Girl, 9, is Trinidad’s new chutney queen

(Trinidad Guardian) Ricardo “Daddy Chinee” Melville is the 2023 Chutney Soca Monarch, while breakout performer, nine-year-old Katelin Sultan is the new Queen of Chutney.

Melville copped the $400,000 first prize for his winning selection, “We are One”, which he described as a nation-building song.

Speaking to the media after the competition, which was held at Skinner’s Park, San Fernando, a tearful Melville believes his win is justified.

Melville said he has been performing for over 25 years and feels that it is his time now.

Surrounded by fellow artistes, family, friends, and supporters hugging and congratulating him, the 50-year-old Cepep foreman said he was a finalist in the competition five times before taking the title.

“It was justified. I felt I was supposed to be in the top five. My song was outstanding among all the other songs. My song was a chutney soca and a nation-building song,” Melville said.

“I want people to know not to give up; if this is what you like, go at it. If you study money and hype, it would never work. At the end of the day, money is important, but if you don’t put in the work it would never happen,” the new monarch added.

He intends to put his prize money to good use.

“I have plans to put aside money for my daughter’s education. Having a proper education is important and I want this for my girls. I have two daughters and the second one is getting ready to take SEA,” he said.

The entertainer said he was glad to be part of history coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said the pandemic allowed him enough time to gather his thoughts to pen the composition together with Lewis Rowan.

Melville said after placing third in the competition for the last two years, the win brings a sense of pride to his community and his fore-parents as he is of multicultural heritage—Chinese, African, and Indian.

Previously, Melville was also a three-time winner of the online chutneymusic.com CRC Raja and the Prime Minister Best Village Trophy in the Chutney category.

He is also the frontline singer of the Rishi Gayadeen and RG band. The band produced his 2023 Chutney Soca song.

His presentation included a fusion of characters including dancers, African and Indian dancers, people dressed as military officials, Moko Jumbies, and fire breathers, all waving the red, white, and black. He beat 12 other entertainers to take the top place.

Katelin, meanwhile, created history as the youngest competitor in the event with a song dubbed “Tell Them Ah Ready.”

Sultan, who celebrated her birthday on Friday, won the Queen of Chutney Soca title and also placed fifth in the main competition.

The primary school pupil came out hoisted in a palanquin on stage.

Sultan won the hearts of the crowd who followed her commands to wave their hands and “shake it,” during her performance.

As her name was called for the new Queen of Chutney Soca title Sultan said, “I feel happy, I start to tremble as my name was called.”

According to a release from the organisers, history was created as “this is the first time a non-Indo Trinidadian walked away with the title.” The release also stated, “Katelin was also the youngest to ever win a major title in one of the mainstream competitions in Trinidad & Tobago’s Carnival.”

Apart from the prize money that Katelin won, she has also received two Caribbean Airlines tickets to any destination they fly to, plus an all-inclusive weekend at the Tropikist Beach Hotel and Resort.

The former champion, GI Beharry, placed third, while Kenneth Supersad placed second in the competition.

The show this year was dedicated to the memory of Anil Bheem as many paid tribute to him including his daughter Pritivi Bheem who sang a song in his honour. Bheem died three weeks ago and was supposed to be the opening act at the finals, according to Southex CEO George Singh. The show, which was free to the public and hosted by Southex, drew an appreciative crowd to the newly refurbished Park.