Thousands of lovers of chutney music flocked the Guyana National Stadium, Providence on Friday night for the penultimate Carifesta X super concert and stayed until the wee hours of yesterday.
The only vacant spot on the stadium ground was the pitch, which was cordoned off. Guyanese and their guests stood shoulder to shoulder as various local performers kicked off the show.
Members of the local entertainment group the Slingerz Family; Eric Sukrah, Beverley Williams and Roger Bowen, sang various Soca and Chutney hits which sent the crowd wild, waving of rags, flags and hands.
At 10.36 pm a little girl was brought on stage. “…imagine al’ yo’ losing al’ yo’ children…come on al’ yo’ hold on to them,” Santeney announced his “Trini” accent in full swing.
Next was Rampertab Heeralal with “Kya Hoo Wa”. There were three local dancers dressed in brilliant blue outfits who sent the crowd wild as they danced to Heeralal’s “Run into my life”. At 12.15 am another lost little girl was brought on stage.
Adesh Samaroo, singer of hit song “Rum til I die”, finally entered the scene and he brought out a man dressed as a granny who “shook her bumper” to the crowd’s delight.
As Samaroo sang the famous “Rum is my lover” small groups were seen exiting the scene. Ricky Jai and a few other international artistes were yet to perform.
Chutney originally used East Indian folk tunes, movie tunes and even bhajans (religious songs), over a fast calypso or Soca based beat. English words are now added to the Hindi and as the calypso element becomes stronger, the music is moving from a melodic Eastern core to a more harmonic Western base.
This variety of Soca is artful and full of colourful flavour which reflects the true culture of our people.
Although the beer and rum were over promoted at the event, the theme for the show was “raise yuh rags in de air”. The Guyanese performers said: “Come on raise dem rags in de air…let we see dem”. When the Trinidadian Santeney hit the stage he added: “…if you ain’t got one then raise dem flags or your hands.”