NEWS

IT'S A CARNIVAL CELEBRATION AT THE SHAW THEATRE

Carnival Celebration 2021 on Saturday 9 October aims to celebrate UK carnival culture in the comfort of the Shaw Theatre.

Audiences can expect a showcase of music, dance, costumes and drama, illustrating the history of carnival through a diverse range of artists and performers. In addition to the show there will be stalls with crafts and carnival merchandise on sale.

Organised by Caribbean UK Community Group, (CUKCG), the event seeks to fill the void of two years of missed carnivals, and to provide a lift in relation to the various challenges Covid19 has presented.

They also seek to entice a new and wider audience base, raising awareness and giving them the opportunity to see the full diversity and creativity that constitutes carnival culture.

CUKCG Director Clayton Brown told Soca News, "We wish to provide a celebration that helps to reconnect families and the community with the beautiful diversity of the carnival art form. The show is an addition to the carnival calendar, and with community support we would like to make it an annual event." Doors will open at 5pm for this two-hour showcase, with showtime at 6pm.

Tickets are £10 in advance, and may be purchased at www.shaw-theatre.com/whats-on.

For more information contact CUKCG on 07951 308 379/07946 088 553; email: caribbeanukcommunity@outlook.com.

NEWS

MELÉ WILL START LIFE ON LAND, WELL IN CANCUN, MEXICO

Machel Montano’s cruise Melé which is a joint venture with Tribe Carnival, whose inaugural sailing was put back because of the Covid pandemic, will now be held on land. In a video posted on his Instagram feed at the end of August he confirmed that that there will be a Melé – but on shore.

Rebranded as ‘Melé – Destinations’, the five days, four nights of food, fete and fun has landed at the Moon Palace Resort, Cancun, Mexico.

Revellers will party from Thursday 28 April to Monday 2 May 2022 at the ultra-all-inclusive resort, with 24hour room service, unlimited food and drink from more than 16 restaurants and 12 bars, and unlimited resort FUN.

Prices start from US$1,600 per person for double occupancy, US$1,450 per person for triple occupancy and US$1,300 per person for quadruple occupancy.

With parties and events from sun up ’til sun down, this is going to be one trip you won’t want to miss. For more information and to book your space, go to meledestinations.com.

GOT A STORY? EMAIL US AT NEWS@SOCANEWS.COM

MORE SUCCESS FOR REHEMA MUTHAMIA

Rehema Muthamia won the first ever Miss All African Colours England (see Soca News 28 February) in February. Miss African Colours England was formed during the pandemic to celebrate diversity in our population and is organised by luxury handbag brand, All African Colours.

And now Rehema, who has a degree in Genetics from University of Sussex and speaks four languages, has also won the Miss England 2021 title, triumphing against 42 other finalists.

The 25 year old health technology consultant's win means that she will represent England at the 70th Miss World in Puerto Rico in December, and wil also be invited on a trip to Sri Lanka by owners of Envoy London.

Soca News congratulates Rehema Muthamia on her latest success. DC

NEWS

NEW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT FOR DOMINICA

Dominica hopes to build its tourism revenue by building a new international airport - scheduled for completion in 2025.

At present, the Nature Island of the Caribbean depends on neighbouring islands for transatlantic flights because its airport is not large enough to handle European and USA flights.

The ultra-modern airport, designed by US-based aviation planning and development company Landrum & Brown, will be at the heart of a strategy for boosting tourism, logistics, agricultural exports and overall economic growth.

Hoteliers and restaurateurs are anticipating an influx of tourists once the airport has been completed, and meanwhile the project will create a lot of jobs.

Samuel Johnson, CEO of the Dominica International Airport Development Company, said: “We might not be able to accommodate the larger aircraft, but there are new changes in technology, for example the Airbus A220, a smaller aircraft that is very effective at running long, thin routes.”

He added: “Our long-term plan is to gradually increase our visitor arrivals during the buildout stage so that it transitions nicely into the international airport.” RD

KANO LAUNCHES DUPPY WHITE 100% JAMAICAN RUM

British rapper, songwriter, producer and actor from East Ham in London, Kano, has launched a new rum. Created and founded in partnership with Duppy Share Caribbean Rums, Duppy White is 100% Jamaican white rum with flavours of mango, pimento and fresh thyme, for 100% Jamaican flavour.

Five years in the making, the rum is born from the memories, smells and flavours that reflect Kano's Jamaican roots, and the profound impact of Jamaican culture on London and the world. This is described as the first white rum that’s designed to be drunk neat and in shots, as well as starring in classic white rum cocktails.

Duppy White asks us to celebrate life and guarantees nights to remember. DC

NEWS

A TIME TO BREATHE CELEBRATES LIFE WITH POETRY, DANCE AND MUSIC

Fighting for breath, half-suffocated by lockdowns, struggling to make voices heard against the howling of fake news and the gabbling of corporate media – the past two years have been hard on both artists and their audiences. After another year without Carnival on the road, we all need a breath of fresh air to revive our spirits, and in October we should get the boost we need with a festival celebrating black cultural narratives in poetry, dance and music.

Appropriately, this festival is called 'A Time to Breathe', and is curated and produced by awardwinning director, producer, choreographer, former dancer and carnivalist Greta Mendez MBE, and co-produced by James Scotland, founder of Khaos theatre company.

Some of the biggest names in dance, music and performance arts are on the bill, and many more are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

Amongst the artists confirmed so far are singersongwriter Carol Leeming MBE FRSA, choreographer and dance educator Dr Carol La Chappelle PhD, singer-songwriter Jordana Mba, and Cleo Lake - artist, activist, choreographer, dance therapist and former Lord Mayor of Bristol. The full programme will be announced soon; keep checking the website - www.atimetobreathe.co.uk - and social media for updates.

A Time to Breathe will takes place from 26 to 31 October at The Theatre, Stockwell SW8 2JU. The Theatre is served by bus routes 77, 87, 452 and P5, and is a 10 minute walk from Stockwell Station (Northern Line). SP