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Emancipation 2007 Calypso Prize-Giving
Emancipation Calypso Competition 2007 winners and other
competitors
with NYAC President Akhenaton Daaga
TriniSoca.com Reporters
Event Date: December 09, 2007
Posted: January 03, 2008
The National Youth Action Committee (NYAC) in association with the Ministry of Education held their prize-giving ceremony for the Emancipation Calypso Competition at the National Library in Port of Spain on Sunday 9th December, 2007. The awardees had participated in the competition that was held in September in commemoration of the 200th Anniversary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade. The contestants in two categories, 5-14 years and 15-20 years, were presented with certificates of participation and cash prizes. Backed by the excellent Earl Knights Services Band, the awardees also treated the audience to a couple of verses from their winning songs.
In his welcome address NYAC Servant President Akhenaton Daaga expressed that the origins of the competition came from the lack of Calypso material on Emancipation. Speaking about the performances in the competition he said that the standard was high, which he used as an example of how investments in the nation's youth brings reward. Daaga closed by congratulating all the contestants and thanking the sponsors, parents and other supporters of the event.
Guest artiste Taharqa Obika shares a story 'Small Ting Mentality'
Guest performer Taharqa Obika performed a poem followed by a story, both of which were interactive as they allowed the audience to participate. The poem "Africa Drums" encouraged the audience to "Tell the stories of we, take we back, to the source, take we home," while the story "Small Ting Mentality" spoke of the tendency of Trinidadians to describe various situations as being "Small Ting" as the audience enthusiastically responded "Small Ting" at the appropriate time.
Karise Marie-Rawlins sings 'Emancipation'
In the 5-14 age-group, Jahira Harris from St. George's College, who placed seventh kicked off the performances with a commendable rendition of her song "It is Time". She was followed by fourth place Shinesse Simmons from Holy Faith Convent who was impressive with her song "The Home-Coming" which expressed that the society is in trouble, advocating that persons dip in the wisdom fountain. Necoda Francis of St. Theresa's Girls R.C. School, who placed third, showed great confidence and talent in rendering her song titled "My Song of Freedom". Second placed Ferdinand Smith of Valencia South Government School sung "Emancipate Yourself" to the delight of the audience. The winner of the 5-14 category was Karise-Marie Rawlins of Point Fortin Intermediate School who came to the stage to render her winning song titled "Emancipation". With mannerisms reminiscent of her famous Calypsonian father, she explored in song the horrors of Slavery and called on people to celebrate Emancipation. Also performing in this age-group was Helon Francis who rendered his song "Doh Forget".
Kirt Ross sings 'Slave of the System'
In the 15-20 age-group the standards were also good. Eighth placed Yasin Rashid of Cunupia High School sung "Emancipate Yourself" which explored the messages of Emancipation and advised persons to check themselves in order to free themselves from mental slavery. Tenaj Smith of St. Augustine Senior Comprehensive School who placed fifth sung "Meaning of Emancipation", a song that explored how the sacrifices of enslaved Africans during slavery is important to the present generation. Talented Amrika Mutroo who tied with Tenaj for fifth place sung "Set Free" which expressed that love and kindness must underlie liberation. Fourth placed Megan Walrond was also impressive with her song "Liberation" as she declared that, "To be fully liberated, you must learn African history." She sang that some historians put forward the argument of African participation in the Slave Trade to exonerate the Whites from their complicity.
Victoria Cooper sings 'A New Song'
Second placed Victoria Cooper of Cowen Hamilton Secondary School demonstrated her immense talent with her rendition of "Ah New Song". She remarked that the enslaved Africans were battered in the rivers of Babylon, but still sung songs of redemption, urging that there be a new song - a freedom song that would represent a re-embracing of African identity.
The climax of the evening was the powerful performance of the winner of the 15-20 age-group Kirt Ross of South East Secondary School with his song "Slave of the System". Explaining that slavery was driven by economics, Kirt's Calypso was critical of how the materialistic European colonialists used religion as an instrument of control and advocated that mental slavery, as a consequence of the capitalist system, must be addressed. His sterling performance earned him rousing applause from the audience.
Kwasi Mutema
Kwasi Mutema of the NACC closed the show by congratulating all the contestants for the variations in their compositions and for the different approaches they took to the theme of Emancipation. He advised them that they have a duty to transform the negative image of young people which has been perpetuated by the mainstream media.
Emancipation Calypso Competition Results
5-14 Age Group
Placings / Performer / School / Calypso
1st / Karise-Marie Rawlins / Point Fortin Intermediate / Emancipation
2nd / Ferdinand Smith / Valsayn South Gov't School / Emancipate Yourself
3rd / Necoda Francis / St. Theresa's Girls R.C. School / My Song of Freedom
4th / Shinesse Simmons / Penal Convent School / The Home-Coming
5th / Aneka Audain / Bishops Anstey Girls School / Mama Africa
6th / Whitney Henry / Scarborough Secondary School / Revise Your Definition
7th / Jahira Harris / St. George's College / It is Time
8th / Jerrisha Regis / St. Rose's Girls R.C./ We are Free
9th / Nichole Jordan / Scarborough R.C. School / The "I Am"
10th / Adrian Jaikaran / El Dorado Secondary Composite School / We Say We Ready
Consolation Prizes
Clinthia Simon / Mount Pleasant Government School / Freedom
Shontelle Yearwood / Scarborough Secondary School / Pure Royalty
Angele Alonzo / Sacred Heart Girls R.C. School / Light a Candle
Helon Francis / -- / Doh Forget
Marika Mendez / Sacred Heart Girls R.C. School / Emancipation Message
15-20 Age Group
Placings / Performer / School / Calypso
1st / Kirt Ross / South East Secondary School / Slave of the System
2nd / Victoria Cooper / Cowen Hamilton Secondary School / Ah New Song
3rd / Frank Moore / Tabaquite Composite School / African Children Rise Up
4th / Megan Walrond / Corpus Christi College / Liberation
5th / Tenaj Smith / St. Augustine Senior Composite School / Meaning of Emancipation
5th / Amrika Mutroo / UWI / Set Free
7th / Marion Pamponette / -- / Emancipation Dream
8th / Yasin Rashid / Cunupia High School / Emancipate Yourself
9th / Jael Paul / Providence Girls School / Why I Came
10th / Khalifa Hislop / Bishop's High School, Tobago / Freedom
Consolation Prizes
Amirah Augustine / -- / Africa is Calling
Latoya David / NABAC / Take Me Africa
Leah Richards / Scarborough Secondary School / My King To Be
Khadeece Celestin / Corpus Christi College / At Last We Free
Juliana Alfred / St. George's College / Warrior
Emancipation Calypso Competition 2007 in pictures:
www.trinisoca.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=73636
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