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The Caribbean play, “Mamma Decemba” by Nigel D. Moffatt, will have its off-Broadway debut on May 4th, 2023, at The New Perspectives Theatre Studio in New York. The play is directed by Jamaican Merlina Rich and features explorations of love, loss, and mortality as perceived by an elderly Jamaican woman, Mamma Decemba. She reflects on the sometimes painful incidents in her past, particularly the death of her husband, with honesty and humor. Coping with her growing solitude, Mamma Decemba shares her most private reflections with her best and only friend, Mertel.

Director Rich believes the play confronts many of the issues that arose during the COVID-19 pandemic, including loneliness, anxiety, isolation, regret, and mortality. The pandemic forced people to reconsider the decisions they made in their lives and the things they might have done differently. Mama Decemba faces these same issues, and while it was written many years ago, it still feels like a story that is relevant to our times. Rich was the assistant director on the New Perspectives Theatre Company staging of “Mamma Decemba” in New York in 2008.

Merlina Rich founded the nonprofit Banana Boat Productions in 1996 to present quality Caribbean theater to both the Caribbean and non-Caribbean communities. Rich believes that the richness of Caribbean culture has been terribly underexposed to a wider audience. It is the mission of Banana Boat Productions to bring the Caribbean theatrical experience to the general public through readings, staged productions, and outreach programs.

The nonprofit also sponsors the Banana Boat School Brigade, which brings opportunities for education and self-expression to children in the Caribbean in cooperation with teachers at impoverished schools in Jamaica through donations of school supplies, clothing, and classroom furnishings and decorations. Banana Boat volunteers are generally theater professionals who collaborate with teachers and students to focus on educational goals and dramatic presentations designed to develop pride in themselves and their culture.

“Mama Decemba” will run from May 4 through 13, 2023, at the New Perspective Studio in New York City. It stars Paula Galloway in the title role, Christopher Lang as her husband, and Dianne Dixon as Mertel.

Photo – Deposit Photos, Banana Boat Productions

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Plantains may look like bananas, and they’re a type of banana, but they have an entirely different flavor that fans of sweets will appreciate. A plantain has a thicker peel, tends to be bigger than a banana, and is best served fried. They also have a variety of health benefits.

The fruit contains more than 15 vitamins, minerals and other nutrients needed for optimal health. There are numerous reasons why the fruit can be a healthy addition to anyone’s diet.

1. Anemia
   The mineral iron and vitamin B6 are essential for the creation and health of red blood cells needed to prevent anemia. Iron and vitamin B6 are also used to treat the autoimmune disease neuritis, characterized by pain and nerve inflammation. Iron promotes the health of red blood cells that distribute oxygen throughout the body.
2. Antiaging
   Antioxidants help the body neutralize free radicals in the body that cause the signs of aging. Free radicals damage the body at the cellular level. The vitamin C in plantains is a powerful antioxidant. The fruit also has vitamin B6 that works with vitamin C for skin protection and brain development.
3. Bones, Teeth
   The nutrient calcium is responsible for bone and tooth strength, along with nails and muscles. Plantains are high in calcium.
4. Diabetes
   Carbs provide energy to fuel the body in its daily activities. The complex carbohydrates in plantains take longer to digest so blood glucose levels rise slower and don’t cause glucose levels to immediately spike. Since the carbs are absorbed more slowly, they make people feel fuller longer.
5. Digestion
   The fiber content in plantains is beneficial for digestive health. The fruit aids in preventing bloating, bowel irritation and constipation. The manganese, potassium and leucocyanidin in plantains increase mucus production, which is beneficial for those with stomach ulcers. The vitamin A and C content contribute to a healthy immune system that begins in the gut.
6. Heart
   Plantains contain potassium that aids the body in maintaining normal fluid levels and blood pressure.

Photo – Deposit Photos

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This is a podcast of the Jamaica & Caribbean Weekly News Summary for the week ending April 21st, 2023. The JAMAICA WEEKLY News Summary Podcast is brought to you by Jamaicans.com.

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