Nevis’ Culturama Festival 2013 expected to be a grand event

Mr. Abonaty Liburd

NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (3RD JUNE, 2013) — The Nevis Culturama Secretariat released its full schedule of events for the island’s foremost annual cultural festival. It will be held from July 25th to August 6th, 2013, under the auspices of long standing steel pan player Mr Basil Manners of Ramsbury Site in Charlestown. This year’s Festival will be the themed “History! Culture! Music Combined! Culturama 39!” .

The coveted season of activities will commence with the official launch of 34 contestants, who will participate in the five pageants. Executive Director of the Secretariat Mr. Abonaty Liburd told the Department of Information on May 31, 2013, that the 39th edition of Nevis’ Culturama Festival is expected to be a grand event.

“Already we have seen increased participation in the Senior Kaiso and Junior Kaiso Contests and the Cultural Street Parade. The Freedom Concert has been reintroduced to the programme line-up and will be hosted by Tender Care International with top acts I-Octane, Droop Lion and Dwayne Stephenson. The Best of The Best Kaiso Bacchnal which is also being re-introduced will feature the top four calypsonians from St. Kitts competing against the top four calypsonians from St. Kitts.

“Miss Teen Nevis is a new pageant that has been be added to the calendar targeting teens between the ages of 13-17 years and six contestants have already been secured. Poet in the Square is a new addition that will take place during the week of Culturama during the 12-1 p.m. lunch hour. It is a daytime activity in the Memorial Square that will feature Nevisian Poets,” he said.

Mr. Liburd noted that the announcement of this year’s line-up has generated much positive feedback from the public which has been receptive to the new additions.

“We have received many calls at the Secretariat from members of the public who have expressed satisfaction with the new events and we have also seen added interest from persons in the Diaspora wanting to organise troupes for the Cultural Street Parade,” he said.

Regarding this year’s planned fringe activities, the Executive Director noted that a number of private individuals and organisations were showing a willingness to partner with the Nevis Culturama Committee. So far there were three confirmed activities.

“The Hanley’s Road Sports Club will stage an Aquatic Sports Extravaganza at the Charlestown Waterfront. There is also a religious organisation that is interested in producing a gospel concert and the Nevis Cultural Development Foundation will have cultural performances at various points in Charlestown during the week of Culturama,” he said.

Mr. Liburd also spoke to improvements that would be made at the Festival’s main venues among them additional seating capacity at the Cultural Complex.

“In an effort to enhance the Culturama experience at the Cultural Complex and the Cultural Village, both venues will receive a general face lift. However, at the Cultural Complex provisions will be made for additional seating and temporary covering for the seating areas.

“We are hopeful that the temporary covering will be welcomed by the patrons to the shows as it will lessen the impact of inclement weather, since the Festival falls during the annual rainy season on Nevis,” he said.

According to the schedule of events, the Pre Festival Activities will begin on Friday June 7th at 4:30 p.m. with the launch of the 2013 Nevis Culturama Festival Ms. Culture Swimwear, Mr Kool, Mr. and Ms. Talented Youth Pageant, Ms. Teen Nevis and Ms. Culture Queen Pageant contestants in Charlestown.

On Saturday June 22nd at 9:00 p. m. will be the grand launch of the 2013 Culturama Kaiso Tents while on Friday July 5th the Culturama 2013 Press Conference will be held.

Saturday July 6th at midday has been slotted for the first of three Street Bashes and will be held at the apron of the A.L. Evelyn Building. Later that day, the Senior Kaiso Quarter Finals will be held at 9 p.m. at a venue to be announced.

On Saturday July 13th at midday, Street Bash no. 2 will commence at Crony’s Hard Court in Gingerland and on the following day, the Ms. Culture Swimwear, Ms. Culture Queen Pageant, Mr. and Ms. Talented Youth, Ms. Teen Nevis and Mr. Kool contestants will participate in a fashion show from 5 p.m. at a venue to be announced.

The third and final Street Bash will return to Charlestown on the apron of the A.L. Evelyn Building on Saturday July 20th and will commence from midday, while the following day will see the final Pre-Festival Activity which will take the form of a Gospel Concert featuring local gospel artist from 8 p.m. at the Nevis Performing Arts Centre (NEPAC).

Official Culturama 2013 activities will kick off with a grand launch at 6 p.m. on July 25, 201 but will be preceded by a motorcade through the streets of Charlestown. On the following day the Senior Kaiso Semi Finals competition will be held from 8 p.m. at the Cultural Complex.

On July 27, 2013, the Empire Sports Club Aquatic Extravaganza will be held at the Charlestown Waterfront from 10 a.m. followed, in the evening, by the King of de Jungle Band Clash from 9 p.m. at the Cultural Village.

The following day the Ms. Culture Swimwear and Mr. Kool Contests will be held at the Cultural Complex from 8 p.m. and on July 29th from midday the Poets in the Square will commence. Later that day will be the St. Kitts versus Nevis Best of the Best Kaiso Bacchanal slated for 8 p.m. at the Cultural Complex.

On July 30th at midday, Poets in the Square continues and the Junior Kaiso Contest will take place at the Complex from 8 p.m. The following day July 31, 2013 will be Poets in the Square at midday and the Mr. and Ms. Talented Youth Pageant will take place later at the Complex. Thursday August 1st will again see Poets in the Square from midday and at 8 p.m. the Ms. Teen Nevis Pageant will take place at the Cultural Complex.

Friday August 2nd has been slated for the Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture Fruit Fair at the Villa Grounds which begins from 9 a.m. At midday will be Poets in the Square and later that day the Freedom Concert hosted by Tender Care International will be held at the Cultural Village from 9 p. m.

On August 3rd the Culturama Food Fair will commence at the Villa Grounds from 7 a.m. and the day will conclude with the Senior Kaiso Contest from 9 p.m. at the Cultural Complex. On Sunday August 4th will be Culturama Drag Racing at the St. James Raceway from midday and followed by the Ms. Culture Pageant at the Cultural Complex later that day from 8 p.m.

Emancipation J’ouvert Jump Up will take place on August 5th from 5 a.m. followed by the Herbert’s Beach Affair at 1 p.m. The Miss Caribbean Culture Queen Pageant will begin later at 8 p.m. at the Cultural Complex.

On Tuesday August 6th will be the Cultural Street Parade and Last Lap in Charlestown from 1 p.m.

The Culturama 2013 Prize Giving Ceremony will bring the curtains down on the Festival on August 17th at the Cultural Complex from 8 p.m.