Limbo Dancers
TriniView.com Reporters
Event Date: April 01, 2007
Posted: April 03, 2007
On Sunday April 2nd, the NACC kicked off its Emancipation Celebrations for 2007 by hosting a star-studded concert to celebrate the 200th Anniversary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade. This event, entitled "A Spirit Undaunted", aimed to highlight and commemorate the contributions of those that fought for the abolition of the slave trade and to celebrate the spirit of freedom. Held at the SWWTU Hall on Wrightson Road, the concert was packed with many memorable performances and featured the likes of Shadow, Explainer, Brother Resistance and Jervae Caesar.
The evening began with the National Anthem being performed by the Earl Knight and Services Brass, an opening prayer by Cindy Alleyne, Cultural Officer of NYAC and opening remarks by Brother Aiyegoro Ome, Chairman of the NACC. MC Kwesi Jeffers welcomed the crowd and introduced the first performer, the Pan Elders Steel Orchestra who entertained the crowd with a performance of "Mr. Bojangles".
The Northwest Laventille Culture Folk Performers raised the bar with an awe-inspiring performance that paid tribute to the ancestors and the spirit of Africa. With their electrifying style that included drumology and dance, their stellar performance received thunderous applause from the audience. Veteran Calypsonian, Creole, dressed in chains and a ragged costume, gave an emotional performance of Sparrow's "Slave" that greatly moved the crowd, particularly at its dramatic end where he broke free from his chains and ran from the stage in symbolic representation of a slave running to freedom.
Next up were stalwarts of the Calypso arena, the duo Regeneration Now who have been performing for 50 years. The beautiful harmonies of these two gentlemen recalled the style of a bygone era of Calypso, with sweet voices and messages as potent as ever. Their performances of "Manchild of a Slave" and "Thousand More" hailed the spirit of self-reclamation and revolution. Daughter of the late Puppet Master, Shereen Caesar performed next and gave entertaining performances of Ella Andal's "Tiwa-our" and one of Nelson's lesser known tunes, "Shango".
At this point, President of the Caribbean Historical Society, Nyahuma Obika brought greetings to the audience from the Chief Servant and political leader of NJAC, Makandal Daaga. He then introduced a project embarked upon by the Caribbean Historical Society to mark the commemoration of the 200th Anniversary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade, a booklet that detailed some elements of the history of the slave trade and a discourse on its commemoration. He read a short piece by Makandal Daaga contained within the booklet that spoke of the travesty that continues to be committed in discourses on slavery: the idea that it was the complicity of Africans that allowed the perpetration of the slave trade and that its end was due only to concerns of the Europeans. The essay also spoke of the need for continued research to highlight the revolutionary spirit of Africans and to teach about the contributions of leaders such as Nanny, Harriet Tubman, Toussaint, George Padmore and others.
Several people were presented with copies of this booklet with the promise that it would be available to all in the near future. Presentations were made to the High Commissioner of Panama; the Ambassador of Costa Rica; the Representative of the Venezuelan High Commission; Executive Chairman of SWMCOL, Ray Braithwaite; Hollister Smith, Head of Pan Elders; Gail Edinborough, Head of North West Laventille Folk Performers; Calypso Monarch 2007, Cro Cro; Brother Resistance, President of COTT; the Mighty Shadow; Jagdeo Phagoo, Pitchikaree Champion 2007; and George Lynch of the Central Emancipation Committee.
Once these presentations were concluded, the performances began again with the fiery performer, Jervae Caesar who gave charismatic and emotional performances of "Nothing Eh Strange" by Black Stalin and his own composition "Pioneers of Emancipation" which was awarded as one of the 20 Best Songs of 2005. His performance was met with enthusiastic applause.
Karene Asche followed with commendable performances of "Spirit of Emancipation" by Erica Reid and "Brother", her 2006 selection, penned by talented songwriter, Christophe Grant. She too was well-received by the audience.
Next up was 'Gospelypso' artiste Sean Daniel who thanked the NACC for supporting him in singing gospel music on a secular platform. His first song "One A Day" warned of the ever-present threat of HIV and the values needed to combat the scourge. For his next performance he welcomed singer Shereen Caesar to sing with him on the gospel medley of "If I Could Help Somebody", "Never Get Weary Yet", "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" and "A Little More Oil" which had the crowd singing along with enthusiasm.
Explainer hit the stage next with performances of "Give Yourself A Chance", "Caribbean Integration" and Bob Marley's "Redemption Song" during which he left the stage and moved into the crowd to engage further with the audience much to their delight. The crowd enjoyed his performance and they sang along harmoniously to "Redemption Song" highlighted by Earl Knight's expertise on the tenor saxophone.
The first half ended with a bang by the always incomparable Mighty Shadow, whose performance of "Columbus Lie" and "Dingolay" thrilled the crowd and had them singing along, some even getting up to dance. With his unique performance style, he showed just why he is one of the most beloved Calypsonians for many Trinbagonians.
As the second half began, more presentations of commemorative booklets were made to Junior Allen, Chaguanas businessman; Mr. Rostant, Principal of Presentation College; Suresh Kewal of Channel 4; Regeneration Now; Bro. Thompson, prominent figure in Atlantic LNG workers struggles and Junior Noel, head of the drummers who performed at the event.
Northwest Laventille Folk Performers again took the stage with a performance of the limbo, their skill and agility wowing the crowd. Next up, Brother Resistance and the Network Rapso Rhythm Band, one of the most powerful voices of protest music out of East Dry River Laventille, moved the crowd with powerful performances of "Middle Passage Music" and "Ring De Bell". Brother Oba on drums, Harold Lopez on rhythm guitar, Derek Jones on pan, Lennox Lopez on bass and Brother Resistance himself are indeed stalwarts of Trinidad music.
The sweet-voiced Brother Valentino then graced the stage with his thought-provoking, lyrical classics "Ode to The Woman", "Whey Kaiso Went" and the critical "Stay Up Zimbabwe" that still remains keenly relevant up to today. Jagdeo Phagoo, Pitchakaree Champion of 2007 who sang his ode to national unity, "One Nation, One People", followed him.
A performance by the commanding Terri Lyons, with her powerful voice brought the crowd to their feet with her rendition of Ella Andall's "Rhythm of a People" and Luta, former Calypso Monarch, received an excellent crowd response with his classics "How Free Are We" and "Kaiso, Kaiso".
The entertaining evening was rounded off with a much diminished crowd perhaps due to the lateness of the hour, but no reduction in their enthusiasm as they heard performances by Duke, "Black Woman" and "How Many More Must Die" which had the crowd singing along; Chalkdust, "Say Thanks to Daaga" and "They ain't See Africa at All"; reigning Calypso Monarch Cro Cro with "Black Identity" and "Rise African Rise"; De Fosto's "Pan Forever More" and the Kitchener classic "Pan In A Minor".
NACC 'A Spirit Undaunted' in pictures:
www.triniview.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=166821
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