CULTURAL INFUSION
Masqueraders from Shortmus Productions by Orlando Caban. South Jersey Caribbean
Festival
‘The Rolls Royce of Calypso’ Celebrating Jersey City carnival
Top Vincentian calypsonian
and fellow Cultural Ambassador
Alston “Becket” Cyrus,
renowned as the “ABC of Calypso,”
also told Caribbean Life on
Monday that Soso, whose legal
name was Trevor Winston Lockhart,
died a few days after his
69th birthday.
Becket said Soso, who was
“one of the top soca artists in the
world,” had “a long and valiant
battle with illness.”
He said Soso, also a former
national football (soccer) goalkeeper
in St. Vincent and the
Grenadines, was the composer
and performer of his signature “I
Doh Mind”, “one of the greatest
soca hits of all time.”
Becket noted that Soso had
many other big hits, including
“How Some Men Love Dey
Women,” also called “Big Bottom”;
“Ah Feel to Party Tonight,”
“Rude Girl Posse, “Come Ley
We Go in The Back and Fool
Around,” “Congratulations,”
“Don’t Throw Stones” and “Too
Much Corruption.”
Soso was made a goodwill,
cultural ambassador by the government
Caribbean L 26 ife, JULY 23-29, 2021
of St. Vincent and the
Grenadines in November 2014,
Becket said.
“Nicknamed the ‘Rolls Royce’
by his numerous fans and
many radio jocks, Winston was
a dynamic performer,” Becket
said. “He performed in all of
the major soca countries in the
world.”
He said Soso was “an outstanding
member” of the defunct
Clymax band in St. Vincent and
the Grenadines for which “he
penned and voiced the mega hit,
‘Dianne.’”
Calypsonian Cyril N. “Scorcher”
Thomas, also a Vincentian
cultural ambassador and former
Deputy St. Vincent and the
Grenadines Consul General to
New York, said Soso was “a patriot
in every sense of the word.
“In sports, music or national
fundraising, he was front and
center — always ready to give,
always ready to serve, also never
had a negative thing to say about
anyone,” Thomas told Caribbean
Life.
“When he could lend a helping
hand, he did it freely and
willingly,” he added.
dad and Tobago.
“We also had Shortmus
Productions, representing St.
Vincent and the Grenadines,”
said Herbert, whose late father,
Nkem Tshombe, the founder
of the festival, was a native
of Nevis, part of the twin-island
federation of St. Kitts and
Nevis. “They brought the color
and splendor of Caribbean carnival
with their masquerade
costume performance.”
Herbert said children’s activities,
community information,
health resources and giveaways
were also part of the “free, multi
cultural family festival.”
She said Farmer Nappy, who
headlined the six-hour-event, is
celebrating over 30 years in the
soca music industry and has a
rich legacy as one of soca’s top
entertainers of all time.
Herbert said Nappy gave “an
energetic performance”, singing,
among his hits, “Back Yard
Jam,” “Hookin Meh” and “My
House.”
“This year’s festival was extra
special because we missed our
20th year celebration due to
COVID-19, and most people
were on lockdown for a very
long time,” Debbie “Jazzy”
Agbessi, a SJCCDO member,
who also served as co-Mistress
of Ceremonies, told Caribbean
Life.
“To finally get out and celebrate
our Caribbean culture
as a unified front was an awesome
experience,” she added.
“We truly are better together.”
Denise Willoughby, another
SJCCDO member, said the
festival is one of her favorite
events to attend.
“My family and I have attended
this festival for over seven
years,” said the Camden native.
“We look forward with excitement
to celebrate this amazing,
unique and breath-taking
event due to the richness of
the Caribbean culture, history,
food, artifacts, music, vendors,
attire, entertainers and, most
of all, the atmosphere of feeling
the vibes when openly celebrating
the West Indian culture
with family and friends.”
Willoughby said she was also
“extremely impressed” with the
history of the “Moko Jumbies”
or stilt dancers, stating that
they are “thought to have
originated from West African
tradition and brought to the
Caribbean.”
“South Jersey Caribbean
Festival is a Caribbean funfilled
day, rain or shine,” she
added. “The memories will last
a life time!”
Herbert, who was presented
with a plaque from Cheryl D.B.
Murphy, of the Jersey City West
Indian Caribbean American
Carnival Association, said she
was “grateful that we had the
opportunity to have the South
Jersey Caribbean Fes tival this
year since COVID-19 prevented
us from having the festival at
Wiggins Park in 2020.”
She said a small committee
of eight planned the festival in
less than two months, and that
sponsors provided free activities
for the kids, including face
painting, moon bounces and
photobooths, and sponsored
Farmer Nappy.
Herbert also said that festival
attendance was “great,”
despite the forecast of midafternoon
heavy rain and flashflooding.
“We were blessed that the
rain subsided until the end of
show — after Farmer Nappy
finished his hour-long performance,”
she said. “Attendees
were engaged and enjoyed
interacting with the performers
on the concert stage.
Continued from Page 25
Continued from Page 25
business, and fashion, in a virtual
format.
The committee will continue
with a titled: 2021 Carnival
Week Community Meet-up on
July 21, with a CARICOM Flag
raising ceremony at noon, at
Hudson County Plaza, New Jersey.
A Writing & Communication
Skills forum will be held on July
22, 5 pm – 6 pm, for the entire
family. This will be hosted via a
Zoom meeting: ID# 844 1401
9854, Passcode: RUN2021.
Presenters are Laurie Peronne,
Asst. Media Director/
Blogger, and Poet Laureate and
Rescue Poetix, Susan Justiniano.
Lindsey West will serve
as host.
On July 23, from 8-10 pm
Keys to the Caribbean Art Land
of Jab Jab Jouvert Fete, will
be presented in a private setting.
Streaming is available,
via Meeting ID: 850 2025 6256
Passcode: jab 2021.
Presenters are, Yvette Rennie,
J’Ouvert City Internatinal,
Delroy King Jab Jab World Ah
Jab, and Sandra A.M. Bell JouvayFest.
Michael Manswell will
present and host that event.
A Grand Finale Statewide
Caribbean Carnival – on July
24, will showcase Rhythm, a
12-hour Grand Marshall Carnival
Roaming Relay Backyard
Jam. This will be held at a private
location and streamed live
via Meeting ID: 871 9809 9621.
Password: yard2021.
Murphy said: “Last year was
devastating from all levels,
financial, the lack of gatherings,
businesses going out of
business, lack of funding, nothing
was happening, and people
were loosing loved ones. In my
heart I needed to keep the tradition
alive, that is why after the
2020 virtual events, I starting
dreaming about ways to celebrate
the 26th anniversary.”
Continued from Page 25
Cheryl DB Murphy, president and founder of the organizing
committee, Jersey City Carnival, NJ, at left, with law
enforcement and Legislator, Britnee Timberlake at extreme
right, at the 2016 festivities. The 26th anniversary
will be celebrated with virtual and in-person events from
July 21-24, 2021. Photo by Tangerine Clarke