SOCANEWS F ree
i130/ may 2019 ISSN 1464-7087
socanews.com
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Fun.. Vibes.. Friends..
We invite you to join us in our debut year, with our 2019 Costume presentation Full Bloom.
FrolicNation is a fresh brand, geared towards creating long lasting memories. From themed events, to festivals, to bespoke masquerade balls, to fetes, to limes, to carnivals, we promise an exciting future of fun, imagination and vibes.
Our Carnival is.. A festival of the mind... A festival of the body... A festival of the soul..
Our team of experienced event specialists have been at the forefront of indoor and outdoor event production, event management, marketing, advertising and carnival band production for over 25 years. Over the years, we’ve had the pleasure to work with event & mas brands including Island People (TnT), Minshall (TnT), Xtatik Limited (TnT), Poison Mas Band (TnT), Monstapiece Entertainment (BDS), Power X Four (BDS), Baje International (BDS), PoisonUK (UK), Funatik Mas (UK), ABIR (UK).
The Caribbean Carnival experience is a gift, from us to... the world. It embodies our love, our joy, our strength, our freedom, our togetherness and our happiness.. We invite you to join us as we share our Full Bloom with the world. FrolicNation Mas, in collaboration with ABIR, has sections designed by Sandra Hordatt, Shari Cumberbatch and Michelle Lucas. Produced by FrolicNation; where everyone’s welcome.
WEBSITE
FROLICNATION.COM
@FROLIC_NATION
@FROLICNATION
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IRIS FRONTLINE
CONTENTS MAY 2019 | ISSUE 130
REVIEWS 16. FEATURE
BAY GARDENS BEACH RESORT & SPA
10. CAMF BAND LAUNCH
AND SHOWCASE
VISIT US AT
SOCANEWS.COM 4 SN MAY 2019
FOLLOW AND LIKE
FEATURES
REGULAR
16. J’OUVERT 07. NEWS A celebration of friendship and black womanhood
21. EVENTS
26. ULRIC CROSS
28. ST LUCIA ASSOCIATION
OF LONDON (1963)
When and where to fete
GET LISTED If you’re a carnival organiser, promoter, mas band, steelband, soca sound, community group or other participant who’s feeling left out because we didn’t mention your event, or if you’d like to advertise in the magazine or online, the remedy is in your hands. Get in touch! Give us a call on 0333 012 4643.
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Editor’s Letter
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pril was a busy ole month and May looks to be exactly the same. There are a handful of bands yet to launch, and these we believe will be done and dusted by the first weekend in June. Now it’s all about selling costumes; some bands stop taking orders at the end of May where some carry on until July. If you wish to get involved, then don’t hesitate to get in touch with the bands - they’re going to welcome you. You can see our listing of the bands and their 2019 themes at socanews.com/masbands. Our mas band page is being updated all the time, so check it out or sign up to our newsletter for updates. Be sure to pick up a copy of the June issue as it will feature even more mas. We’re always happy to hear from our readers, so feel free to email news@socanews.com, and we’ll get back to you. YOURS IN SOCA. Joseph Charles EDITOR
PUBLISHER & EDITOR Joseph Charles jc@socanews.com CREATIVE Joseph Charles SUB EDITOR Katie Segal katie@socanews.com CONSULTING EDITOR Stephen Spark stephen@socanews.com
SALES & ADVERTISING Rodney Wilson rodney@socanews.com sales@socanews.com
PUBLISHED BY Joseph Charles Publishing 86-90 Paul Street London, EC2A 4NE
WORDS Debbie Melchor, DRM Jones, Joseph Charles, Katie Segal
TELEPHONE + 44 (0) 333 012 4643
PICTURES Helen Murray, Robin Mark, Trinis In London
instagram.com/socanews
twitter.com/socanews
EMAIL info@socanews.com WEBSITE www.socanews.com
facebook.com/socanews
The views expressed in Soca News are not necessarily the views of the editor or the publisher. All material contained within this publication is the copyright of Soca News. No material, written or photographic may be reproduced in any way without the written permission of the publisher. No liability will be accepted for any errors which may occur within the magazine. © 2019 Soca News. All rights reserved. 6 SN MAY 2019
NEWS
MISS BARBADOS UK 2019 CROWNED
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here is a new Miss Barbados UK in town. Sunday 5 May at the Classic in Tooting saw the crown pass from Milan Carrington-Gomes to Michelle-May Grazette, who will carry the title for 2019. Second Runner Up was Tyra Morgan-Archer, with the First Runner Up title going to Tierney Fauché. On being crowned, Michelle-May said, “I was overwhelmed at first. It has been such an amazing journey, and I still cannot believe the competition has come to an end. But now I’m filled with excitement; Telita and Shakira have created such an astounding platform, which I’m proud to now be a part of. I’m ready to continue my journey beyond this competition, and do credit to my nation.” In attendance on the night were Her Excellency Dame Sandra Mason, Governor General of Barbados, and The Rev’d Charles Morris, Deputy High Commissioner of Barbados. If you would like to take part in the next Miss Barbados UK competition, contact the organisers at missbarbadosuk.com. SN MAY 2019 7
