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www.caribbeantimesinternational.com | WEEK ENDING MARCH 19, 2015
‘Words of Wisdom’ tops Enlightenment schools calypso in TT
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ORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD: Kwam Joseph is the winner of the recent Trinidad Cement Limited (TCL) Claxton Bay and Environs Primary School Calypso competition. Joseph, 12, of Cedar Hill Road, Claxton Bay, copped first place with his rendition of “Words of Wisdom” composed by Codrington Winchester who is the father of soca artiste Shurwayne Winchester. The Standard Five pupil of the Claxton Bay Anglican Senior Primary School beat competitors from other schools including St Margaret’s Government Primary School and Union Presbyterian Government Primary School. The competition was held recently at the Macaulay Community Centre. Pupils eight to 12 years old were judged on lyrical content, melody, stage performance. This was the first year the competition was hosted.
TCL said the event is one of the many ways in which the company continues to play a role in the empowerment of communities. In an interview Joseph’s mother Nicole Joseph said she was elated that her son copped the first place title. She said Kwam has always had a passion about singing calypso. The third-born of four children, he entered past competitions in his school but jumped at the opportunity to compete outside that arena. “He was very nervous but he did not give up and would be heard practising sometimes 15 times a day just to get it right,” said the joyful mother who sees a great calypso future ahead for Kwam. “Words of Wisdom”, encourages people to pursue their passion and not give up. The chorus says, “What is for you is for you until you die don’t give up at all.”. Joseph said many times people have dreams but fail to pursue
their dreams which was the story line in the calypso. Kwam’s elder brother Stephan is also a calypsonian and a source of inspiration to him. Kwam is currently the reigning Mr Claxton Bay. School principal Monica Gopaul said that Kwam’s win was expected as he is a talented student. Gopaul said that she expects great things from Kwam in the future. The show also featured an extempo competition hosted by TCL employee and veteran ex- tempo champion, Hezekiah Joseph. Pupils also participated in a “sing along” segment. Also present at the event was TCL’s Ag General Manager Jinda Maharaj, Claxton Bay/Point-aPierre Councillor Shazeeda Nadia Mohammed, and president of the Macaulay/Hermitage Village Council Wayne Bharath. (TT Newsday)
US-based Guyanese exhibits artwork for US Black History Month
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E O R G E T O W N , GUYANA: For Black History Month,observed last month, applauded artwork of US-based Guyanese artist Victor Davson was on display at the 1978 Arts Centre in New Jersey, U.S.A. Davson, who was born in Georgetown, Guyana, immigrated to the United States in 1973. He holds a BFA degree from Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York, has co-founded Aljira, a Centre for contemporary art, and established himself in his practice as an artist. His work is heavily influenced by the anti-colonial politics of the Caribbean and by the intellectual powerhouses of that period. These include extraordinary writers and activists like Martin Carter, Frantz Fanon and Walter Rodney. Since 1996, his series of paintings and drawings, which include the “Limbo/Anansi” drawings, “Bad Cow Comin”’ paintings, and his paintings on long playing vinyl record album covers, are his attempt as an artist to negotiate the roots of identity in a terrain of loss and desire. Davson as executive director of Aljira, a Centre for contemporary art, leads a vital hub for cre-
Davson with one of his artworks in the background
ative excellence in Newark New Jersey’s downtown arts district. Notable highlights in the Aljira organisation’s history include the founding of Emerge, a professional development programme for visual artists. The founding of Aljira Design, a graphic design studio that for 18 years earned revenue to support the organisation’s exhibitions and public programmes. It has received an invitation to organise U.S. representation at the IV Biennale International
"Dear Guyana" (1998)
de Pintura in Ecuador, as well as a major award from the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts—becoming one of only eight institutions nationwide selected to participate in the foundation’s second year stabilisation initiative for small to midsize organisations. The organisation has been designated a major arts institution by The New Jersey State Council on the Arts every year since 2003. Davsonis a past trustee of Art Pride New Jersey and a current member of the Advisory Council of the Brodsky Centre for Innovative Editions. He has been honoured by the Newark Arts Council as well as the Brodsky Centre for Innovative Editions, for both his work as a visual artist and his leadership in the arts. He received a leadership award from Prudential Foundation for his contribution to the Newark community. He was one of 15 non-profit leaders in the arts, nationwide, selected to participate in Leadership 2000, a programme of arts and economic development training for outstanding community leaders, sponsored by the Lila Wallace-Reader’s Digest Fund and Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild, and run by faculty from the Harvard Business School. He has served on panels for the National Endowment for the Arts and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. He is a graduate of The Getty Museum Management Institute and has done graduate work in museum management at New York University Gallatin. His work is in the permanent collections of the Newark Museum, The Montclair Art Museum, the New Jersey State Museum, and the National Collection, Guyana. The exhibition celebrating the “Dub Factor Redux” series by Davson closes March 15 with a lively discussion at the 1978 Arts Centre, where persons can meet the artist, hear his thoughts, his process and his aesthetic on art. (Guyana Times Sunday magazine)
By Narine Dat Sookram
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f we cannot find enlightenment where we are right now, then where else can we expect to find it? Many of us tend to believe that we have to go through some sort of suffering in order to gain freedom. I don’t’ think this is true in this case, because we are the key to complete freedom. Some people may argue that enlightenment is always there and how we achieve it isn’t as important as getting there. However I would think that it has to be some sort of steps that we need to follow to take us to the right direction. By no means am I trying to say that enlightenment is an easy thing, because it sure takes a lot of time and dedication. Having said that there are plenty of ways we can find enlightenment, but they sure require lots of dedication and sometimes more to the spiritual path for those who believe in a higher power for example. I am sure though that it will probably worth the effort at the end of it all. It will be foolish for us to actually believe that enlightenment will come our way without any real effort, this is not however true. The thing that is true though is that there are many things we can do to enlighten ourselves. For example we can connect with others around us. This can be done by signing up to volunteer for an organization or project or even meet face to face with a friend or family member. The idea is to get outside of ourselves and have an open mind. Another thing we need to do is to be gentle with ourselves. For example it’s a good idea to do something nice for our own selves once in a while. In other words we need to give ourselves the tenderness we need by taking a nap or even visit a friend if need be. There are so many other things that are coming to mind that we can do to enlighten ourselves, some of which include and probably the most important is to love ourselves. In other words, treating ourselves as we would for someone else. We have to remind ourselves too that we are not alone, because the thing is we all go through challenges in life at times which is ok, because the reality is without failures in life we wouldn’t know what it is like to be human. Let’s not forget that it’s ok to express our feelings in an acceptable manner, because it’s not worth it to suffer in silence. In other words it’s okay to cry if we need to do so, because it’s a way to check in with ourselves. The key again for enlightenment is to have an open mind. I am sure this is not the first time we are hearing of this, because it will allow us to become creative about the solutions to our problems. And last but not lease it’s okay to ask someone we trust for advice and never stop smiling, because it’s ok to laugh, be silly and practice being happy so that we can enlighten our lives and those around us. For questions, comments, feedback or question, send them to mcnarine@rogers.com.