Keen rivalry was seen at all levels of the two categories contested yesterday when the Children’s Mashramani Competition 2011 kicked off at the National Cultural Centre with the individual calypso and dramatic poetry segments.
Chief Education Officer Olato Sam, in a brief speech, advised students in attendance that this is the best stage of their lives and the most exciting. “These are experiences that make school meaningful,” he exclaimed. He continued that this dimension of education really needs a lot more emphasis and that these are the things that make children well rounded and happy individuals. He also stated that he would like to see this year’s events successfully concluded and challenged the head of the Allied Arts Department to make that possible. He also extended greetings to teachers and all those involved on behalf of Minister of Education Shaik Baksh, who, Sam said, wants to see wonderful things coming out of this.
Maintaining this year’s festival’s theme, “Showcasing our Culture Sustaining our Pride,” competitors displayed great energy in their performances making it difficult for the judges, in some instances.
In the Dramatic Poetry Nursery Segment, South Ruimveldt Park Nursery walked away with the first position trophy with a piece entitled “Please Help My Daddy,” performed by Toshana Bancroft. In second and third places respectively were Jakerie Brathwaite of Alexander Village Nursery with “My Shadow” and Inkeshe Clinkett of Agricola Nursery with “No Blame, No Fame”. In the calypso segment, nursery participants performed well but in the end, Precious Jewels Nursery copped the first prize with a piece done by Sharicia Moore called “Like the Shining Sun.” In second position was Lodge Nursery and in third, Albouystown Nursery with performances by Tatiana Williams (“We Culture We Pride”) and Kezia Parkinson (“We Proud A That”) respectively.
In the Dramatic Poetry segment, 5-7 years, Winfer Gardens took first place with an entry called “Getting Ready for Mash” performed by Mariah James. Rama Krishna Primary came in at second with Kizieya Phillips’ “This Is Guyana”, while St Pius Primary placed third with Tyrone Singh doing “A Plant”. In the 8-10 years category Concord Academy was first with a piece called “My Guyana” performed by Makayah Smith, second place went to North Georgetown Primary with Kureece King doing “My Life Story” and coming in third was West Ruimveldt Primary with Aaliyah Lawrence reciting “Living In My World”.
Winfer Gardens Primary also took first place in both the 5-7 years and 8-10 years categories in the Calypso competition with “Let’s Unite Guyanese” and “Showcasing Our Culture Sustaining our Pride,” performed by Kezia Conway and Sheoma Archer respectively. Also copping second place in both of the abovementioned categories was Ketley Primary School with performances by Nyasha Mangal (“Our Culture”)and Tirishatha Semple (“Fed Up”). Coming in at third place in the 5-7 years category was Aaliyah Seymour of St Stephen’s Primary (“Let’s Come Together”) and in the 8-10 years category, Jordan Kellman of Stella Maris Primary School (“Turn The School Around”).
St Joseph High School emerged quite victorious. The school earned two first places in the 11-13 years dramatic poetry and calypso segments with performances by Abigail Sobers (“Coolie Mother”) and Lemar Williams (“Buse Out”) and second place in the 14-17 years calypso category with a performance of “Bring Back The Whip” by Danesh Persaud.
Earning second place in the 11-13 dramatic poetry segment was West Ruimveldt Primary with Jasmine Henry performing “African Heaven”. In the calypso segment of the same age group, South Ruimveldt Park Primary was second with Ronaldo Lovell doing “The Rejected One”. In third position in the dramatic poetry segment at 11-13 years was Stella Maris Primary withTiffany Grant doing “Don’t Dis Me”; in calypso, it West Ruimveldt Primary with Tyrese Pearson singing “Good Advice”.
In the 14-17 years category, Melissei King of North Ruimveldt Secondary captivated the audience and judges with her dramatic piece, “Guyanese Mad Woman” to take the first prize. In that same category School of the Nations came second with Simona Broomes doing “Masque-or-Raid” and North Georgetown Secondary was third with Nadia David reciting “Old Higue”.
In first position in the 14-17 years calypso category was Cummings Lodge Secondary with a piece called “Miss Le Me Go Ova” performed by Tiffany Grant and taking third place was Chelsie France of Tutorial High School with “Culture Shock”.
The dance and masquerade competition is scheduled to begin today at the National Cultural Centre. (Frances Abraham and Abigail Semple)