NEWS
ANOTHER FOOD FESTIVAL TO GET YOUR TEETH INTO JERK & BEYOND
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estivals are becoming like trains; as one passes, another comes along. On the Bank Holiday weekend of 25 - 27 May, patrons will be treated to a brand new festival: Jerk & Beyond. Taking place at Old Spitalfields Market, entry will be free. There will be a diverse range of Caribbean food, rum and music, and appetites will be tempted with food from traders as far afield as French Guyana, Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago and Jamaica. And not to forget the rum, some of which hails from Cuba and Panama. The event is the brainchild of Sham Mahabir, who last year launched Limin’ restaurant and bar, a Caribbean bolthole in Spitalfields which specialises in Trinidadian food. For more information about the festival, visit socanews.com/events
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GUYANA INDEPENDENCE
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he UK Guyanese community will celebrate on Sunday 26 May, as Guyana celebrates 52 years of independence from Britain. Guyana occupies a unique position as the only English-speaking country in South America, whilst sharing a close sociopolitical affinity and history with many Caribbean islands – so much so that it is often thought of as another island in the archipelago. Popularly known as the ‘Land of Many Waters’ (some say from the Arawak Amerindian words ‘wai ana’), this vast landmass is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north, Brasil to the south, Suriname to the east and Venezuela to the west. One of its most well know landmarks, part of the Potaro River in the Kaieteur National Park, is the Kaieteur Falls - the world’s largest single-drop waterfall. We’d like to wish Guyana, and all Guyanese people across the Diaspora, a very happy independence day.
MISS WORLD GUYANA NEEDS YOU
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re you female, of Guyanese heritage, between the ages of 16 to 26 and residing in the United Kingdom or Europe? Are you passionate about making a difference, and interested in building a legacy that will last for generations? Why not apply to be the next Miss World Guyana? The only direct route to becoming Miss World, if you were to represent Guyana and go on to become the next Miss World you would win a large sum, and travel the world as a ‘beauty with a purpose’. What are you waiting for? Applications are open; find out more on www. missworldguyana.gy or email directors@ missworldguyana.gy.
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review CAMF BAND LAUNCH
CAMF Band Launch and Showcase SECOND ANNUAL BAND LAUNCH - REKINDLE DE LEGACY
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WORDS | DRM JONES IMAGES | ROBIN MARK
he Carnival Arts and Masquerade Foundation (CAMF) held its second annual band launch at Second Home, London Fields, Hackney, on Sunday 12 May. Entitled ‘Rekindle De Legacy’, the Carnival culture evening featured a parade of 16 bands due on the road at Notting Hill Carnival 2019, accompanied by live music and Caribbean food. The mas bands included in the launch were: Jamboulay, South Connections, Ashantix Kweyole, Gemz Mas, MaKING Carnival, Catona’s Gods & Goddesses, Rumshop Raw Licquer, Tropical Isles, Hotwax, Mas Africa, Fanatix, Exotic Mas, Glorious Backstage Arts, Xtreme Carnival Band,
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Mardi Gras Arts, DUKA Mas Domnik UK and Cocoyea. A musical welcome from the famous Nostalgia Steel Band greeted spectators entering the event, which began with Vincent John, one of the show’s producers, leading the audience in a prayer/meditation on the sacrifices of those who went before - those who made carnival, “The world-renowned cultural artform it is today”. MC Coco P, commonly associated with the London Calypso Tent, hosted the festivities, and leading the live music section was veteran calypsonian Alexander De Great. He paid tribute to the great Lord Kitchener, and explained the
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roots of calypso. Next up was UK Calypso Monarch 2018, De Admiral, quoting Duke: “We have to give up that old slave mentality”. He then devoted a song to the Windrush Generation, in recognition of their continuing successful dedication to social and cultural excellence in the UK. DJ Mike Forbes played the latest soca songs during the interval, followed by a special treat from the event’s choreographer, Reuben Joseph. His Miss World Carnival Queens presentation was an introduction to the official show in August. Miss United Kingdom, Miss Brasil, Miss Trinidad and Tobago, Miss India, Miss Jamaica, Miss Bahamas, Miss St. Lucia, Miss Barbados, Miss Montserrat, Miss Canada, Miss Dominican Republic, Miss St. Vincent and Miss United States all represented in great costumes. Coco P rounded off the exciting show with a preview of his upcoming EUK Soca Monarch competition, during which top UK soca artist Triniboi Joocie sang his latest song, Obeyah, while the grand costume finale took place.
