Youngsters go for bees melody at tribute to Lord Kitchener

Youngsters go for bees melody at tribute to Lord Kitchener
David Cuffy, Published: Trinidad Guardian, Monday, October 12, 2015
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2015-10-12/youngsters-go-bees-melody-tribute-lord-kitchener

The Bees Melody, Kitchener’s (Aldwyn Roberts) creatively beautiful 1992 calypso, was the selection of choice for the majority of youngsters participating in Calypso and Beyond, a Waterwheel Studio Ltd production to honour the late cultural icon, staged at Daaga Hall of the University of the West Indies’ (UWI) St Augustine campus, on Saturday evening.

Eight children, aged between six and 13 years, selected from 29 attendees at earlier mentoring workshops organised by Waterwheel’s brand Culture Forever, took the stage to showcase their interpretations of Kitch’s compositions before an appreciative audience comprising parents, teachers, supporters, and loyal members of the calypso fraternity.

Of the eight young artistes on the playbill, four chose Bees Melody, while two segued it into their choices. The four were: Ajani DePeza, Sonique Noreiga, Garvey York, and Rebekah Rose. Jonika Moran and Satin Heaven Brade went for Pan In A Minor, Dujon George opted for Toco Band, and Yaashanti Tota offered Miss Tourist.

Hallmarks of the charming presentations were the suits, hats, and dance movements intended to transform players into Kitchener-lookalikes; un-obstructive props; inclusion of the steelpan to support some of the efforts; and rendering the calypsos’ lyrics without error.

Guests of honour were members of the Roberts family. Eldest son Kernal, in a brief address, described the event as a “thoughtful and very much needed programme.” He exhorted the producers to host similar programmes on a yearly basis, and made a plea for the government to continue its support of the initiative.

“This is what is needed to bridge the gap and expose our culture to the youths of the nation,” he said.

Organisers say the brand Culture Forever indeed aims to “bridge the gap” between young people and some leading names in the entertainment industry to help develop youth talent. It wants to use the arts to develop life lessons to challenge youth to overcome social, political, emotional and financial obstacles.

All participants were presented with awards. The top three performers were identified as Satin Heaven Brade from Holistic Primary School, Jonika Moran of Arima Girls’ Government, and Sonique Noreiga of Bon Air Government.

Making guest appearances on the programme were the Fyzabad Connection Theatre Company, which presented a short skit that incorporated some vintage Kitchener selections, along with calypsonians Explainer (Winston Henry) Brother Valentino (Emrold Phillip), and Twiggy (Ann-marie Parks-Cudjoe). Errol Peru, Kitchener’s former manager, delivered an address that detailed aspects of the illustrious calypsonian’s career. Show host was dramatist Learie Joseph.

Waterwheel Studios Ltd is a Tacarigua-based production studio. Its director, Vaughn Noriega, believes children are deprived of Trinidadian culture because of what is projected in mainstream media.

“Media is a powerful industry,” he said. “Producers can use that as a medium to help inspire people, but a lot of people aren’t using that to their advantage, and our children suffer.”