with beautiful weather
by Bennette Roach :
The Jalikunda group
The music of West Africa did fill the air with sounds and action over the St. Patrick’s Day weekend in two free shows at the Salem Park. All of the activities took place outdoors except for the St. Patrick’s Day dinner, Emerald Community Singers and the youth jamboree. The brand new stage of Festival 50 was constructed at Salem Park for the other shows.
Members of the Senegal (six-person) group Jalikunda performed for the first ever African music fest, the first such in the English speaking Caribbean on Saturday and Sunday at Salem park. They featured Mamadou Cissoko and hailed from Senegal, Ghana and Ivory Coast.
Daby Toure (group)
The Daby Toure four-man group joined the high class performances with their music featuring Daby Toure, a Mauritanian, Africa; drummer from Venezuela, from Martinique, the bass guitarist.
The main show was on Saturday night at 9 o clock, and this was followed especially for the children, by a repeat performance on Sunday afternoon.
The activities began on previous Saturday, March 9 with a Twenty20 Cricket tournament, continuing with the annual lecture with guest speaker Miss Ethlyn Weekes on Monday 11th, and a traditional evening of music with the Emerald Community Singers on Wednesday night.
Under the Mango Tree
A youth jamboree slated for Tuesday evening was postponed to Saturday afternoon, showing great talent. There were two showings of ‘Under the Mango Tree’ to a packed audience in the old Salem primary school, very well received.
A band clash on Friday night saw a preview by members of Jalikunda providing an impromptu performance as residents and visitors thronged the streets enjoying the music. They showed off bits of the African music in drumming, along with various local artists and their bands, one of which featured Minister Colin Riley on the bass guitar.
The Rude Boyz String Band launched their first CD on Thursday evening at Rhythm Night in the village of Salem. (See story of last week).
The St. Patrick’s Day hyke took hikers to one the best historical sites and top attraction, on a ‘freedom hike’ of Duberry cassava trail early on Saturday morning, led by specialist ‘Scriber Daley’.
Jalikunda and Daby Toure
On Saturday night, one of the big night of the weekend. The Jalikunda and Daby Toure groups took to the stage and did not disappoint. Salem Park never witnessed a crowd as big at any show, only that observers believe that following a repeat performance on Sunday afternoon, it was felt the Junior calypso show was even bigger, making two nights for outstanding festivity.
Hon Colin Riley, chairman of the St. Patrick’s Day committee was elated overall at the events and the Salem venue. He said in general terms, “I like Salem as the venue for the festival,” adding that it has a very intimate feel and brings closer to everyone what Montserrat is all about. “The goal is to bring people in and for us to enjoy our island,” he said.
He agreed that the festival had several signature events “which can only get better and can form the basis for attracting visitors,” mentioning the African Music Festival as another positive move and “we need to work on establishing the sporting components.”
JUNIOUR CALYPSO COMPETITION
Sunday night’s Montserrat Union of Teachers 14th annual junior calypso monarch competition provided a strong contest among the youths ranging as low as eight years of age to 13 years. 13-year-old Khari Irish who has been challenging for at least two years was crowned monarch. The children hailed from the Brades, Lookout and St. Augustine Primary school and the Montserrat Secondary School. Khari (Super K) dethrosed Fearless K, who landed #3 in the final standings. The rundown of the places follows: Best Newcomer – Princess Sye; Best Technology Song – Super K; Best Upbeat Song – LIVE it up – Mighty Soca, who took the first runner up spot at #2.
St Patrick’s Day
Earlier on Sunday, the Sunday church service marked the celebration of the parish patron saint Patrick. The mass was celebrated at the St. Patrick’s R C church in Lookout.
The St. Patrick’s Day holiday observed as a holiday only in Ireland and Montserrat (often referred to as the other Emerald Isle) culminated week of activities with the slave feast which began at 1.00 p.m. on Monday, March 18.
At 6.00 o’clock the usual fitness St. Patrick’s Day Freedom Walk & Run began at Cudjoe Head and all contestants but one made it to the finish line at Salem Park. Leon Williams came in strongly in 25 minutes and 40 seconds, followed by Kevoy Jarrett, 27:07; and Oswald Herbert, 28:04.
For the females, Mel Froude, 39: 02, followed by Mandy Storm, 40:29; Maxcine Lee, 44:48.
Stanford Kelly has dominated all of the walk races for several years, coming in this time in 46 min 24 secs, followed by Lexvern Francis, 48:51; and Trevon Pollard 50:13.
Female walkers: Camella Thomas, 51:58; Jannika Ponde, 58:19; Donilia Cuffy, 60:01
See full record below, at end of story.
Slave Feast
As for many years now the festivity highlighted the recreation of a slave village. The food featured many local dishes, not only Montserratian, but from around the region tried to recapture the old days cooking. Lots to eat and drink and performances from the Volpanics Steel Band, the Emerald Shamiole Masquerades, some veteran masqueraders and a live band that disappointingly only featured reggae, much to the consternation of the huge crowd that fitted in area designated in Salem for since the abandonment of Little Bay festival village.
Visit http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151377990615852&set=a.10151377987815852.1073741829.203080105851&type=1&theater – The Montserrat Reporter’s Facebook page to view images from St. Patrick’s Week and most of events.
St. Patrick’s Day Freedum Walk & Run – Monday March 18, 2013
Results: Walkers- Males
- Stanford Kelly 46:24
- Lexvern Francis 48:51
- Trevon Pollard 50:13
9. Dwayne Halley (Youngest Walker)
10. Micheal Owen (Oldest Walker)
Results: Walkers- Females
- Camella Thomas 51:58
- Jannika Ponde 58:19
- Donilia Cuffy 60:01
11. Stevika Foster (Youngest Walker)
13. Violet Brown (Oldest Walker)
Results: Runners- Females
- Mel Froude 39: 02
- Mandy Storm 40:29
- Maxcine Lee 44:48
7. Claris Yearwood (Youngest Runner)
9. Diane Ogle (Oldest Runner)
Results: Runners- Males
- Leon Williams 25:40
- Kevoy Jarrett 27:07
- Oswald Herbert 28:04
11. Jonathan Williams (Oldest Runner)
13. Denzil Jarvis (Youngest Runner)