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feature
J’Ouvert BADBREED AND THEATRE503 PRESENT ‘J’OUVERT’, A CELEBRATION OF CARNIVAL, FRIENDSHIP AND BLACK WOMANHOOD.
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laying from 29 May - 22 June, J’Ouvert is the debut play from 503Five Resident Writer, Yasmin Joseph, and award-winning producer, Tobi Kyeremateng.
It’s Notting Hill Carnival, and the streets of West London are alive. In dazzling colour and endless sequins and feathers, Jade and Nadine are fighting for space in a world they thought was theirs. J’Ouvert is a hilarious and fearless story of two best friends, battling to preserve tradition in a society where women’s bodies are frequently under threat. J’Ouvert’s creative team of women and non-binary people of colour has been brought together by award winning producer Tobi Kyeremateng. Tobi is the founder of Black Ticket Project - an initiative creating access to the arts for Black young people, and was named as part of The Stage 100’s 2019 Most Influential Figures Working in the UK Theatre and Performing Arts Industry. Tobi won the ‘Inspiration of the Year’ Award at Stylist Magazine’s first Remarkable Women Awards. Writer, Yasmin Joseph, on what carnival means to her: “Carnival is of immense personal significance to me. Not just because it carves a space that allows me to honour my Caribbean heritage, but because in practice I believe it’s a powerful act of resistance. Throughout my life I’ve always seen women as being at the helm of the tradition, they are both the purveyors and innovators of carnival and are fundamental in keeping it alive. This play is my way of reconciling with how Black women are often mistreated in the spaces that they pioneer.”
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Director, Rebekah Murrell, adds: “We’re bringing together a team of the most exciting Black woman and non-binary theatre artists working in UK theatre today to create an experience unlike any we have ever seen.” Striving to make extraordinary theatre affordable, Theatre503 proudly has a ‘Pay What You Can’ scheme for three Saturday matinees during the four-week run, giving you the opportunity to see J’Ouvert for as little as 50p.
IMAGES | HELEN MURRAY
TO BOOK PLEASE VISIT WWW.THEATRE503.COM OR CALL THEIR BOX OFFICE ON 020 7978 7040. SN MAY 2019 15
BAY GARDENS BEACH
RESORTS & SPA
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his authentic 4 Star luxury resort is situated in the prime location of Rodney Bay Village, directly on the world famous Reduit Beach. Repeatedly honoured with TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence, the resort pays great attention to every detail. Its charming neo-classical architecture and elegant, fully equipped rooms are a treat to the eye, while the resort’s dining venues offer a unique Saint Lucian taste. Bay Gardens boasts the Caribbean’s first 16 SN MAY 2019
open-water sports park (www.saintluciawaterpark.com) which includes a huge assortment of inflatable slides, trampolines, assault courses and more; guests have unlimited use of the park. All the action of such a prime beachside location is available at Bay Gardens Beach Resort with a complimentary non-motorised watersports program that will keep both grown-ups and kids busy for hours.
WATERS EDGE VILLAS These two new luxury villas opened in January 2019, and offer guests the best of both worlds. You’ll stay in an independent villa, but benefit from the amenities and concierge service offered as part of the resort. Located on the Rodney Bay Marina with stunning views from your private terrace, you will be staying in the middle of vibrant Rodney Bay Village with a choice of 40 different bars and restaurants, duty free shopping and the island’s only casino. The marina has become a haven for nightlife, with restaurants and bars along the boardwalk offering local and international cuisine and a vibrant buzzing atmosphere. A complimentary shuttle or 5 minute walk takes you to Bay Gardens Beach Resort & Spa, with access to all the resorts facilities including water sports, spa, restaurants, swimming pool, kids club and Splash Island Water Park. The villas at Waters Edge each offer 4000 sq.ft. of living space, with four en-suite bedrooms, kitchen and living area plus a private pool and sun deck. Complimentary WiFi and the in-villa concierge service provided by Alexa will ensure everything is catered for. The villas sleep 8 but can accommodate 12; for larger groups they can be joined together.
