NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS April 15, 2021 (NIA) – – The Culturama Festival Secretariat has released a proposed calendar of events for the scaled down, COVID-compliant Culturama festival 2021.
In an interview with the Department of Information, Mr. Antonio “Abonaty” Liburd, Executive Director at the Culturama Secretariat, unveiled the events already approved for the festival.
“The main events for Culturama 47 begin Tuesday, July 27 with the official opening ceremony at the Cultural Complex at 8 p.m. On Wednesday, July 28 at 8pm at the Nevis Performing Arts Centre (NEPAC) we’ll have a dance production being staged by the Rhythm of the Arts Dance Ensemble.
“On Friday, July 30, at the Cultural Complex at 8 p.m. we have the Soca Monarch competition.
“On Saturday, July 31, at 8 p.m. at the Cultural Complex we’ll have the Senior Kaiso Finals, Sunday August 01, we have the Miss Culture Swimwear and the Mr. Kool competition,” he said.
On Monday, August 02 the Secretariat will host a virtual “Jam where you are Emancipation J’ouvert” with a twist. Local Mas camps have been invited to submit a male and female in parade costumes who will perform with the electronic bands for a chance to win King and Queen of Culturama.
Mr. Liburd also revealed that an enhanced version of the annual Food Fair will be held at adjoining venues on August 03.
“On Tuesday, August 03 from 10 a.m. we’ll be having Emancipation Celebration. It will be an all-day affair. We’ll be using the Cultural Complex and the Cultural Village.
“We’ll have vendors set up to sell local food we’ll have cultural performances from all of the different folklore groups, we’ll have folk music- string band, big drum- and we’ll have the electronic bands and deejays,” he said.
Other events include a steelpan competition at the Cultural Complex at 7 p.m. on July 29; Nevis Heritage Day on July 31 at the Heritage Village in Fothergills from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and on August 02, the Nevis Theatre & Film Association will put on a dramatic presentation at NEPAC at 8 p.m.
According to the Director, there will also be a number of pre-Culturama activities leading up to the main events.
The senior kaiso tents will launch on June 26 at the David Freeman Centre of Excellence (DFCOE) in Gingerland at 8 p.m., with a second tent at the same location on July 03.
Additionally there will be a Soca tent hosted at the DFCOE at 8.p.m on July 10, and Senior Kaiso Eliminations on July 18 at 6pm.
The Soca semi-finals will be held July 24 at the Cultural Complex at 8 p.m.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Culturama 47 has been curtailed to eight days, from July 27 until August 03, 2021.
]]>NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (April 13, 2021) – – The Nevis Island Administration has been given the green light to host Culturama 47.
Mr. Antonio “Abonaty” Liburd, Executive Director at the Culturama Secretariat said following several consultations with the Nevis COVID-19 Task Force and Mr. Hilroy Brandy, Commissioner of Police, approval was given on April 12 to host a contracted version of the annual summer festival.
“A number of persons have been calling the Festival Secretariat asking about the staging of Culturama 47. You know because of COVID-19 last year Culturama 46 had to be cancelled, and so early in January we decided that this year we would want to have a festival of some sort.
“The good news is yes, Culturama 47 will be staged this year from July 27 until August 03.
“We would have gotten that green light on Monday and so now we are ready to begin to market and sensitize persons that we will be having a Culturama of some sort in 2021,” he said.
Mr. Liburd explained that while there would be several of the traditional activities, venues have been changed and the number of patrons allowed to attend will be limited. He outlined how the local public in St. Kitts and Nevis and persons overseas can still participate in the festival.
“What we’ll be offering this year however is having the events streamed online, pay per view, so you can enjoy the Culturama festival from the comfort of your home because we want all and sundry to enjoy the Culturama Festival.”
He stressed that all events would be hosted in a COVID-19 compliant environment and the Committee will be adhering to all of the established protocols.
Some of the events for Culturama 47 include the Senior Calypso Monarch Competition, Soca Monarch Competition, Mr. Kool and Miss Culture Swimwear.
In the absence of street activities such as J’ouvert and Parade Day, Mr. Liburd said the Secretariat will host a virtual “Jam where you are J’ouvert” on August Monday.
No fetes will be permitted during the Festival.
The Director said more details about the activities for Culturama 47 will be rolled out in the coming days.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 27th, 2020 (ZIZ News) Chair of the Carnival Committee Shannon Hawley has described the first ever A Taste of J’ouvert event as a success.
Held early Saturday morning “A Taste of J’ouvert” aimed to bring the J’ouvert energy and music through a virtual experience with a limited audience of 150 persons.
In an interview with ZIZ News Miss Hawley said the online response was “amazing”
Miss Hawley also commended the performers who have stepped up their game not only during a Taste of J’ouvert but throughout the virtual events of Sugar Mas 49.
She said after the Calypso Monarch Finals on Tuesday they are going to keep the excitement going with an announcement about Sugar Mas 50.
Describing the virtual productions as truly a taste of what St. Kitts and Nevis carnival has to offer Miss Hawley said this year they have put the federation in the spotlight in a Covid-19 world showing what we can do while still ensuring the safety of our people.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 2nd , 2020 (ZIZ News):
By: Chaïra Flanders
All pageants, the extremely popular J’ouvert street jam, grand parade and las lap celebrations have been cancelled for this year’s Sugar Mas 49 festivities.
This was announced by Minister of Culture, Hon. Jonel Powell who was at the time delivering an address to the nation via the St. Kitts-Nevis National Carnival Committee (SKNNCC) Facebook page on the morning of Friday October 2 2020.
He said both Cabinet and the committee approved the decision to cancel all traditional Carnival events ahead of Sugar Mas 49 celebrations in December 2020.
Minister Powell said the decision was made in consideration of the health and safety of the people of St. Kitts and Nevis as the federation grapples with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Powell said in order to accommodate patrons during this challenging time, creative virtual events will be held to highlight and celebrate the culture of our people.
“Our National Carnival was established with the aim of highlighting our arts, music and folklore and in so doing, uniting our people. As such, the committee along with its partners, intends to create virtual events that are new and creative as well as scale back activities for the end of year celebration”, Powell explained.
“This new virtual format will allow the St. Kitts-Nevis National Carnival Committee to showcase our unique Carnival product to our citizens and residents and a more diverse and wide-ranging global audience”, he said.
He added that a Sugar Mas 49 Calendar of events will be released shortly.
The Minister said the committee is pledging its fullest support to the national COVID-19 Taskforce, the police and healthcare workers who have established protocols to protect residents and citizens from the Novel Coronavirus.
He said the Ministry of Culture and the National Carnival Committee look forward to presenting Sugar Mas 49 in its new format to Carnival lovers, locally, regionally and internationally.
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