ASKaND’s Inspiring Journey
Greetings, Members!
Imagine... just two short years ago, several passionate individuals had a dream one that would inspire individuals born outside the lush landscapes of Saint Kitts & Nevis to connect back to their ancestral roots. Were we sceptical? Perhaps. Yet, here we are, two years on, basking in the fruition of that dream with an association that thrives on creativity, culture, and unity!
Driven by a core of determined individuals, our association has aspired to deliver a powerful message to future generations: understanding and celebrating the richness of their heritage is as important as the air we breathe. Saint Kitts & Nevis is a place bursting with culture and pride a sanctuary that is worth building up, loving, and protecting. Here, the promise is that anyone from the diaspora has the undeniable right to claim their island inheritance and celebrate the inherent magic of their lineage.
On the road to achieving this, the journey has had its walls to climb and its waves to ride; but the end goal has been rewarding. As we gear up for St. Kitts and Nevis's 41st Independence anniversary, celebrations globally through
September and October our spirits are high.
One of the year’s highlights was collaborating with the Small Axe Band during their European whirlwind tour. Talk about a rhythm! Furthermore, our 3rd Heritage Day was truly 'off the chain'! With an explosion of traditional foods.
Let’s not forget the annual ‘pilgrimage’ to the Leeds West Indian Carnival on Bank Holiday Monday! Packed with energy, two massive coaches departed from Birmingham, chauffeured by the ever-reliable Aston Manor coaches. Attendees were transported to the vibrant streets of Saint Kitts & Nevis. With mesmerising masqueraders, adventurous Mocka Jumbies, enchanting storytelling, dancing, vibrant colours, and the
pure bliss of carnival spirit filled the air, leaving everyone delighted.
Looking forward, we have four of our members from ASKaND attending the Saint Kitts and Nevis Diaspora Conference. There, they hope to contribute to the shaping of a vision for our beloved island federation, that resonates with the vision of a ‘Sustainable Island State’ for future generations. It is also time to mark your calendars because this year’s second anniversary dinner gala at the lavish 82 Champions Club, Villa Park, Birmingham, is happening on Saturday, 28th September. Aston Villa Football Club is our venue, and you are invited to be part of this celebration from 6:30 pm to the wee hours of 1:30 am.
So please, as we cherish two incredible years and toast the start of a third, we invite you to join us. Tickets are available now, so reach out, dress up, and prepare to dance the night away with us.
So keep the spirit alive and we look forward to seeing you at the Gala!
Warm regards Jacqui
JacquiDaniels ASKaND Chair
All Roads Led to Brum for 2024 SKN Heritage Day
O
n Sunday, 18th August 2024, people from near and far descended on The Hub in Perry Barr , Birmingham, UK to experience the ASKaND St Kitts and Nevis Heritage Day.
The day was a cultural explosion of food, music, dance, and games that celebrated the diverse heritage of St Kitts and Nevis.
The festivities kicked off at 1pm with attendees lining the streets to get in. On entering, the visitors were met with stalls filled with gorgeous handmade items. Local ‘Creatives’ were selling clothing made from sumptuous West African fabrics as well as hand-crafted jewellery and accessories. There was a plethora of food vendors selling delicious St Kitts and Nevis delicacies, along with Caribbean food from the other islands. Visitors indulged in black pudding, Johnny cakes and souse, alongside flavourful rotis and jerk chicken, which was then washed down with sorrel or “sexy” juice.
work out whether they could be distant relatives.
Children ran through the park and jumped on the bouncy castles with wild abandon. Their laughter filled the air as they made new friends. The young ones competed in the ASKaND ‘Olympicks’, playing simple games and races, and ate their own body weight in ice cream!
At the Information Tent, visitors were enthusiastically searching for their families’ village or region, then proudly stuck their pin in the giant maps of St Kitts and Nevis to highlight exactly where their families were from. Once their pins were in, they would exchange surnames with others; trying to
The main stage area proved to be one of the highlights of the day providing entertainment from start to finish. Poets waxed lyrical about the beauty of the islands and the richness of our culture. The Zumba session had people jumping up and whining their waists to sweet Soca. The DJ pumping out reggae, Soca, dancehall, and afro beats between activities provided pure vibes throughout the day. The “piece de resistance” of the Heritage Day was the closing performance from Small Axe Band. They belted out their hits, old and new; and put a Soca spin on the classic anthem “Sweet Caroline” as a nod to the community’s British Caribbean identity. They captivated the crowd and held them in the palm of their hand as they sang while people waved their St Kitts & Nevis flags with pride. The people danced until the sun went down.