SOCIAL Holidaymakers to Saint Lucia can now include a local school visit in their itinerary, thanks to one of the island’s most popular hotel groups. Bay Gardens Resorts has opened up its community initiative to visitors. The Monchy Feeding program provides healthy breakfasts to less fortunate children at Monchy School in the north of Saint Lucia. The hotel group is now offering holidaymakers the opportunity to visit the school and meet the staff and pupils. Visits run during term time and will be escorted by a teacher and a member of staff from Bay Gardens to explain how the scheme runs. They will also get an introduction to daily school life in Saint Lucia and the opportunity to read with the children.
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CULINARY Bay Gardens Resorts is responding to an increasing global trend among travelers to seek out unique culinary experiences whilst travelling abroad. St. Lucia’s Bay Gardens Resorts is tapping into the creative expertise of its awardwinning professionals to expand the menu of culinary combinations and offerings that guests can enjoy at the family-owned hotels. Reflecting the island’s diverse cultural and Creole influences, Bay Gardens’ chefs have created dishes such as lobster roti, seafood bouillabaisse, green fig and saltfish gnocchi (an Italian interpretation of St. Lucia’s national dish) and oxtail wontons. FOR MORE INFORMATION AND RESERVATIONS LOCAL. (758) 457 8006/8007 UK. 0800 088 5104 US/CAN. 1 877 620 3200 EMAIL. INFO@BAYGARDENSRESORTS.COM WEB. WWW.BAYGARDENSRESORTS.COM
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ECO Bay Gardens Resorts has been awarded St. Lucia’s first Green Globe Gold Member Certification for their sustainable tourism. This is awarded to members that have been certified for five consecutive years. Bay Gardens Resorts has phased out the use of plastic in favor of biodegradable vessels and utensils made from wood, paper, compostable plastic and sugar cane bagasse. The company has also ended the use of all expanded polystyrene (styrofoam) products at its properties. It has also embraced other ecological innovations such as installing GEM Link occupancy sensors in its guestrooms, leading to a 15% reduction in energy use per occupied room. Bay Gardens Resorts’ environmental efforts also include converting its air conditioning units to energy efficient inverter units, and changing the lighting to use LEDs.
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events
MACHEL MONDAY TRINIDAD CARNIVAL 2019
Don’t know where to go, or what to do?
Our events listing is all you need to keep you in the know. We cover predominately London, but whenever or wherever we hear about a soca fete or Caribbean related event, we’ll list it. If you’re a promoter, then to ensure you get listed please send us your event details and a print copy of your flyer to events@socanews.com. For full event listings, please visit socanews.com/events.
SAT 25 MAY GT PROMOTIONS & MR MARLON
GUYANA’S 53RD INDEPENDENCE
@ The Classic Banqueting Suite 28 Upper Tooting Road, SW17 7PG. Time 9pm-4am. Price £10 LIMIN
JERK & BEYOND
@ Old Spitalfields Market, 16 Commercial Street, Spitalfields, E1 6EW. Price Free. JUST VIBEZ
SPRING TIME BOAT PARTY
DJs DJ Markee, DJ Raskal & Trini Gladiator. Time 4pm. Price £25.
CARIBBEAN LIME
CLUB ZOUK
@ Windrush Bar, 184 Stoke Newington High Street, N16 7JD. DJs DJ LT, DJ VJ, Mikey Afrique & Ninjaman Lloyd. Time 9pm4am. Price £10.
SUN 26 MAY THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF BARBADIANS ASSOCIATION (UK)
A LIL BIT A BIM BAJAN HERITAGE FAMILY FUNDAY
@ Coventry and North Warwickshire Sports Club Binley, Coventry, CV3 1HB. Featuring live from Barbados – Anderson “Mr Blood” Armstrong. Time 127pm. Price £5, £10 & £12.
SWITCH ENTERTAINMENTS
COOLER SPLASH 2 POOL PARTY
@ Radlett, Littlecroft, Theobald Street, Radlett, WD7 7LT. DJs Big Business, DJ Boots, DJ Dale, DJ Markee & DJ Raskal. Time 12pm-7am. Price £30 & £45. Tel 07903 917 477 REMEDY EVENTS
REMEDY TROPICAL DAY PARTY (4TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY)
@ Floripa, 91-92 Great Eastern Street, EC2A 3HZ. DJs Triple M, DJ Tate, Prince Vern, DJ Armani, Deejay Dee & Majikal & DJ Dingo. Time 2pm-midnight. Price £12.
