TEKEL SYLVAN head is literally in the clouds these days, having been declared the first King Moko Dance Champion 2024 on August 30, followed by an opportunity immediately afterwards to perform at the Apollo Theater, New York, in celebration of Trinidad and Tobago’s 62nd anniversary of Independence.
Winning the local competition with his own costume design and make-up as a skeleton, while demonstrating mad skills by removing one side of the five-foot stilts, while in motion, and dancing with only one stilt, was an amazing feat for him and validates his belief “that I am the best.” That daring act of being about 13-14 feet in the air, precariously balancing, put him ahead of his competitors. He said before the competition, “I would be bringing the trophy home” – and knew he had to do something extraordinary to achieve this. He has performed at Machel Mondays in the past, and alongside other artistes, but being one of two TT moko jumbies on stage at the iconic Apollo with top artistes at the calypso night, was beyond his wildest dreams. “It was an amazing feeling to be part of that production. I have performed with calypsonians and soca artistes before, but seeing all of them on one stage, communicating backstage, the vast audience – that was mind-blowing.” The experience was even more astonishing, he said, as he was told he was one of the first of two moko jumbies to perform at the Apollo. Sylvan and Earl Ward were the two invited by the NCC to participate in three nights of calypso music, when infectious Caribbean rhythms were on full display. He said on September 3, he performed at the Apollo with Machel Montano, Crazy, Olatunji, Kurt Allen, Lord Nelson and others. On September 6, he travelled to Canada to showcase his skills at the Toronto carnival. “This is not my first carnival, though. I have been to Grenada and Miami carnivals and Brooklyn Labor Day.” The San Fernando father of two said stilt-walking saved his life. Growing up in what he termed “the ghetto,” in a single-mother household, his father was imprisoned when he was just three. He said his life could have gone downhill as he did not have the acumen for academics. While he enjoyed sports, he was not passionate about them either. So when at age eight he discovered the Junior Bisnath Kaisokah School for the Arts, he latched on to that like a drowning man and honed his skills, encouraged by Bisnath, who embraced him as a son. He recalled he often got into trouble with his mother, because he would leave chores undone to go stilt-walking, something he later corrected. “Today, she is my biggest fan, because this has saved me from a life of crime. It has opened doors for me. Because of this I got a passport. I am now able to travel all over the world and put TT’s culture on the map. “Some of my friends who invested in sports have not had the kind of successes I have had,” he said in an interview at the Kaisokah School on September 5. While he is a designer and intends to produce a children’s Carnival band for 2025, stilt-walking is not a talent he intends giving up on. “I will only stop when God is ready for me. While I am alive, even if I am using a walking stick or a wheelchair, Sir (Junior Bisnath) will design a pair of stilts for the wheelchair for me to continue stilt-walking.” Already, his two sons who ae four and six, as well as five nephews, are mastering the art. He is encouraging children who are facing challenges growing up in poverty, with little opportunity, that stilt-walking could turn their lives around. “It is a place when you have a certain state of mind, when you are down, for you to get up. There is no better way to get up than on a pair of stilts. When you head is in the clouds, when you listen to music which energises you, take a dance, take a walk and free your mind, you could change that mentality. (Source: Newsday, September 13, 2024)
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THE question on everyone’s lips is what’s in store for one of the most beautiful beaches in Tobago.
