The community of La Poterie, St. Andrewโs will once again host the traditional Salakaย Festival. This yearโs festival will be held on Friday February 28th, 2025.
Salaka is sometimes referred to as a Feast of the Gods or can be termed a Festival ofย Food. Salaka as a cultural relic was kept alive by the presence of the Baptist faith orย what some people would call Shango practitioners. It is usually hosted in the Northย Eastern part of the Island with the main ones hosted in La Poterie and River Sallee.ย Other areas hosting Salakas include Carrierre, Pearls and now Paradise.
Previously, this practice was done in one of the villagersโ big yard. In the olden timesย other villagers would contribute food items popular then. Most of the items contributedย were yard fowls, pigs, sheep, green peas, yams and sweet potatoes, rum or cash. Theย villagers collected pots and firewood days before and then assembled in the earlyย morning hours to help with preparation.
In more modern times, Salaka is no longer celebrated in a yard, it is celebratedย throughout the village. Two of the villages that currently host Salakas, River Sallee andย La Poterie have moved to a level of centralization of activities at their playing fields.
This yearโs Festival would also feature the final taping of the documentaryย โDe Drums ofย Grenadaโย featuring the Tivoli Drummers, Conception Dance Theatre and the Spycelandย Dancers.
As part of its mandate to preserve and promote the islandโs rich cultural heritage, theย Grenada Cultural Foundation has over the years given assistance to River Sallee, Laย Poterie and Carrierre in the execution of their Salakas.