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events FOR A FULL EVENT LISTING
SOCANEWS.COM/EVENTS THE CLASSIC & SAIF
SAT 01 - SUN 02 JUNE
@ The Classic Banqueting Suite, 28 Upper Tooting Road, SW17 7PG. Featuring live Adesh ‘Rum Til I Die’ Samaroo. Time 9pm2am. Price £10 & £15.
ARTS WORKSHOPS 2019
GUYANA INDEPENDENCE CHUTNEY SOCA SHOW & DANCE
MON 27 MAY GUYANA (UK) SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION (GUSDA)
GUYANA FOLK FESTIVAL @ Oasis Academy, Shirley Road, Croydon, CR9 7AL. Time 1-10pm. Price £2, £5 & £8.
@ Yaa Centre, 1 Chippenham Mews, W9 2AN. Info Dancing on Sticks. Learn to walk and dance with the traditional skills of the Moko Jumbie. Suitable for adults and children. Time 1-6pm. Price £5 each, under 16s free.
SAT 01 JUNE TALK YUH TALK
KAISO LIME
CANDY MAS
CANDY MAS PRISMATIC 2019 EXPLOSION OF COLOUR
@ The Luxurious Starlight Suite, 282-300 Lea Bridge Road, E10 7LD. Featuring live Fimba. Music By Big Business, DJ LT, Guff Nuff, Jah Eyez, Little Sample & Mr C. Time 4-11pm. Price £10, motd.
FRI 31 MAY
@ The Tabernacle, 34-35 Powis Square, W11 2AY. Time 7pm. Price Free. CALABASH CARNIVAL CLUB
2019 NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL COSTUME LAUNCH
@ Kathy Nolan Centre, 78 White City Close, Shepherds Bush, W12 7DZ. Time 5-10pm. Price Free. SHABBA CARNIVAL SOUND
VIBRANCE
2019 NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL COSTUME LAUNCH @ Market House, 443 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, SW9 8LN. DJs DJ Tate, Movements Family & Shak Attack. Time 8pm-1am. Price £5, £7 & £10. SHIPWRECKED CARNIVAL
LAVA
MOKO JUMBIE
@ Sway, 61-65 Great Queen Street, WC2B 5BZ. Time 9pm-3am.
SUMMER ROOFTOP PARTY - SPECIAL GUESTS UCOM CARNIVAL @ The Prince Of Wales (POW), 469 Brixton Road, Brixton, SW9 8HH. DJs Chris Vee, Hypez & Jamz & Jus Call Me Baz. Time 2pm-4am. Price £10 & £12.50. CARIBBEAN SESSION
SUMMER JAM
@ The Lighthouse Bar and Club 62 Rivington Street, EC2A 3AY. Time 4-12pm. Price £10
SUN 02 JUNE DJ LOKDWN
SOCA MEETS AFRO BEATS
@ The Golden Anchor, 16 Evelina Road, SE15 2DX. Time 8pm–1am. Price Free THE CLASSIC IN ASSOCIATION WITH DJMARTINJAY.COM
CARIBBEAN SENSATIONS @ The Classic Banqueting Suite 28 Upper Tooting Road, SW17 7PG. DJs Credable & Martin Jay. Time 6–11pm. Price £5 & £8. COLOURS CARNIVAL & ONE WORLD REBELLION
2019 NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL BAND LAUNCH
@ Steel Yard, Allhallows Lane, EC4R 3UE. Time 7pm–1am. Price £15 & £20.
FRI 07 JUNE ISSA MIDNIGHT SNACK
@ Chrome Lounge, 291-293 High Road, Ilford, IG1 1NR. Featuring Live Nessa Preppy. DJs Little Sample, Movements Family, Mr C, Ms Riri, QT 2Hype & Shak Attack. Price £12. Time 10pm-3am.