The Tobago House of Assembly intends to turn the Store Bay Beach Facility into a family-friendly, world-class recreational venue. Although lacking the appeal of some of the gems of the island such as Pirates Bay, Englishman’s Bay and Pigeon Point, Store Bay’s beauty is unique. A sunset at Store Bay is a sight to behold. The rhythmic sound of gentle waves crashing on the shore is enhanced as the sun descends beyond the horizon, leaving an explosion of vibrant colours in the fading sky. The silhouettes of boats on the shimmering water become more pronounced till they disappear into the darkness. It’s not just beautiful to look at. Store Bay has long been a regular stop for many for local cuisine such as crab and dumpling or conch and provisions, available at the popular Miss Trim or Miss Jean food stalls. As a visitor approaches the steps descending to the beach, the buzz of the blender at Man on The Rock beach bar indicates that owner Ashley McMillan, or one of his staff, is whipping up a cocktail for a customer. Tobago treats such as bene ball, sugar cake, preserved mango, preserved plums and many other delights are available at small tables to the left of the steps down to the beach, where vendors, mostly women, sell for most of the day. What to expect The layout of the popular spot is expected to change soon, with the Division of Tourism planning major renovations. Among the new features of an initial design are a swimming pool, a roadside bar and food court, a beach bar and restaurant, and a jetty. And visitors will have to pay to enter the new facility. The division said the project is still in the consultation phase and no tenant would be displaced when the facility is completed. However, there have been complaints that not enough consultation is happening, though the division met on two occasions with some stakeholders in July. The meetings followed a survey done last year by the Eco-Industrial Development Company of Tobago. At one of the meetings, tenants were given two options: a full shutdown, which would allow the project to be completed faster (nine months); or on a phased basis, which would take 18 months. The division had hoped to start this month, but more consultation is expected to take place. Meisha Trim, owner of Miss Trim Foods, has been selling at Store Bay for 17 years. Her mother, Greta, started the business over 40 years ago. In an interview with Newsday on September 8, she said she fully supports the initiative. Contrary to some claims by stakeholders, she said there was a “collaborative” approach to the meeting. She said although not everyone was present, they were told to spread the information to the other tenants and were assured all information would be available at the office of the facility manager. Although acknowledging her rent may increase, Trim said once it is “within limit,” and proportional to the enhancement of the facility, she does not mind. The current food area is expected to expand considerably, with bigger booths, more room for storage of dry goods and a larger seating area for customers. However, the prospect of a new food court closer to the road has left Trim a bit anxious. She said patrons coming in will have to pass through the new food court before they get to the existing area. “It’s up to me where I want to go,” she said. McMillan, who has his establishment at Store Bay for 20 years, said progress is needed, but "Store Bay doh need all of that. Store Bay is a natural place. It's the Mecca of Tobago." He said the place just needs "a little facelift - plastic surgery." He said if the division plans to shut down the facility, the vendors need financial support. "People under pressure here. I'm not lying to yuh." He said booths need upgraded, the beach needs better lighting for the night time and an ATM on site. Local businessman and prominent artist Martin Superville, who was once a tenant at Store Bay, said he loves the idea of redeveloping the area. he area and Tobago tourism. “Before, you could have just jumped out the airport and walk across to Store Bay. The whole way that the traffic is going to flow (has changed). “Unless you have a hotel down in Crown Point, everybody heading on the other side of the island.” So, he said, Store Bay must be looked at as a destination now, not a spot along the thoroughfare. Better can be done “I’ve always felt that that place was misused/under-used. I had a space there and left,” Superville recalled. “The crowd that goes to Store Bay is a very mixed crowd, more a Trinidadian crowd. Tourism dried up and most of the tourists headed to the other side of the island, because the beach boys now would hassle them: ‘Yuh wa ah boat ride? Yuh wa ah this, yuh wa ah that?’ You leave one guy, the next guy hit you the same thing. “There’s always that uncontrolled behaviour.” Trim concurred, saying the touts had driven tourists to Castara and other parts, though Trinis who have become accustomed to the aggressive approach still frequent the bay. The issue of touting has been a perennial problem at Store Bay. Former chief secretary Ancil Dennis introduced a ticketing system in 2020 to try to end it, but failed. Trim said, “None of it has worked in the past. “I don’t feel safe at times entering Store Bay by myself. Sometimes there are even fights.” In a Tobago Updates interview on September 4, tourism secretary Tashia Burris said the division had received complaints about lawlessness at the venue and families not feeling safe. Superville said he is wary of the crowd the new facility will attract and what measures will be put in place to ensure its standards are adhered to and maintained. “Have you ever noticed that the movies that are open to all ages make more money than the ones 21 years and over? So now you have to be very conscious of the crowd and the behaviour. “How long is the swimming pool going be open for? Is it going to be open where people can swim in the night? “Now people would want to hire it for their personal parties – how does that go? “After them parties and they throw their bottles all over...” He said a jetty at Store Bay was long overdue, and believes this will provide another interesting option for the hosting of Angostura Sailing Week and the TT Great Race. He called for proper tendering for the project, to get not only the right contractor but also value for taxpayers’ money. Superville also said the customer service on the island needs to match the money being spent on improving infrastructure. “In the tourist sector, you need to love people. “The people that sometimes run places that are (on the) frontline for the island, they make money because they have no choice. “But you wonder, if more businesses come in with different styles of how they operate, they may bust. Because people now getting better service, nicer conversations. You doh go by the bar and people just studying to get your money and eh thinking to have a nice conversation and advising you to go here or there. “Be an ambassador for the island. Every bar around the island, the owner should be an ambassador for the island.” He said Tobago has not taken tourism seriously in the past, but better late than never. Thinking even bigger In the initial redesign, Superville said he did not see a specific area for the boat operators “who make the reef tours so special. “If you selling your tickets you have to stay there and wait for people to come in and choose their boat. You give them a nice, little space and they could put up pictures and sell little items – cups, T-shirts, key rings. Now your business could expand and sell goggles, fins for their cruise. You could do a coffee, and early breakfast with scrambled eggs.” Superville said tourists want souvenirs such as T-shirts with a picture of the glass-bottom boat they went on, or a key chain with a carving of the boat. This, he said, would also stimulate the local economy, as the tour operators lean on the expertise of other businesses to meet that demand. “You can’t make everything. You have to go to the man who can make them things, or the man doing the printing. “I have to see where everybody wins. If everybody wins, then nobody complaining.” Another necessity, he felt, was an information centre to point visitors to other attractions, hotels and guesthouses. He believes a museum should also be included, as well as a jogging track and a calypso tent. He said Tobago needs to think outside the box when it comes to tourism and its product, especially when welcoming visitors from cruise ships. Superville wants Tobago to expand its horizons in a very literal way. “They done pass through Barbados, which does beaches and hospitality better than us; Grenada, a nice port with restaurants all around – then they reach to Tobago. “We only fighting to get Germans, Americans, and British and we have the whole of South America below us. The problem we have had for many years is (an indifference) to the Spanish language. “Luck would shine upon TT...Now you have Spanish-people speaking everywhere – hotels, restaurants, bars – all those places where tourists visit. “We should be selling to Guyana, Argentina, Peru, Colombia.” Then, he said, rather than being the last island in the Caribbean, Tobago would become “the first with lovely sand and beaches. “The whole of South America sitting there waiting for us — and nobody eh sending a plane to Ecuador.” (Source: Newsday, September 9, 2024) Keshav has been working in the Japanese advertising and corporate sectors for the past three years. - by RIHANNA MCKENZIE
