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NYAC's 2008 Pioneers Calypso Prize-Giving
Calypso Pioneers 2008 Winner Kesi Bennet sings her winning song "Mommy's Mouth"
TriniSoca.com Reporters
Event Date: April 11, 2008
Posted: April 25, 2008
The National Youth Action Committee (NYAC) held their prize-giving function on Friday 11th April, 2008, at the AV room at NALIS, Port of Spain. This function awarded the participants of the 2008 Pioneers Calypso Competition held earlier in the year. Apart from prizes being distributed to participants, the audience was treated to performances by these budding Calypsonians.
Despite the late start, the proceeding got underway as Tarharqa Obika delivered the welcoming address. He praised the children as well as the parents who supported them for the sterling performances in the competition. Mr. Obika also highlighted that the youth Calypso programmes organised by the organization has been able to play a major part in developing young artistes. He described being an artiste as being a big responsibility as people look at artistes as examples. He closed by sharing with the responsive audience an interactive call and response poetry piece titled "What is Calypso?".
Also addressing the audience was Ardene Sirjoo, the Assistant General Secretary of NJAC, who brought greetings on behalf of the parent organization. "We recognize that cultural expression, participation and innovation are a natural and integral part of the human experience," she remarked.
The first performer of the evening was Melina Smith of Valencia Government R.C. School who sang "Father's Love". She explained the necessary elements of a father's love, emphasizing that a good father is a person with character and dignity.
The focus of issues from the perspective of the performers continued with commendable performances from Tsahai Corbin with "Show Us Good Example" and Timel Rivas with "Plan for Your Children".
Chelsea Lalla was a favourite with the audience with her song "Perfect Love" which highlighted the unconditional and perfect love of mothers for their children. Leah Maharaj highlighted the things she liked about her school in her song "Patna is Number One". Kyshauna Warner of Scarborough R.C. School also shared similar sentiments with her song "I Like School".
Jerrisha Regis with "Plight of the Consumer" and Khalifa Baisden with "Serious Seven" showed that they are not too young to deal with serious social issues. Second place winner Adrian Adams shared wisdom imparted by her grandmother as she explored the importance of working hard in her song "Time to Work". The audience expressed their delight with their performances.
The winner of the competition, Kesi Bennet, was confident and poised as she treated the audience to a splendid rendition of her ditty "Mommy's Mouth". Just eight years old, Kesi Bennet was impressive with her song that spoke about the maternal instincts of mothers that allow them to foresee danger before it happens. She described various situations which showed how her mother had, according to the Trinidad parlance, 'goat mouth', to the delight of the audience.
It was not all about the participants of the Pioneers Competition as several guest acts spiced up the evening. They included the TUCO Junior Monarch 2008, Megan Walrond, with "Remember Me Not"; Necoda Francis with "Trini Psyche"; Primary Schools Junior Monarch, Ferdinand Smith, with "Soca"; Karene Asche with "The Recipe" and Jervae Caesar with "Fraid to Fight". The audience, by their response, thoroughly enjoyed all the performances.
Memories of the late Calypsonian, 'Gibralter' (Sydney Benjamin), in whose honour the competition was held, were invoked by his close friend, Toussaint Singh, who highlighted the significant contribution he made to the culture of Trinidad and Tobago. In the era of Calypsonians such as 'Atilla', 'Kitchener', and 'Destroyer', 'Gibralter' fought for the rights of the Calypsonian, especially in this role as president of the Calypsonians Organization. An award of appreciation was also presented to his wife, Zaeda Rodriguez.
Results of the Pioneers Calypso Competition 2008:
Place / Performer / School / Song
1st / Kesi Bennet / St. Xavier's Private School / Mommy's Mouth
2nd / Adrian Adams / Scarborough R.C. School / Time to Work
3rd / Jerrisha Regis / St. Roses R.C. School / Plight of the Consumer
4th / Khalifa Baisden / Arima Girls R.C. School / Serious Seven
5th / Chelsea Lalla / Arima Girls R.C. School / Perfect Love
6th / Kyshauna Warner / Scarborough R.C. School / I Like School
7th / Danyahow Emorize / Patna River Estate Government School / Farmer's Chicken
8th / Leah Maharaj / Patna River Estate Government School / Patna is Number One
9th / Timel Rivas / Rosary Boys R.C. School / Plan for Your Children
10th / Tsahai Corbin / St. Monica's / Show Us Good Example
10th / Melina Smith / Valencia Government R.C. School / Father's Love
Calypso Pioneers Prize Giving 2008 in pictures:
www.trinisoca.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=102061
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