First published in 1972, SkyWritings, Air Jamaica’s inflight magazine, was guided by two principles—that it would be reflective of a myriad of Jamaican experiences, and that there are many ways to tell a story. Armed with this philosophy, SkyWritings was destined to be much more than just another inflight magazine, a fact that certainly paved the way for its ability to publish the very first anthology by an inflight magazine.

Presented in 11 sections, A Tapestry of Jamaica covers music, food, places, fashion, roots, people, art, sport, history, and memories. There is an entire section devoted to the poems and prose of Miss Lou, Louise Bennett-Coverley poet, author, folklorist and national icon.

The new book is a nostalgic retreat for those who’ll remember everything from the humour of the island’s first Prime Minister, Sir Alexander Bustamante, and Kingston in the early seventies, to Perry Henzell’s film classic The Harder They Come and grater cakes, gizzadas and coconut drops—while also exposing the intricacies of life in Jamaica to a new generation of readers.

The work of 150 writers, photographers, cartoonists and illustrators is represented in the publication, some several times over. Among them are playwright and social commentator Barbara Gloudon, novelist Olive Senior, and Jamaica’s Minister of Finance the Hon. Dr Omar Davies who writes on Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. Other contributors include esteemed historian, the late Sir Philip Sherlock, and the Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies, Professor Rex Nettleford.

Among the areas covered in the anthology are: Jamaica’s folk and popular music from mento to ska to dancehall; profiles of the island’s famous sons and daughters including artistes Shaggy, Beres Hammond, Jimmy Cliff and Byron Lee; athletes Lennox Lewis, Courtney Walsh, Michael Holding and Merlene Ottey; and US Secretary of State, Colin Powell. In the section on roots there are stories on Jamaican traditions such as Kumina, Rastafarianism and Patois.

Art also takes special focus with stories on the legendary intuitive artist Kapo, whose painting “The Hills of St. Ann” is on the cover of the book. Also featured are Barrington Watson, Albert Huie and early photographer Adolphe Duperly whose daguerreotypes of Jamaica form much of the visual reference of life in the island in the 1800s.

In truth anyone in search of the real Jamaica, could do no better than to pick up a copy of A Tapestry of Jamaica— a signature statement of the very best of the island.