Oral
tradition has a long history in Jamaica, beginning with the folktales
told by the Jamaican slaves during the colonial era. Later than that,
Thomas MacDermot, a Jamaican novelist, poet, and a journalist was the
first ever internationally recognized Jamaican literary figure. In
fact, he is credited for promoting Jamaican literature on the world
platform. Apart from him, the Nobel laureate Derek Walcott, Claude
McKay, and Louis Simpson are all noted authors who come from Jamaica.
On
the other hand, as far as theater is concerned, Louise Bennett, Andrew
Salkey, and Mikey Smith made significant contributions to patois plays.
Jamaica also holds an annual film event called "The Reggae Film
Festival" in Kingston, every year in the month of February.
