Staff Article
June 14, 2006
The 12th June, 2006, was the official Regional Launch of Carifesta IX 2006. A street parade around the Queen's Park Savannah initiated this occasion and was followed by the official launch at the Brian Lara Promenade.
Carifesta, the Caribbean Festival of Creative Arts, was envisaged in Guyana in 1970 by a regional gathering of artists who participated in a Writers and Artists Convention in Georgetown. The Festival was thought about to provide artists with more opportunities to showcase and profit from their works; to educate Caribbean nationals about the values emerging from the various art forms emanating from the Caribbean; to depict the life of the people of the Region, their heroes, morale, myth, traditions, beliefs, creativeness, and ways of expression; and to entertain and educate members of the Caribbean about themselves within a festive atmosphere. In 1972, in Georgetown, Guyana, the dream of Carifesta came alive for the very first time and attracted creative talents from over 30 Caribbean and Latin American countries. Today, the Carifesta Festival is still a very popular occasion and attracts States of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM); the wider Caribbean, Latin America; and a representation of Africa, Asia, Europe and North American states.
Yesterday, the Regional Launch of Carifesta IX was held for the third time in Trinidad and Tobago and proved to be a spectacle of the talents from people all over the country. Members of the Bishop Anstey High School Folk Choir sang the national anthem of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, followed by a Smoke Ceremony by the Santa Rosa Carib Community. Official recognition of the Carifesta was also done by festival director, Joy Caesar, who gave the welcoming address; a folk song performed by the Bishop Anstey High School Folk Choir; and a song performed by Clifton Ryan, 'The Mighty Bomber' entitled, "United States of the West Indies". Greetings was given by the Chairman of the Interim Festival Directorate, Mr. Alwin Bally, and the official speech, by Senator the Honourable Joan Yullie Williams, the Minister of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs.
Other important activities that followed were a musical extravaganza by the Hands of Rhythm rhythm section, a spectacular performance by the Williamsville Tassa Drummers, a folk dance by the Phoenix Folk Performers, pan on the promenade by the National Steel Orchestra among other grand performances. Worthy of mention were the performances of 2006 Extempo Monarch, Sheldon Blackman, the Explainer and Brian London who excited the crowd with their energetic and amusing performances.
Carifesta celebrations seem to be as popular as or even more so than years gone by. Hopefully, the objectives of the festival would come to fruition and promote the Caribbean in a more positive light. Carifesta celebrations would be held from Friday 22nd September, to Sunday 1st October, 2006.
This is a table showing the start of the CARIFESTA celebrations and the last date and place scheduled to host the event.
1972: CARIFESTA I Guyana
1975: CARIFESTA II Jamaica
1979: CARIFESTA III Cuba
1981: CARIFESTA IV Barbados
1992: CARIFESTA V Trinidad and Tobago
1995: CARIFESTA VI Trinidad and Tobago
2000: CARIFESTA VII St. Kitts and Nevis
2003 CARIFESTA VIII Suriname
2006 CARIFESTA XI Trinidad and Tobago
2008 CARIFESTA X Bahamas
Regional Launch of Carifesta IX 2006 in pictures:
www.triniview.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=94668
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