Ay Ay Rhythm Ensemble, from left, Sam Smith, drums/spoken word; Ezra “Shammie” Thomas, drums; Sneferu Hotep, flute; Olu Massey, drums/spoken word; and Junie Bomba, drums, are performers with African, Caribbean music and spoken word poetry. (Source photo by Elisa McKay)Special guest speaker Sommer Sibilly-Brown who 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 and Soul, Regal, Fashions, Richard Schrader, Geron Richards and students, Sommer Sibilly-Brown, Jay Watson, Chenzira Davis Kahina and Per Ankh Family Musicians performed.
The Mind, Body and Soul Band, from left, DJante Carrington, singer/guitarist; Chandy Jeremiah, singer; Kalid Bruce, bass; and 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. Christopher also works in madras and 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, 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 history and culture. (Source photo by Elisa McKay)St. Croix Central High School 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 Davis Kahina presents history of Bamboula, which she called a precursor to quadrille, quelbe music and Cariso. Kahinia is accompanied by the Per Ankh Family musicians George Franklin, Anuptah Kahina, Asarkasaamsu “NebKaRa” Herishetapaheru, Anuka Kahina and Junie Bomba. (Source photo by Elisa McKay)Young, Gifted & Talented Band, from left, Michonde Delauney, singer; Deon St. Jules, bass; Elijah Motta, drums; Javon Davis, saxophone; and 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 models a two-piece African print original. (Submitted photo)Chenzira Davis Kahina dances the Bamboula. (Source photo by Elisa McKay)Jay Watson, left, the son 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)
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