IslandMix - Soca, Reggae, Zouk and Caribbean Entertainment

Soca Monarch Awards - The Antithesis
Posted: Mar 3, 2005 12:40 pm
Source: Andrew Page


Awards night was in many ways the antithesis to Carnival, an observational
comment after covering the two events. Absent were the throngs from all
races, and social standing, missing was the energy and anticipation in the
atmosphere and lacking was the showmanship, the raw performances and the
colour. Whereas people queued at their mas camps to collect costumes for
Carnival or stayed up all night for J'ouvet, the awards night started well
past its scheduled 7pm curtain call time and only a sprinkling of guests
were in the auditorium for the opening national anthem, which was
beautifully sung by Marilyn Williams.

The tone for the evening was set, when the performances section of the
evening's bill had to be scrapped, due to lack of attendance by the
artists. This theme continued through to the presentations where more than
half of the award recipients failed to show up to collect their trophies
from the National Lotteries Control Board representative, Mrs Patricea
Pierre-Joseph! This included the main stars, the King and Queen; Bunji and
Fay Ann Lyons.

The only live entertainment was from Mini Priest who took to the stage with
no preparation, no backup either, not instrumentally or vocally and
performed an energetic rendition of Body Water to which those in the
audience where greatly appreciative. Thank you Mini Priest for stepping
into the breech! Carded to perform were H2O Phlo, Fay Ann, Bunji and Junior
Soca Monarch Jam As the awards were announced, and the various artists'
representations came on stage to receive them, one had to commend the
professionalism of the announcers, who seemed able to hide their
disappointment as winner after winner failed to show. Their improvisation
was to the highest standard.

The Minister Culture Joan Yuille-Williams also took to the podium towards
the later part of the evening for the remarks section and amongst some
commentary on the Soca movement, and how her department would like to
promote its future. She also used this opportunity to answer recent media
commentary that Queens Hall is to be closed for renovation, and confirmed
that this was not the case and that only paving of the car parks and
perhaps seating upgrades where to be reviewed.

When the ceremony had come to its natural conclusion, patrons were invited
outside, where three tents erected at the side of Queens Hall, offered
complimentary drinks, eats and a chance to socialise. The social
atmosphere of the evening never wavered, as people moved around with
restraint and talked in polite, hushed tones, a complete departure from
hubbub of the fetes and carnival days.

Where was everyone? Surely the awards are to be coveted? Isn't this what
the Soca Monarch is all about? Or is it the commercial attractions that
provide that drive? Maybe the apparent lack of pre-night promotion ensured
that the Awards night was never on a winning path. The crowds were just
not there, and without the promise of adulation (turned out that the event
was by invitation only and invitees just did not attend), maybe the stars
were not prepared to come either. Who am I to say, all I do know though is
that overall, the night was as far from the spirit of carnival as one could
get, and that was a disappointment. Please, next year let's announce the
awards evening early in the press, and get the crowds and the stars to this
event and put it at the forefront of the carnival calendar, where it
deserves to be.