All in all, it was a fantastic end to an equally fantastic day.
Lashana Queely
St Kitts & Nevis 2024 Heritage Day
ASKaND’s Gift To St Kitts and Nevis Schools
In a show of support for young female students, ASKaND has stepped up to the plate by funding 80 netballs destined for schools across St. Kitts and Nevis. Our donation will be received via the Department of Sport, bringing a wave of excitement and opportunity for young girls eager to leave their mark on the netball courts.
Originally, ASKaND received a request to support the Primary vs. Public Schools Netball competition, slated to kick off on 30th May, 2024. Although we were not able to get the balls out in time for the competition, we took the position of serving a broader mission of developing a love for netball among young women, of all ages, throughout the islands.
Recognising the need for swift action, the ASKaND team tried to ensure that the request was met within as soon as possible. Our perseverance paid off, and now, the netballs are ready to be presented to their new homes within the Federation.
In a warm statement, ASKaND expressed pride in our ability to support the vibrant youth of St. Kitts and Nevis. "It will always be our pleasure to support you when and where we can," the Association affirmed.
This support offered to the islands, is more than just a donation; we want all sections of the community to access to sport by encouraging young girls to not only participate in sports but to thrive in it.
Here's to a future where our young people can confidently chase their dreams, both on and off the court!
Don’t forget to access the Linktree links on our website. Peter, our Communications Officer, is always keen to hear your suggestions, so please let him know your thoughts on how we can improve our contents. Also, if you have a website you would like us to add, just let Peter know.
But in the meantime, please don’t forget our Socials which are having more and more people wanting to connect to us every week. So please find us at:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/askandbrum
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/askandbrum/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/askandbrum
Email: askand2022@gmail.com
Find us at: www.askand.org
PeterNwabuokei ASKaND Communications Officer
ASKaND 2nd Anniversary Gala Dinner
We are thrilled to invite you to ASKaND’s 2nd Anniversary Gala on Saturday 28th September 2024. This will be an evening filled with entertainment, elegance, and excitement! It promises to be a night to remember, bringing together friends, family, and the community.
Step through the doors and onto the metaphorical ‘red carpet’, where our photographer will be there to capture your glamorous arrival.
Indulge in a sumptuous 4-course meal prepared by expert chefs. Complement your meal with drinks of your choice, which can be purchased from the bar.
Don’t miss out on the raffle as there are many prizes to be won. However, we can tell you that the top prize will be definitely worth coming out for. Your purchases will help ASKaND continue its work on local community projects; and its support of other charitable organisations both here and abroad.
As the night goes on, expect to dance to our live DJs and our live performers - Big Ship Alliance. This well -established group can confidently meet your musical tastes through their extensive repertoire.
Finally, the gala is the perfect environment to connect with people. To mingle and make new connections and enjoy the company of people from your St Kitts-Nevis community in a relaxed and elegant setting.
So come along and revel in a wonderful evening with us. Contact ASKaND through email, phone or
personal contacts, to secure your ticket. We look forward to welcoming you to this black tie (formal attire) event, where we are sure you will create some unforgettable memories.
Heritage Day Feedback—We Want you!
From the Executive Team, we want to say a HUGE “thank you” to all of our member for supporting us as we delivered our 3rd St Kitts & Nevis Heritage! We hope you all realise that without you, none of this would have been possible, In everything that we do, we try to learn lessons and develop ‘best practice’. That means we need your feedback, and that of others who were with us on the day, to give us your thoughts on the day.
Therefore we would like you to spend just a few minutes to complete the feedback link. https:// forms.office.com/r/VnsW7jZQnU Just complete the short survey
and let us know your thoughts.
Thank you!
SKN 2024 Diaspora Conference
Upcoming Members Meetings
ASKaND Members meetings will be held at the BCA, Jenkins Street, Birmingham, B10 0PQ at 1900hrs. However, please always check our location. We are always working to try and offer our members different experiences; and that might mean we change our venue! But don’t worry; we will always give you plenty of notice of any changes!
