Top 5 Events of 2019

2019 has been a great year for DysChick! I started the year the same way I start every year: hopeful. I had no idea there would be so many exciting firsts and daunting challenges. Here are my top 5:

5. I played mas in Trinidad for first time since 2001

What kind of friend would I be if I let SocaSaySo travel to Trinidad for the first time and play mas by herself? Although it had been 18 years since I donned a costume and paraded my scantily clad amplitude through the streets of Port of Spain, this seemed like the perfect opportunity to do so once again. In 2001, I had the fortune of playing with Peter Minshall’s band. Vibrant sound systems and rhythm sections kept my feet chipping for the full thirteen (yes, 13!) hours on the road. This time, however, I played with what I will call the liveliest mas band, Lost Tribe. The experience was very different. We were transported by an air-conditioned maxi van to our departure spot. We then hit the road. Within the first hour we had already sampled champagne, Hennessy snow cones, and doubles. We even had lunch in the square which offered several food options. Then it was time to make a zig zag and continue all through town to Ariapita Avenue where the masqueraders caught their second wind.

4. Mr. Killa wins Soca monarch

Fay-Ann Lyons became manager of the 2019 International Soca Monarch competition on January 14th, giving her less than 90 days to make improvements. She assembled a team to usher in the “new era of soca.” Not only did she have to overhaul the 26-year-old competition’s image, she had to contend with local concerns that the possible repeat of a non-Trini winning Soca Monarch could lead to Trinidadians losing their culture.

The Queens Park Savannah on Carnival Friday night was fun of visitors from around the world who came to support the foreign acts. Even the Prime Minister of St. Lucia flew in to support hometown crooner Teddyson John, who took second place in the Groovy Soca category.

Everyone had their eyes on the highly-anticipated Power Soca category. Short of a disastrous live performance, socaholics suspected that Mr. Killa would win the competition with his wildly popular “Run Wid It.” And he did! The theatrical performance and high-energy crowd engagement resulted in a Grenadian being crowned the 2019 Soca Monarch. Let’s see if Trinidad comes back harder in 2020.

3. WIADCA partnership

Last year I wrote a scathing review of the West Indian American Day Carnival Association (WIADCA) where I accused them of not doing enough to promote their events to young people. I met with many of their board members this summer and learned that they were well aware of their shortcomings and created a social media promo team: a group of influencers led by their community outreach liaison.

I accompanied them to several events, most notably their “Catch the Vibes” Brooklyn bus tour. We went around the borough to pan yards and mas camps on a double decker bus where appetizers and drinks (I had a couple of rum punches) were served. While both the Association and I know that there is more to be done, I have to admit that this partnership is one way to help preserve the Caribbean experience in Brooklyn.

2. A good year for Caribbean film

Two women made a huge impact on the Caribbean film scene this year. The Timehri Film Festival, which showcases short films made by Caribbean artists., is only one initiative from Romola Lucas and Alysia Christiani who are on a mission to take Caribbean films to the world!

Caribbean film screening at Rant and Rave Chat event

Attorney Romola Lucas is The Caribbean Film Academy’s Co-Founder. For over seven years, she met with filmmakers whose limited resources do not allow them to distribute their films to the audiences at home and abroad. Lucas partnered with RewindAndComeAgain.com Editor Alysia S. Christiani. Chrisitani’s blog provides a place for first-generation Americans who “can relate to being the only Yankee in a family full of native born islanders” to read about themselves. She helps CaFA strategically disseminate information about upcoming projects and community outreach efforts, which for Timehri Film Festival includes workshops and screenings at local schools, prisons and detention centers.

CaFA-sponsored discussion with Caribbean filmmakers

At the Queens College of Guyana screening in Brooklyn this past June, Guyanese writer/director Stefon Bristol discussed his science-fiction film that addresses racial tensions in America. “See You Yesterday” premiered on Netflix in May of this year and soon began trending on social media - a major win for the Caribbean community.

However, the biggest Caribbean film event was a film about calypso royalty Rawlson Charles. “Charlie’s Records” debuted at Brooklyn Academy of Music on November 6th. The film is written and directed by his daughter, WNBA star and Olympic gold-medalist, Tina Charles who wanted to document the role her father played in putting calypso and soca music on the map as well as creating and distributing hit songs from Calypso Rose, Mighty Sparrow, and hip-hop icon Doug E. Fresh! On top of that, he’s also featured in a display at the Smithsonian museum.

Moderator Jamie Alleyne, Tina Charles, and Rawlston Charles

1. Rant and Rave

Of course the biggest event of 2019 was the implementation of Rant and Rave, a summer chat series designed to bring people together to discuss the issues affecting Brooklyn’s Caribbean community. I partnered with fellow soca blogger SocaSaySo to create community-focused sessions that allowed local businesses and organizations to speak directly to young, professional, educated and engaged Caribbean immigrants and descendants about upcoming initiatives to encourage participation and attendance. The monthly events featured a complimentary cocktail hour, pop-up shop, panel discussions where we ranted about pressing concerns, and an after party where we raved to music from the city’s best deejays.

Rant and Rave became one of the most talked about events of the Summer! It even caught the attention of the Daily News! Our kickoff event featured a panel discussion with members of WIADCA. Our second event focused on supporting Caribbean small businesses - including opening statements from New York City Small Business Services Commissioner Gregg Bishop. Our third event allowed Brooklyn’s soca artistes to share their thoughts on the soca industry and how they deal with representing the Caribbean from abroad. Finally, we held our biggest event: a panel discussion about the lack of event venues in Brooklyn. View the recap videos on DysChick.com/Gallery!

So how did I close out such an epic year? I summoned all of my strength to take a 14-hour trip to Accra, Ghana. This year, Ghana successfully encouraged Africans around the world to come back to the country. The campaign was entitled “Year of Return.” 400 years after we were captured and displaced, Black people returned to celebrate culture and togetherness. Events included tours, traditional dinners, and major festivals - most notably Afrochella on December 28th.

I had planned to go to Ghana for years to walk the seven rope bridges of the canopy walk, but add music festivals and I’m in heaven. Many times I was asked if I was a Ghanaian, specifically Ashanti. I don’t know, but with the connection I felt to the people and the place, I will definitely return.