Kitch’s daughter to Govt: Promote T&T’s culture

Kitch’s daughter to Govt: Promote T&T’s culture
Trinidad Guardian, Published: Saturday, February 12, 2011; 21:28
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2011/02/12/kitch-s-daughter-govt-promote-tt-s-culture

The Original De Fosto Himself, right, performs some of Lord Kitchener’s songs yesterday at the naming ceremony of the public auditorium of the National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA) to the Lord Kitchener (Aldwyn Roberts) Auditorium. Looking on in the front row of the audience are, from left, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Arts and Multiculturalism Esme Rawlins-Charles, parliamentry secretary Nela Khan, Valerie Green, Minister of Arts and Multiculturalism Winston Peters, Quwenia Roberts, Kernal Roberts and Slinger Francisco, better known as The Mighty Sparrow. Photo: Keith Matthews

The daughter of the late Lord Kitchener, Quwenia Roberts, is appealing to the Government to continue developing and promoting all forms of local artistic culture. Roberts was speaking yesterday at the renaming ceremony of the public auditorium of the National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA) to the Lord Kitchener (Aldwyn Roberts) Auditorium. She joined her mother, Valerie Green, the inspiration behind Kitchener’s song — Sugar Bum Bum — and brother Kernal Roberts to give remarks at the ceremony.

She congratulated the Government for taking steps to honour T&T’s cultural pioneers but urged them to continue developing and internationally promoting the countries rich source of artistic talent. Roberts said her family was grateful the Government had honoured her father and hoped to see his fellow calypsonians being recognised in a similar fashion. Kernal said he too was happy to see the Government taking steps towards the development of local culture, while commemorating those who pioneered both music and visual art.

Along with the Kitchener’s family, the ceremony was attended by other musical icons, which included the Mighty Sparrow, Calypso Rose, Brother Resistance, the Original De Fosto Himself and Ewart Serrant. De Fosto and Serrant both paid musical tribute to Kitchener, performing some of his well known songs. Honouring Kitchener’s contribution to the development of steelpan as a musical art form recognised globally, the National Steel Symphony Orchestra performed. In recognition of Kitchener as a national and international musical icon, his family provided memorabilia to the Lord Kitchener Rainorama exhibition, which would be taking place at NAPA over the next few weeks.