tidings
Corey Connelly
NICOLE Thomas’s added another trophy to her cabinet on Sunday night with victory in the inaugural Tobago TUCO calypso carnival competition at the Shaw Park Cultural Complex.
Thomas received $100,000 for her historic win. She beat a field of 12 competitors, including Tobago Heritage Monarch winner Shamika Denoon. Thomas won the last TUCO competition in 2020.
THA Tourism, Culture, Antiquities and Transport Secretary Tashia Burris and TUCO Tobago Area Chair Ainsley King presented Thomas with a large replica cheque.
The Pembroke native said when the calypsonians learned that TUCO wanted to organize a calypso competition for the island’s inaugural carnival, its writer, Sheldon Reid, decided to write the song Carnival Is We, “to sensitize and re-energize Tobago.
“I’m happy. I am really proud to be able to be announced as the first Tobago Calypso Carnival Monarch with my makeup,” she told Newsday.
Carnival Is We, Thomas said, reminds citizens of the festival’s origins and importance.
“It’s not just about masses and beautiful feathers. We must pay tribute to our ancestors, giving thanks for what they were able to overcome, which created our culture, our union and shaped the way we celebrate.”
Second in the competition was Thomas’ brother Dillon, who sang a poignant tune, also written by Reid, entitled For The Crown. He addressed the lengths to which some calypsonians would go to win a title. He won $60,000.
Seasoned singer Giselle Fraser-Washington, who was runner-up in the Tobago Heritage Monarch competition, came third with a compelling social commentary entitled Plenty, Plenty Ole Talk. She received $45,000.
The song highlighted the tendency of politicians to make false promises to voters in order to stay in power.
The competition, which included eight women in the lineup, was fierce.
The calypsonians addressed a variety of issues in their compositions, including crime, unity, parental guidance, Tobago’s quest for autonomy, and a perceived decline in the art form.
But others, like Shamika Denoon’s Come Leh We Go, expressed her desire to leave the frozen climate of North America to return to Tobago, the land of her birth.
Many of the calypsonians also used props and short monologues to enhance their presentations, utilizing the talents of members of the Tobago Performing Arts Company and other theater groups on the island.
Tobago Festivals Commission Ltd CEO John Arnold said the show was of a high standard.
“It bodes well for calypso in Tobago in developing a larger audience and following because last night (Sunday) we also saw a mix of older, younger and middle-aged groups. So I think that bodes well for the future of calypso in Tobago,” he said.
Among the guest artists on Sunday were Tobago Carnival Junior Calypso Monarch winner D’Ashe Saul and runner-up Clorysa Gill. Prince Unique and Marvin Lewis also performed,
TUCO calypso results:
1. Nicole Thomas
2. Dillon Thomas
3. Giselle Fraser-Washington
4. Hollis Wright
5 Delaney Baynes
6. Denoon scarf
7. Roslyn Reid
8. Ayesha Nichols
9. Kenneth Thomas
10. Kenrick Burnett
11. Wendy Garrick
12. Raychards Kerr
13. Candice Robinson
