’ every opportunity she got, to use as a backdrop to give them a complete experience for Black History Month.

I had previously been in a band called Maroon Town who had created links with Kingston Grammar School via band leader and now manager Deuan German. We decided that a live band would give an authentic sound to this workshop, so he pulled together four great musicians in full knowledge that this amazing genre which has such power and potential to create a fun and spontaneous environment. The hope was to open the door to a better understanding of diversity, self expression, and creativity.

I got to work devising an hour's workshop and wrote new songs in all genres from the Caribbean, Ska, Soca, Rocksteady, Reggae, Dancehall and Roots to fit the journey of the workshop. I used Jamaica as the backdrop for the workshop. We discuss topics I introduce and sing and dance to songs about the environment, history, cultural icons. I have made a point of making it very interactive, so there is acting, singing, dancing all whilst promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion.

It has been 12 years since Maroon Town Workshops began and I can safely say we have affected so many children and adults alike in such a positive and uplifting way providing workshops as far a field as Uzbekistan and working with Dulwich College, UNICEF to local schools in deprived areas in East London, leaving all participants informed and engaged and having had a unifying yet exuberant experience. The children dance out of the hall ready to teach their parents about the fun and interesting ska and reggae workshop they attended which is a goal fulfilled for us. We are at an exciting phase of development, devising more workshops with varied themes, but with equality and diversity at the centre of all we do, partnering with Portsmouth 100, Wemsfest and Alpha Boys School in Jamaica, our work continues.