Spirit of the Caribbean festival celebrates culture
Guyanese Verna Walcott - Impressions Dance Theater performing a Masquerade Fusion dance. Photo by Tangerine Clarke
Caribbean L Q ife, Aug. 9-15, 2019 39
By Tangerine Clarke
The “Spirit of the Caribbean”
was certainly felt by scores
of nationals and friends, who
crammed the front lawn of the
Jamaica Performance Center
on Saturday, Aug. 3, to get a
taste of culture and entertainment
on a beautiful summer’s
afternoon.
Presented by the Jamaica
Center for Arts and Learning
(JCAL) and VP Records, the
2nd annual festival, collaborated
with Caribbean consulates
to celebrate Caribbean nations,
while sharing the beauty, food,
arts and craft, and tourism
opportunities with the world.
While Guyana showcased
its rich products, art, and history,
topped with samples of
its diverse cuisine, Trinidad &
Tobago exhibited images of its
colorful historic carnival and
gave patrons a slice of all that’s
nice of the twin island.
Littered with colorful elements
of the West Indies, St.
Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia,
St. Vincent and the Grenadines,
Grenada, Jamaica, and
the Bahamas, brought their
unique beauty and craftsmanship
to inquiring eyes and
minds that learned about all
the islands bustling vacation
packages.
Most prominent was cosponsor
VP Records, whose
banner showcased the label’s
‘Miles Ahead in Reggae and
Soca — the largest Reggae
Music Label” celebrating 40
years.
The famous brand has represented
the late great Bob Marley,
Buju Banton, Busy Signal,
Beres Hammond, and many
others.
The afternoon’s music however,
made the hearts glad.
Patrons were brought to their
feet during a delightful hourslong
program packed with
reggae, calypso, folk, soca and
instrumentalists.
Popular Guyanese-American
singer, actor, Courtney Noël,
opened the show with his signature
song. “I love my Golden
Arrowhead,” an ode to Guyana’s
colorful flag.
Noël who will be honored
with the Guyana Cultural Association
GCA) Award on Aug.
28 at Brooklyn Borough Hall,
and whose latest song “All My
Love” is trending and available
for purchase on ITunes,
Apple Music Spotify, and Amazon,
wowed the audience and
made way for another young
Guyanese artiste.
Empress Petra Hooper,
daughter of late legend, calyposian,
Eddie Hooper, aka Lord
Inventor, whose original compositions,
Jean and Dinah, and
Queens Canary, were make
popular by the Mighty Sparrow,
delighted the audience.
Young Hooper, who kicked
off her career, in 2014, gave the
audience a taste of her melodious
voice.
Empress Petra, describes
herself as a world artiste, who
has the freedom to express herself
in all genre of music.
The exciting lineup continued
with Panist, Ricardo Jerome
of T&T, Guyanese, Khyume
Khan – Indian Dance medley,
and Verna Walcott - Impressions
Dance Theater’s Masquerade
fusion, accompanied by
Guyanese, Akoyow Rudder on
the African drum.
Instrumentalist, Djembe of
Africa, and singer Lyrical Boyz
of Saint Lucia took to the stage
followed by Haitian singer and
guitarist Sybelle’s unique version
of Bob Marley’s “Redemption
Song” that received
resounding applause.
Haitian band Zafem then
joined the audience to celebrate
the country’s rich cultural heritage.
Patricia Bridgewater of St.
Kitts and Nevis in turn presented
the “Chronology of the
Island” to celebrate the history
of her homeland.
Thanks to Deejay Bajan King,
the Spirit of the Caribbean festival,
truly represented all that
is beautiful about the region.
Guyanese Empress Petra Hooper delighs the crowd.
Photo by Tangerine Clarke
Haitian singer “Sybelle” performing “Redemption Song” by
Bob Marley. Photo by Tangerine Clarke