SUN 09 JUNE RNR PROMOTIONS
CARIBBEAN OPEN AIR FETE
@ Lee Valley Athletics Centre, N9 0AR. Time 12-8pm. Price £5, £7 & £10. Tel 07794 429 406
FOR A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF EVENTS AND FOR MORE INFO
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feature
Ulric Cross, Hero
HAILING FROM TRINIDAD, CROSS CAME TO THE UK TO FLY IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR
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WORDS | KATIE SEGAL
ntil now, Ulric Cross has been an unfamiliar name to most - but this is a man whose life story already sounds like a film. Hailing from Trinidad, Cross came to the UK to fly in the Second World War. He went on to work for the BBC, before becoming involved in the Pan-African movement as a lawyer for several African governments. In making Hero, Frances-Anne Solomon, British/Canadian/Trinidadian film-maker and director of the Caribbean Tales film festival, fulfilled a dying wish made to her mother by a family friend. But after she’d begun to research the story, it’s clear that the project became a passion for her too; why else would someone spend nine years striving to bring one project
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to fruition? Written, directed and produced by Solomon, Hero tells the story of the life and times of Ulric Cross, spanning three Continents and three perspectives – first-person interview, historical footage and dramatic scenes - to form a work of seamless depth and significance. Currently taking the film on a world tour, Solomon has fulfilled a promise to first bring it to its three homes, Trinidad, the UK and Ghana, as well as Canada where some scenes were also filmed. Screened in a slightly unfinished form at the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival last September, Hero was shown in Canada and Ghana earlier this year. The UK debut took place on Saturday18 May at the British Film Institute. A Q&A session followed, with Frances-Anne Solo-
mon, Fraser James (George Padmore), Rudolph Walker and Pippa Nixon (Ann Cross). Next comes the North American premiere, when the film will be screened as part of the opening night of the New York African Film Festival, before moving on to other US destinations: Washington DC, for the opening night of the American Film Institute DC Caribbean FilmFest, and then San Francisco, where there will be a special screening at the Museum of the African Diaspora. Speaking at the bfi, Solomon referred to the film as a “unique community event” and, thanking her many partners who included The Voice newspaper and the Trinidad and Tobago High Commission, spoke of the difficulties in making Black films. But, she said, the real difficulty
comes with distribution. However, she’s managed to secure a limited distribution deal in the UK, and Hero will be coming to the Ritzy, in Brixton, at the end of June - and then onto some other UK destinations. Keep an eye on our website, and we’ll keep you informed; this film really shouldn’t be missed by you, your friends or family. Hero stars Nikolai Salcedo as Ulric Cross; Joseph Marcel as CLR James, the historian, journalist and socialist; Fraser James as George Padmore, the activist, journalist and author; Jimmy Akingbola as Kwame Nkrumah, the first Prime Minister and President of Ghana. Rudolph Walker and several other recognisable faces also make their appearance.
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feature
ST LUCIA ASSOCIATION OF LONDON (1963) NEW BEGINNINGS The newly elected Executive of the St. Lucian Association of London (1963) would like to send greetings to their fellow Saint Lucian brothers and sisters in the United Kingdom. Building on the successes of the previous Executive, the new team have ideas and a clear vision, and they are dedicated to putting in the work to execute and deliver this vision. The Saint Lucian Coat of Arms displays a torch which represents a beacon of light and the association wants to serve as a beacon, helping to keep the St. Lucian flame alive in the UK. Whether you see the UK as your second home, or your home, the Association aims to provide a link to the national homeland – Saint Lucia. Tarcia Joseph, Public Relations Officer for the Association says “As the Motto rightfully says, The Land, The People and the Light, so let us the St Lucian People, continue the tradition and create a brighter and richer future for all nationals living in the UK”. She went on to say “For all our existing members, your continued support and dedication to the Association is very encouraging and we look forward to working in partnership with you for the Association. For those of you who are not yet members, you are welcomed and encouraged to join a great family”. For more information on the Association contact Tarcia Joseph on 07593 030 115. 28 SN MAY 2019
Executive Members from L-R. Evelyn Waite, David Clifford, Noreen Norbert, Camille Corris-Jones, Jesie Stephens, Peter Matthew - President, Debbie Melchor, Tarcia Joseph, Agnes Gilbert & Shirley Theobalds.
BUTLINS HERE WE COME
UNITY presents their annual family day out to Butlins Bognor Regis on Saturday 13th July 2019. Come shake a leg, enjoy the scenery, meet and mingle with other St. Lucian families. For tickets and information contact Peter on 07815 453 210 or Sylvia 07791 393 508
QUADRILLE DANCING
All St. Lucians are invited to come join the long-standing quadrille group, the Lucianites. They have performed around the UK showcasing their heritage. They also meet and rehearse at the West Indian Cultural centre in Turnpike Lane on the first and third Tuesday of the month for dance practice. Please contact Kieran on 07838 390 798 if you would like to join or book the group.
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