Friday 4th October
Friday 1st November
Friday 6th December
“The Sweetest Band in the World” - on Tour!
Small Axe Band left St Kitts at the beginning of August 2024 to embark upon a number of tour dates in Europe. Flying into the UK they then flew directly on to Belgium where they gave the first performance at the Antilles Festival. The entire performance was livestreamed on Facebook and many of us were able to get a taste of what we would be soon to enjoying ourselves in Birmingham, with their dynamic and riveting stage performance.
A few days later, they made their way back to the UKspecifically to Birmingham, which they chose to make their base for the duration of their UK stay. Appearing live on Stingdem Radio, they made adoring fans aware that they were ‘in town’ and where they could be seen in Birmingham. A relatively quiet few days then led to a super-busy weekend.
Their next gig took them to a private function in Leeds on Saturday night. Always leaving fans wanting more, they travelled through the night and returned in the early hours of Sunday 18 August – St KittsNevis Heritage Day! With only a few hours sleep, they fully embraced the atmosphere of fun and celebration that the Heritage Day provides before taking to the stage as the Headline act. Their exciting performance was a highlight for an appreciative audience on a quiet Sunday evening and, again their performance was livestreamed and viewed by thousands of fans around the world.
The band was able to have a week of rest and recouperation before making their way up to the Leeds West Indian Carnival on Bank Holiday Monday (26 August), where they had the privilege of closing the Carnival. Small Axe fans are devoted and will follow them wherever they go. We know that some of our readers were at all 3 Small Axe performances in the UK. Therefore, we ask is it possible to have too much Small Axe? The consensus of opinion is clearly, NO!
After a few days’ rest, they were on the move again. The final destination on this tour schedule saw them leave Europe and fly on to the USA. They gave a performance in the Bronx, New York, to celebrate Labour Day weekend. Labour Day itself recognises the social and economic achievements of workers and their role in America’s development. But unofficially, it marks the end of summer and this is celebrated with parades, barbecues, and other festivities. i.e. Brooklyn’s Caribbean community will enjoy J'ouvert morning and its carnival through the day.
Having triumphed on both sides of the Atlantic, Small Axe finally arrived back in St Kitts on Wednesday 4 September. So in a final word, we want to say a huge thank you for your contribution to ASKaND St KittsNevis Heritage Day. You were most definitely the stars of the show!
NB: Footage from all of performances mentioned above, can be viewed on Small Axe’s Facebook Page
Small Axe Band - SKN’s Music Gift to the World!
Small Axe started their musical journey in 1980 under the name “Vibrational Roots Combo,” with “Small Axe” in brackets. Their energetic and exciting style quickly caught local attention. Known as “the country band,” in the first instance, all its members hailed from the Old Road/Verchilds areas of St. Kitts. They weathered the challenges of being a “small time” band in an environment dominated by big groups based in Basseterre. They were however, a determined group who set up makeshift stages on basketball courts, playing for free and earning their stripes one ‘jump-up’ at a time.
Through the years, Small Axe Band’s reputation has soared. They dropped the “Vibrational Roots” title and became synonymous with sweet, sweet music. Their thumping bass (courtesy of bandleader Livingstone Samuel) and the smooth tenor and alto vocals of lead singers Royston “Mr. World” Wigley and Godfrey “I-Shu” Humphrey made them a local sensation. They’ve toured the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the entire Caribbean.
To this day, Small Axe Band consistently wins the Road March competition during St. Kitts’ annual National Carnival. Their infectious vibes have made them a staple at the festivities earning them the title of “The Sweetest Band in the World.”
Over time, they have evolved. They’ve performed alongside Caribbean greats like WCK, Krosfyah, and Burning Flames. Small Axe Band produces its own albums annually, adapting their style to cater to the tastes of all ages from the young to the young at heart. Everywhere they perform, they gain new fans. As per the old adage – they always leave the crowd wanting more.
The current line-up at the SKN Heritage Day 2024:
Mr World - Singer
Delly Ranks - Singer
Lomax - Bassman
Ras Kelley - Keyboardist
Bob - Drummer
Gregory - Manager
Fire – Sound Engineer & Media
