Ay Ay Rhythm Ensemble: from left, Sam Smith, drums/spoken word; Ezra ‘Shammie’ Thomas, drums; Sneferu Hotep,flute; Olu Massey, drums/spoken word; Junie Bomba,drums, are accompanied performers with African, Caribbean music and spoken word poetry. (Source photo by Elisa McKay)Special guest speaker Sommer Sibilly-Brown spoke about expanding Black History Month, gave homage to the ancestors and asked audience members to work toward expansion. (Submitted photo)
Virgin Islands Council on the Arts brought a century of culture to life Saturday at the Dorsch Center in Frederiksted.
The full house of patrons was treated to a century of music, dance, poetry and fashion created and performed by three generations of local talent.
MC Richard Nicks kept the evening flowing with the focus devoted to black life, history and culture.
Ay Ay Rhythm Ensemble, Cedelle Petersen Christopher, Mind, Body, & Soul, Regal, Fashions, Richard Schrader, Geron Richards and students, Sommer Sibilky-Brown, Jay Watson, Chenzira Kahina Davis, and Per Ankh Family Musicians performed.
The Mind, Body and Soul Band, from left, DJante Carrington: singer/guitarist; Chandy Jeremiah, singer; Kalid Bruce, bass; Elijah Jackson, piano. (Source photo by Elisa McKay)Kezia “Kizee” Sylvester of Royal Modeling Agency, managed by Christopher Rivera, models a floor length African print original by Giana “Regal” Christopher, who is a self-taught seamstress, also works in madras, owns and operates Regal Fashions since 2012.. (Submitted photo)Cedelle Petersen Christopher, who learned Cariso from Leona Watson, performs ‘Clear de Road’ and ‘Sly Mongoose.’ Christopher is a retired educator who performs Cariso and storytelling and makes puppetry for school children. (Source photo by Elisa McKay)Author and poet Richard Schrader read his poem, ‘I Sing of the Madras,’ at Saturday’s event. The poem spoke to the connection of the Virgin Islands as the many threads of the same cloth of the madras, binding us all through our history and culture. (Source photo by Elisa McKay)St. Croix Central High ninth graders, from left, Angelina Valentine, Elicia Wattley, Bry’nice Berley, Jedaya George, Anwar Mohammad, Quishylah Navaro, and their teacher Geron Richards read their own poetry drawn from their knowledge of their history and culture. (Source photo by Elisa McKay)Chenzira David Kahina presents history of Bamboula, which she called a precursor to quadrille, quelbe music and Cariso. Davis is accompanied by the Per Ankh Family musicians: George Franklin, Anuptah Kahina, Asarkasaamsu “NebKaRa” Herishetapaheru, Anuka Kahina, Junie Bomba. (Sourcep photo by Elisa McKay)Young, Gifted & Talented Band, from left, Michonde Delauney, singer; Deon St. Jules, bass; Elijah Motta, drums; Javon Davis, saxophone; Malachi Maillard, keyboard, perform reggae, some with original lyrics, at Fredericksted’s Dorsch Center. (Source photo by Elisa McKay)Zydmarie “Cece” Sanes of Royal Modeling Agency, managed by Christopher Rivera, models a two-piece African print original by Giana “Regal” Christopher, who is a self-taught seamstress, also works in madras, owns and operates Regal Fashions since 2012. (Submitted photo)Chenzira Kahina Davis dances the Bamboula. (Source photo by Elisa McKay)Jay Watson, left, the sSon of the late Leona Watson, performed Cariso in honor of his mother. He spoke with the crowd about growing up with the Virgin Islands culture bearer. He is joined by Geron Richards, poet and teacher. (Source photo by Elisa McKay)