Soca stars and producers from Japan and Trinidad and Tobago have come together for an anthem celebrating the countries’ 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations. The song is a collaborative effort between the Japan-TT Friendship 60th Anniversary Executive Committee (JT60) and the Embassy of Japan in TT. Japanese soca singer Angella Giustini (Ann G) and TT soca star Lyrikal (Devonn Martin) are featured on the song, called Oideyo (The Island), which is produced by Ryan Alexander (DJ Private Ryan) and Keshav Chandradath Singh. The song, which was released on August 30, will be the theme for the 60th-anniversary celebration and will be featured during a Japanese cultural event scheduled for September 20-23, at Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s, Port of Spain, a release said. It also said the song will be used to promote travel to TT and the wider Caribbean. “Oideyo is the Japanese word for ‘come to’ or ‘come over.’ So we are saying to the people of Japan, come over and experience TT, meet its people, taste the food and share in the culture,” said Ann G. Ann G has been visiting and performing at TT Carnival for ten years and has participated in the International Soca Monarch competition, placing in the semifinal and final rounds. In the statement, Ann G said, “I always tell anyone that will listen in Japan that you must go and experience Trinidad Carnival at least once in your lifetime. It’s unlike anything they have seen before. Yes, we have Trinidad Carnival culture growing in Japan, but nothing beats having the original as a reference point.” Speaking to Newsday about the song, she also said music breaks down barriers. “Being part of Carnival has shown me that soca music isn't just a genre. It's a way of life that…unites people from all over the world.” Ann G revealed Lyrikal will not attend the Japan Soca Weekend (JSW) in Tokyo in September, but said, “Even though he can't be here, I can't wait to bring the energy of our collaboration to the stage.” JSW is a five-day event in Tokyo at which patrons enjoy a range of events, including tours of the city and anime-themed soca parties that all end in Japan Caribbean Carnival (JCC) – a TT Carnival-style parade of the bands. Ann G said working with DJ Private Ryan and Lyrikal was a memorable experience. “Lyrikal is a phenomenal artist and working with him has been incredible. It was amazing to see how (he) brings energy and creativity to the process. I’m excited to see where this song will take us and how it will help spread the love and joy of soca music to the world.” Keshav also responded to Newsday via e-mail about the collaboration. The producer/songwriter said the song blends traditional instruments from Japan and TT, including the shakuhachi flute, koto harp (or zither), the shamisen (a plucked stringed instrument) and taiko drums from Japan alongside traditional TT rhythm-section instruments. “It’s essential to use the traditional instruments of any culture when you create a communicative and collaborative piece of music. Those sounds are the calling cards of the nations they represent.” He said, in addition to traditional instruments, the song also incorporates elements of Noh, a form of Japanese folk music. “Of course, when we’re talking soca, we have iron, steelpan, brass, rhythm section and our inevitable sense of lavway, or call-and-response. (Using this) foundational approach…we can then bring the whole thing into the now and into the future." Ann G added the merger of sounds was their way of paying homage to the musical roots of both cultures as well as to push the boundaries of what soca could be. Keshav said, “Working within new markets takes you out of the comfort zone of your pond, but to cross these oceans the brave work of immersion must take place. This happens through food, language, liming and observation. This is what I’m currently doing in Japan for just under a month.” Keshav also talked about his personal connection to Japan through his father, Chandradath Singh, who served as TT's ambassador to Japan from 2011-2014. As a result, he said, he feels strongly about bringing the two cultures together. “Steelpan and calypso have long been familiar art forms in Japan, but it is soca’s time now. For the last couple of years, I’ve been really happy to work with Japanese artists and my friend DJ Daiky (Daiki Shimozato), who I’ve co-produced a few records with. The goal with that material is to bring some tangibility to the already-existing exchange between our two cultures. “I have noticed that soca, made with the right references, can have an impact on Japanese pop culture and we’re working on that bit by bit. I have also observed, within event spaces, there is a demand for our style of Carnival culture, which brings both a contrast and a familiarity to the already-popular Jamaican reggae scene. Japan Caribbean Carnival (in Tokyo Prefecture), the Japanese steelpan community and our presence in the traditional Yosakoi festival (in Kochi Prefecture) allow us to put contemporary roots down in Japan. The exchange is more visceral than ever before, so making records with both Japanese and Trinidadian artists makes sense for the expansion of soca globally.” Keshav is currently touring in Japan ahead of the JCC at the end of September. “I did the Soca Magic Riddim with DJ Daiky last year, which featured Japanese artists Mickey Rich, Ann G and Ayakohime. We also did a Jus Now collaboration with Daiky called Inna Circle.” Singh is best known as half of the production and percussion duo Jus Now and has contributed to hits like Bunji Garlin’s Big Bad Soca and Machel Montano’s Junction. Keshav said he met Ann G years ago in Trinidad and they have been in the studio a few times, but have not had the opportunity to put out music together until now. He said he has also been working in the Japanese advertising and corporate sectors alongside DJ Daiky