SEETA PERSAD Friday, September 22 2006

The grand opening of the ninth CARIFESTA kicks off today at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain at 6.30 pm. The selected theme for CARIFESTA this year is “Celebrating Our People, Contesting the World Stage. ”

The theme actually heralds nearly thirty contingents who will descend on TT’s stages. The event which will showcase the best talents from the Caribbean countries and will run from September 22nd to October 1st. Caribbean countries from as close as Guyana and Barbados, to as distant as Cayman Islands, Belize and Cuba.

It promises to be an exciting and enlightening two weeks. Performers from these countries will be bringing their music, dance, visual arts, literary arts and films.

The Bahamians are coming with their “Junkanoo Style” music and the French and the Creole from Martinique and Guadeloupe will feature their Creole Jazz Music, dance, singing and beautiful costuming.

CARIFESTA promises to bring to the fore the best soca, chutney, reggae, zouk and gospel artistes in the world to the stage at the super concerts being put on by host TT. Plus, the calypsonians across the region can’t wait to challenge TT’s Singing Sandra, reigning CARIFESTA Calypso Monarch. Everyday in the Scarborough Esplanade they going to have performances from all over the Caribbean.

Amidst the excitement though, there is cause for reflection on the meaning of all of this. This Caribbean Festival of Arts and Culture holds a meaning and a power beyond even what we ourselves understand. The artiste, as he weaves and creates his own world and reality, remains a powerful litmus test of the times.

During this CARIFESTA, the people faces, as a unit, having to deal with the challenges of globalisation, natural disasters, HIV and AIDS, child abuse, crime, moral decline and so much more. This celebration of the people allows us to look inward towards the strength which we have demonstrated for centuries, and guides us as we project an image of a proud people unified by our differences, finding true harmony in our diversity.

The involvement of our youth population and schoolchildren throughout TT will provide another important opportunity to deepen the process of regional understanding and integration, even as we continue to discover our people. Critical to this will be the outcomes of the youth symposia where the young people will be able to discuss issues such as HIV/AIDS, preservation of our indigenous traditions and the importance Caribbean cinema and film in shaping identity.

The adults will also be engage in critical discourse, with a view to incorporating the artiste more significantly in the new a path for the Caribbean. Emphasis will be placed on all aspects of our creative artforms, from the literary to the dramatic, from the visual to the culinary.

Today the events of Carifesta will include “Community Concerts” at the Old Malgrotoute Train Tunnel. “Community Festivals” will run at Port-of-Spain’s City Hall Auditorium with lectures under the theme of “Celebrating the life of Steelpan and Calypso Pioneers” There will also be a “Cultural Display” from 6 am to 9 pm. Gilbert Park in Couva will also host community concerts with various performers.

Tomorrow CARIFESTA will see the World Calypso show with singers representing the different countries at Hasely Crawford Stadium. This will start at 6 pm. The ‘Drums and Rhythm Alive’ will take place at the Devil’s Woodyard in Hindustan.

The ‘Community Festival will continue at the Siparia Basketball Court Facility from 10 am to 10 pm with the parang festival, which will feature the Parang groups from schools, in the country; literature depiction the history of the festival in St. Patrick.

Also on tomorrow at Kings Wharf, San Fernando from 10 am there will be a cultural show celebrating the life and times of Steelpan and Calypso Pioneers.