Calypso comes to the hinterland – semifinals receive massive support in Lethem

[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XnK2zzP4gM?autoplay=1″ width=”560″ height=”315″]

DPI, GUYANA, Saturday, February 10, 2018

Twenty feisty contestants took to the stage last evening as they vied for a spot in the top ten of the Mashramani Calypso competition finals.

The atmosphere was filled with excitement and anticipation as scores of Region Nine residents and even persons from neighbouring Venezuela and Brazil crowded the Wadapna Ground in Lethem, to witness this historic event.

Over the years, Calypso competitions were held in the capital city Georgetown, denying hinterland communities of being entertained by this extraordinary event. However, this year’s Calypso semifinals received rave reviews from the attentive and supportive spectators.

A Portuguese-language teacher at the St. Ignatius Secondary School, Ciandre Da Silva believes that the event will inform youths that there are a variety of disciplines they can become involved in.  Another resident, Jocelyn Johnny, expressed delight that the event was being held in Lethem, “Since Lethem has become a town by the new president; things have been developing in Lethem and St. Ignatius. It’s nice to see something in our town which we never had before, so we have come out here to support,” she said.

The contestants, some attired in costumes reflecting the themes of their songs, enthralled the audience with their performances on politics, the economy, and social issues among others. Those successful were Tishanna Cort, Manuel Ferriera, Kenroy Fraser, Abigail Nelson, Onikha Joseph, Clifton Adolphus, Dawn Edwards, Garfield Campbell, Jevinski Thorne and Roger Hinds.

Onika Joseph, who was lucky on her first try at the Calypso competition, is excited to have advanced to the finals. She said there is much more to expect at the finals and she promised to deliver the best performance.

The youngest contestant, Jevinski Thorne, felt ecstatic to have performed against older contestants and succeeded to the finals. Thorne remarked that at the final the audience can expect “a lil more grown-up performance, I’m bringing my A game out and will deliver.”

Chief Judge, Shaun Bhola, was pleased with the contestants’ performances even though he regrets leaving some behind.

He said “It is sad because we had quite a few songs, but that is the nature of the competitions and we have the ten best that will perform in Georgetown for the finals.”

By: Ranetta La Fleur

For more photos, click on the link to the DPI’s Flickr Page

https://www.flickr.com/photos/142936155@N03/

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