Yuh act like a jammette!
This statement would not only be seen as a compliment, but also appropriate for Internet talk show hosts Gerelle Forbes and Tyker Phillip.
The pair have brought a whole new connotation to the Creole word commonly used to describe “a very provocative woman”.
Forbes and Phillip’s live chat show, 2 Jammettes, is a bold, humorous and upbeat examination of critical social issues in all their complexities. Their unapologetic approach and honesty have endeared them to hundreds of viewers who tune into the show live on Sundays at 4pm on YouTube, OURRadio.fm and the Digicel Go Loud app.
The weekly show, which premiered in September 2021, is part of the Jammette duo’s overarching brand that they co-developed as directors of their media company, Sthenic22 Ltd.
Forbes, who met Phillip while they both attended St Francois College for Girls, said she conceived the talk show with a very specific target and audience in mind.
“Tyker and I both have several years of experience in filmmaking and film production, and we found that quite often, our work focused on documenting much of our cultural heritage from different perspectives,” Forbes explained.
“It struck us that we had so much to share with and through our grassroots communities, relearning, retelling and relearning the history, culture and customs of Trinidad and Tobago, and ultimately creating opportunities for people to truly see themselves in a light of cloud. . And that’s where we discovered our mission.”
Commitment through honesty,
open conversation
While its provocative name piques interest, it’s the show’s open conversation that encourages feedback from viewers and has helped make it a success, Phillip said.
“When people hear the title 2 Jammettes, their initial response is to screw up their faces because of the negative historical connotations of the word. However, when they watch the show or engage with us live, they soon get a clear understanding of our intended mission – that of educating and empowering our core audience,” said Phillip.
Both women have become staunch advocates for consciously reshaping the way people perceive “jammette.” Under their Jammette banner, wider plans are being prepared regarding collaborations with small and micro businesses, as well as fashion, mass and cosplay designers, to facilitate a deeper alignment with local culture and heritage, they discovered.
Coincidentally, the duo’s film Pan in Motion will be screened at this year’s trinidad+tobago film festival. Forbes was approached by executive producer Mark Loquan to produce the film. She and Phillip then conducted extensive research and interviews to create an acclaimed piece documenting how pianist and arranger Ray Holman revolutionized Panorama.
“The story of the blockade in the barracks yard goes beyond what is usually repeated as fact. While she was no slave to propriety and respectability, Jammette was also a courageous but caring maternal figure in the community who gave voice to the voiceless and never backed down from challenging colonialist mindsets and behaviors.” Forbes revealed.
“These are the attributes that are reflected in the products we’ve developed under the Jammette brand, and in us as showrunners, too, because we believe it’s the most effective way to connect with our core audience,” Forbes added.
Both women credit OURRadio.fm CEO Richard Rajkumar, aka Chromatics, for endorsing their efforts, even as they navigate a still relatively new space in online media. Phillip and Forbes tackle a variety of new topics and themes in Season Two of the show, which features an intriguing guest list that includes local reggae star Queen Omega (Jeneile Osborne) and four-time National Calypso Monarch Cro Cro (Weston Rawlins ). others.
“We guarantee 2 Jammettes is for you – as long as you don’t mind the occasional inconvenience while openly discussing issues that affect us as a society. If it’s not for you, then you can always go visit your favorite ice cream parlor ,” concluded Phillip comically.
