Storytelling In The Tropics with Allison Harrison

Wha Dis? (What is this?) is a storytelling space where hosts Allison, M-Boogie and the Voice of the People discuss current affairs and trending stories coming out of St Thomas, Jamaica, the region and the world. Wha Dis? is reflecting the times. In this episode we discuss Jamaica's Local Government Elections, Water Woes, Unruly Fest, Morant Bay Urban Centre, Black History and Reggae Month.

Conroy  Green is a self taught painter. His African ancestry inspires his work even as he progresses through a health related setback. Conroy does not shy away from controversy and uses his everyday life as fuel for his brilliant work. Follow Conroy's story closely.

In Part 2 , Folashade outlines the ups and downs on her search for healing.

Folashade is the product of Jamaican/ Nigerian parentage.  After losing her father at a very early age, Folashade sought spiritual comfort in the church. Pay close attention as she recounts her very challenging journey.

Maylynne Lowe has performed in many Jamaican theatre productions and spent over a decade playing 'Tanya Blackburn' in the popular Jamaican series Royal Palm Estate. Having spent a number of years being formally trained as an actor, Maylynne is no stranger to personal struggle and after a brief rough patch, she continues to channel her experiences into her art. Maylynne's story of tr...

Lisa Rhooms was born, raised and currently lives in St Andrew Jamaica. A lover of history and  using writing as an outlet, Lisa has published a number of books, written screenplays all while acquiring her own brand of wine, "Boundbrook Estate". Lisa works hard, effortlessly manages her time and has no plans to stop anytime soon. 

Dianne O. Brown wanted to perform on Broadway. From working at a game arcade to competing in Miss Jamaica and then on to Miss Universe, Dianne has always wanted more and continues to walk her oftentimes difficult path through helping and empowering women to become better versions of themselves. 

Dr. Sonjah Stanley Niaah is a Senior Lecturer of Cultural Studies at The University of The West Indies Mona in Kingston Jamaica. Born in Sandy Bay in Hanover, Sonjah has always had a strong awareness of self and despite multiple attempts aimed to set her back, she continues to work towards leaving her mark on the Jamaican cultural landscape. Author of the book "Dancehall: From Slave Ship to G...

Jamaican Alvin Harvey otherwise called Iyah T hails from New Pera in St Thomas. From his days on the sugar cane estate at Serge to working on cane farms in the United States, Iyah T shares stories from his youth and his eyewitness account of the political unrest in Jamaica in the 1970's. 

Lorenzo Bogle hails from the district of Norris a couple miles from Yallahs in St Thomas. From a very early age, he knew his calling was within the teaching profession and invested many years into learning about how to improve upon his skills as a teacher and administrator. A descendant of National Hero Paul Bogle, Lorenzo Bogle has impacted many lives and his story will challenge you to continuou...

Barrington Willis believes in acquiring as many skills as possible. A full-time police instructor, he was exposed to watch repair and the jewelry business at 14 and more than 30 years later, he still finds peace in jewelry making. This interview was recorded before the pandemic so the format is a bit different but Barrington's story will educate and entertain.  

Pumpkin was a young man on the day  everything changed in his home community of Font Hill in St Thomas. He was only a few feet away when only a particular section of  a banana tree caught fire setting off a series of occurrences in the rural community. Pumpkin's  story will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Cha Cha Ben has a gift that allows him to communicate with the ancestors. At 15, he excelled in the tradition and over the years, has witnessed the tremendous power in the Kumina. Cha Cha Ben's story is a lesson in St Thomas and Jamaican cultural history. 

Clive Warmington was born, raised and built his multiple businesses in St Thomas. Mr Warmington's simple mantra "You have to work hard to win" has carried him from his first entrepreneurial venture at 17 until today. His approach to life and business is simple, "Work hard, praise the Lord and you will get your reward". His story and philosphy will inspire. 

In this episode, our storyteller, Rasta Mokko shares his story of growing up in Sunning Hill, St Thomas in Jamaica, his adoption of Rastafari as his spiritual journey and his popularity as a chef on social media.

In this episode, our storyteller Jah Bouks shares his journey from humble beginnings in the bird bush of Winchester St Thomas to the release of  the reggae hit song  "Angola", changing his management team and the opening of his "Angola Restaurant" in Old Pera St. Thomas.

Today's Storyteller is Veronica Facey.  A retired teacher but a lifelong educator talks about her beginnings in Cashew Bush in St Thomas at Aunt Clary's Private School through to Shortwood Teacher's College in Kingston.

Audley Harrison has quite the story. From humble beginnings in Nonsuch Portland, he has had a number of life changing moments. Harry shares his experiences in the early years with his Aunt through to his transition to entrepreneurship.