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Carifesta Village, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad
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The multiple nations in and around the Caribbean geographic area
have displayed the culture, artistic talents, and openness of their
respective peoples for the Carifesta IX event in Trinidad and
Tobago. On the main stage each country, including hosts T&T,
was allocated around ninety minutes nightly to highlight
some of the best culture and talent they had to offer. Antigua
and Barbuda's turn came on Saturday evening, and they played to a
full house, as all seating in front of the stage was accounted for.
Incidentally one of those seats proved extremely lucrative to one
young lady later on, when documentation for the first prize of a
raffle - a weekend trip for two to Antigua & Barbuda - was found on
the underside of one of the chairs!
 This was definitely a more rewarding time for
Antigua & Barbuda; two nights previously the contingent
(pictured left)
was scheduled to take the stage, and had in fact been at Carifesta
Village since 8:15 PM, all ready to perform supposedly within half
hour. But as late as
10:45 PM, the group still had not had their opportunity.
Dominica was performing when they arrived, then the Guyanese
contingent who arrived late, followed Dominica. And they were
still performing for the Carifesta IX audience while Antigua &
Barbuda stood about dejectedly. There was a mixture of
emotion from the contingent of youngsters and adults: frustration,
disappointment, resignation and yet hopefulness, among them.
 But much of that was behind them last night as
it came their turn to be in the spotlight. And they did not
disappoint.
When Steel Talks
(WST)
understands part of the group did eventually perform on Friday
evening on the main stage, but the major presentation was on Saturday
evening. Their Master of Ceremonies, Phil George guided the
audience on the cultural journey put together by Antigua & Barbuda.
Stops along the musical and artistic way included performances by
St. John's Cathedral Youth Choir
(pictured right)
led by Mrs. Erna-Mae Tonge-Hurst,
accompanied by Patrick 'Stone' Johnson on tenor. Johnson
would lead the Antigua &
Barbuda National Youth Steel Orchestra later on in the program when
they took the stage. The Antigua Dance Academy accompanied by
drummers, Sunny Dale Dancers, Barbuda Frigate Bird Group, Rawden
Edwards Trio, and the country's Calypso King all were part of the
presentation.
 The audience was thrilled with the
performances, and showed unmistakable pleasure with the choir,
dancers and national youth steel orchestra. Memorable moments
included the Sunny Dale Dancers initially clad in white
(pictured left), doing a
beautiful tribute to their African heritage, with younger members
designated 'Daughters of Africa,' joining them later in the dance
number.
 A definite crowd-pleaser was Antigua &
Barbuda's steel orchestra
(pictured right), who are champions of the inaugural
OECS
Junior Steelpan Competition held earlier
this year in
Dominica. Their session started of with the
late Ras Shorty I's Watch Out My Children. The audience
was also treated to the reggae hit Earth Ah
Run Red, complete with a solo by young Nayim on tenor, taking a
break from the congas, where he had already caught the eye of
everyone with his captivating and all-consuming percussive
performance. Before they were done, the band additionally
delivered Conga (Miami Sound Machine), All Ah We,
Don't Stop This Party (popularized years ago by Antigua's own Mighty
Swallow), and finishing off with Antigua & Barbuda's 2006 road march
- Trouble by the Red Hot Flames. Members of the contingent
danced in front of the stage
(pictured below) as the steel orchestra closed off the
country's Carifesta IX presentation.
Antigua & Barbuda
in Pictures
Basement
Press Corp
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