The Antigua National Youth Choir wowed the audience during a night of superb entertainment at the Sophia Exhibition Complex on Tuesday.
The sizable crowd enjoyed the masquerade put on by St Kitts and Nevis and the “choreographed drumming” by the Grenadians but the Antiguans stole the show at the country presentation. Directed by Renee Smith, the Carifesta performance is the Youth Choir’s first overseas show. Dressed in the colours of their flag they took the stage after compatriots the Hellsgate Steel Orchestra which also put on a good show with rousing renditions including One Republic’s popular “Apologise” and Peter Ram’s “Woman by my side.” This was followed by the Antigua Rastafarian Nyabinghi Theocracy Order which offered “ancient chants” to the beating of drums.
The crowd showed their appreciation with much lively applause after each song from the Choir but they roared in laughter when it launched into a folk ballad telling the tale of a young man trying everything to woo a woman. The laughter became louder as the ballad told that the man offered marriage to get the woman’s attention, and failed until he offered money, which she accepts and the crowd roared with appreciation. The laughter escalated when the young man refuses her since she only wants him for his money. “Tell da gal me nah want she no more,” the Choir sang; and the young woman’s exclamations and expressions at her loss, really got the crowd going.
The Grenadians then took to the stage starting off their performance by paying tribute to their ancestors with ‘the bongo.’ They then drummed and a dance competition between two male dancers from the contingent ensued. Accompanied by the blowing of the conch shell, the beating of the drums and chanting the two men “warred” and when that could not determine a winner, they resorted to a ‘stick fight.’ The Grenadians closed off the night by deciding that there should be no more bloodshed in the spirit of Carifesta and the dances stopped the competition and united in the African way.
Earlier in the night St Kitts had shown off their stamina and versatility when they masqueraded on stage for some 20 minutes. In their colourful costumes and feathered headgear, they moved about the stage, demonstrating their flexibility with skilful acrobatics. The female dancers had impressed the crowd with their energetic moves.
Several Guyanese artistes also entertained the crowd between the country shows. Patrons were treated to renditions by Fojo and Karen Burnette who performed her feature song “Welcoming home Carifesta” and others.
- A dancer from the Grenada contingent.
