This being the year that Jamaica celebrates its jubilee independence, it is fitting to take a look at the creative persons among us and their contribution to nation building.

These are a special breed of individuals, who probably are most of us. They are very gifted and may even be geniuses in their own right. They may not share the same worldview as others, and may at times seem, or viewed to be a bit eccentric.These people, for example, are our poets, our writers, our musicians and other artistes. Some persons view them as dreamers and indeed that is a true characterisation, but they are also thinkers who often turn their dreams into reality. They can, without much effort, turn as it were, dust into gold.

This brings readily to mind the creative abilities of musical icons such as Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff and Toots and the Maytals, among many others.The latter with inimitable frontman, Toots Hibbert, is probably underrated and not given due accolades as a creative force.

How can one otherwise explain the turning of a prison experience into the monster hit, 54-46, or similarly phenomenal hits out of songs like Six and Seven Books of Moses, Bam Bam, Pressure Drops and Monkey Man? These and other songs by our accomplished singers have not only enriched Jamaica culturally, but have taken the culture and the music to foreign soil. In so doing, these singers have been true ambassadors of our nation.

We are indebted to these musical creators for being a positive influence on our nation abroad, and for indirectly promoting our tourism product. Jamaica and the world would be a very dull place without the contribution of these people. We also have to thank foundation artists like the poets, Roger Mais, Claude McKay, Una Marson and Vivian L. Virture, and painters and sculptors like Edna Manley, Barrington Watson, Karl Parboosingh, Ralph Campbell and Louis Marriott.

We also have to note the institutions, tutors and sponsors who have throughout the years contributed so much to the development of our creative persons and our culture. Entities like CARIMAC, Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission and Tastee Talent concert, among others, that have been beacons in exposing the creative talents of many of our people.

This year's special independence celebrations will provide a real opportunity for these talented persons to showcase their various talents to the Jamaican people and the world.

Bob Marley's contribution need some further explanation here, as he has had the most profound impact on our music throughout the years. We are not to forget the impact of his group, the Wailers, but the reality is that the greater success came after he went solo under the guidance of the incomparable Chris Blackwell. Bob Marley and his music is known throughout the world.

He was relentless in enunciating the plight of the poor and oppressed not just in Jamaica, but internationally; he also sang about love, peace and hope as is exemplified in the international peace anthem One Love. In No Women No Cry, the human condition of poverty, love and hope are espoused.

Jimmy Cliff is no less a shining star in the development of Jamaica music through his international movie and hit track The Harder They Come, and through signature songs like Many Rivers to Cross and Sitting in Limbo.

The musical career of this trio, Bob Marley, Toots Hibbert and Jimmy Ciff, spanned several genres of our Jamaican music, ska, rocksteady and reggae. Interestingly, Toots and the Maytals are credited for giving the music form which existed in the early 1960s its name. This was done through their song, Do the Raggay, which was recorded in 1968.

So as we get ready to celebrate Jamaica's 50th anniversary of independence, let us pause to reflect on the work of our creative people and their contribution to nation building through their various spheres of endeavour.

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