for the past three years. “My father…was in the foreign service for over 45 years and during his posting to Beijing, China, he was also accredited as the Ambassador to Japan. He even met and presented his credentials to Emperor Akihito, to officiate his role as overseer of all Japan-TT business and exchange. The picture of that meeting is amazing,” he said proudly. He added that having a father working in the foreign service allowed him a unique opportunity to be exposed to music from all over the world. “My father is an incredible musician and my years growing up as the son of a diplomat allowed me to jam with musicians from literally everywhere from a very young age.” In the release, Private Ryan said he worked remotely with Ann G and Lyrikal on the song. “It was amazing working with this team. Bridging the gap in cultures is important to me as we seek to diversify soca and its impact worldwide. This is only the beginning.” In the release, Lyrikal said the song is an opportunity to promote TT culture and elevate soca music. “When I engage in these types of collaborations, it’s always about more than just me. I think about how many more people we can reach and introduce to our unique culture and sound.” The JT60 committee and the Government of Japan have declared 2024 the Japan-Caricom Friendship Year. The statement said since establishing diplomatic relations in 1964, Japan and TT have collaborated in many economic and social endeavours, including education, culture and business. “Co-operation has also extended to the multilateral sphere within an international framework, including the UN system, to address common issues such as disaster prevention, climate change, the environment and sanitation,” it said. In May 2023, former Japanese minister of foreign affairs Hayashi Yoshimasa visited TT and met with Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs Dr Amery Browne. At the meeting, the two countries agreed to expand and deepen their relationship with each other and the wider Caricom region. (Source: Newsday, September 8, 2024) THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine chats with Calypso Rose on August 19 in New York. - courtesy Derek Parsons Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly Farley Augustine chats with Calypso Rose aka Linda McCartha Sandy-Lewis on August 19 in Brooklyn, New York, as she holds a plaque in her honour from the Tobago Empowerment and Alliance Mission (TEAM).
TEAM honoured Rose as part of its Tobago Day celebration which was highlighted on August 18 in the courtyard of the Nazareth High School, 475E 57th Street, Brooklyn, New York. The event featured various elements of Tobago’s cultural heritage: music, dance and food. Augustine addressed the celebration. He was accompanied by a contingent comprising THA officials, tourism stakeholders and several of Tobago’s leading artistes. (Source: Newsday, August 28, 2024) Traditional sponge with lime meringue frosting Ingredients: 1 cup butter 2 cups granulated sugar 3 cups all-purpose flour 5 tsp baking powder 4 eggs ¾ cup milk 2 tsp vanilla essence Measure all your ingredients and set them aside. Preheat the oven to 350F. Cut your butter into chunks and place into your mixing bowl, make sure that your butter is very cold, you can use frozen butter. Add your sugar and start the creaming process, cream your butter and sugar until light in texture and colour, take your time here, use your fingers to feel the mixture to determine whether your sugar has dissolved. Now add your eggs one at a time, beating well between additions. You must incorporate your eggs slowly, and your mixture should be light and fluffy before you add another egg. If your mixture is somewhat loose and rather eggy, or appear curdled, you must beat a little more. Measure your flour and sift three times. Combine the milk with vanilla. Now add your flour in three additions, folding in the flour alternately with the milk, beginning and ending with the flour. Prepare 2 nine-inch cake pans: grease the sides, line the base with waxed paper, grease your paper and flour the pans. Shake out any excess flour. Spoon the batter evenly into cake pans, and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until the cakes pull or shrink away from the sides of the pan. Do not open your oven door during baking or your cakes will fall. Remove cakes from oven, cool in pans for five minutes, then invert onto cooling racks, remove lining and place right side up. Lime meringue frosting 1 cup granulated sugar 2 egg whites ⅓ cup water ⅛ tsp cream of tartar 1 tsp lime zest With an electric mixer, beat egg whites until fluffy but not dry. add cream of tartar. Combine sugar with water, stir gently to combine, place in a small saucepan and bring to a boil, boil sugar until bubbly and spins a thread when lifted from a fork. Poor syrup into egg whites with mixer running, add lime zest, continue to beat until all the syrup has been incorporated, beat for a few minutes longer until mixture loses some of its gloss. Frosts 2 nine-inch cakes. (Source: Wendy Rahamut via Newsday, Aug 31, 2024) |
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