Afro Carib festival

 I love Steel Pulse and not having seen them for around 10 years, when I got the info that they would be the stars of the Afro Caribbean festival to close out Black History Month in Miramar, wild horses couldn't prevent me from attending.

Despite the close to an hour commute 

and the long, sometimes tedious wait for them to perform, it was worth every minute.

They must have read my mind as they performed hit after hit from the moment they hit the stage!👏👏👏💞.

It was like a musical explosion in slow motion.⚡🌄🌅🌪️✨

 Oh what a night.

Beautiful Nigerian prints on display 

The Nigerians were the only Africans who had displays at this festival. (Never saw any Caribbean booths beside Jamaica's either!😡)

This Nigerian mother and daughter showed off their outfits.

Jollof rice from Nigeria 

Sonia cops a pose

This band delivered some good African drumming 

Shuga from Montego Bay was good

This dancer kicked off the show. It started almost an hour late though😡.

Vincentian Soca warrior Skinny Fabulous got us out of our seats.

The covered area was eventually fairly full but overall, I expected a larger crowd.

You see, it was promoted as a free event for those wanting to sit on the grass or bring their own chairs.

 However, the covered area up front was being sold for $150.00. Very few people took up that offer though, so they eventually opened up that area to all us 'plebians.' Hence it looks crowded now!

Teflon tried his best but people were tired of having to wait too long for Steel Pulse.

Its actually the first time I ever attended an outdoor event at Miramar.

It is a much larger city than my own Tamarac and with a population twice the size as ours. And the fact that it is dominated by Jamaicans is obvious, based on their apparent love of Jamaica time.😁👍.

The festival was quite good though, although some performers could have been left out.

of

But what the heck, Steel Pulse saved the day.

Culturally awake

 While Governor Ron Desantist does everything to downplay/hide black history in the schools in Florida, our city Tamarac, led by activist Mayor Michelle Gonzalez, does the opposite.

So everywhere you turn at the Senior Center, there are reminders that February is Black History Month. Then valuable information about the positive role black activists played in the development of the country, is posted all around.

 The overarching cultural event is the annual Multicultural Festival.

I have been attending these festivals almost every year since I moved to Tamarac in 2016 and really appreciate and enjoy them.

Last night's was not so well attended though.

 Maybe it was the cold spell we have been having. Maybe it is because ICE has been making life miserable for us immigrants. 

I don't know.

I was fully prepared for the cold spell though, carrying 3 jackets/sweaters, one pair of leggings, a scarf and even a pair of gloves. 😁.

All I had to don though was two sweaters as the coldest it got to was 62°.

There was lots for the kids to do. The most popular attraction seemed to be the rock climbing. 

It looked like fun👍.

My favorite was the Maori warrior. He was good as he demonstrated his fighting moves.

Maori warrior 

There were not as many costumed dancers from various countries as normal but what was new was the Chinese dancers/fighters in their colorful costumes.

Costumed Venezuelan dancers.

Then we moved over to the main stage for the star performance by Kevin Little, the Vincentian Soca warrior.

He wasn't bad but when you grew up with performers like the Mighty Sparrow and Calypso Rose, you maintain high expectations😊.

I enjoyed the offerings though.

An enjoyable affair

 Dubbed Black History Month Fashion Show, the afternoon get together at Tamarac Senior Center was a hit with everyone.

M.C. Sam Munro and the volunteer organizers

We got a  rendition of the Black National Anthem "lift every voice and sing" from Holly Bowen, who has a wonderful voice and is described as a foundation member of the well known South Florida Caribbean Chorale. 

                  The songbird Holly Bowen.

Our art teacher Michelle (center) was there and posed with students Joan and Helena.

Michelle and Hellena

About half of those who attended wore some form of African dress and there were some really beautiful prints and styles.

It was from the participants that the  'models' were drawn.

Seniors in their colorful garb waiting in line for the door to open

Noor, another art student. She came in her Pakistani national dress. Very nice.

As I was one of those who thought I could model, I got no pics of that segment.😊

The Haitian drummer doing the cuckoo dance.

The food was delicious and I hear it was Sam the M.C who organized it all. 

It sure fuelled our bodies to get on the dance floor.

The drummers gave us solos before the proceedings officially started .

The drummers were Caribbean, African descendants of course. The lady was from Haiti and the gentleman from Clarendon, Jamaica.

It was a nice function from start to finish and all the seniors had a great time. 

According to the  M.C.  Sam, (who is also our Site Supervisor at the Tamarac Senior Center,)  the function was organized in record time by the volunteers above.

 He promised that it will become an annual affair during Black History Month. 

Great going guys.

P.S. 

Thanks to our wonderful art teacher Michelle, I finally got some pics of the 'models' in their African garb and a few other pics. 

I am sharing these memories of the wonderful day below.

Michelle with her students Helena and Jennifer 

At the table with top artist Diana

The models

An outstanding performance

 If Ron DeSantist ever saw the Musical Memphis, now showing at Lauderhill Performance Center in Florida, he would have a heart attack and ban it immediately!

I ran into leading man Samuel Cadieux on the way out.

For according to him, performances like that which highlight the racist past in the USA should never see the light of day. 

I am sure, given the chance he would even ban Black History Month! 

That musical is very appropriate for this period though.

'Scrabble' Camille and I got there early

It's a story partly about forbidden love, set in Memphis, Tennessee during the 'jim crow' period.

The main setting is this bar on Beale Street 

The leading man is Samuel (above) and the leading lady, the super-talented Sydney Archibald, an African American actress, who is also a fantastic singer.

Because of the period in which it is set, it is full of white rage and violence against the couple, so there is no-make believe happy ending to that affair.

However it is a marvelous production with non-stop energy, fantastic music, dance, love, comedy, hope and passion.

Really an outstanding performance, even worth seeing more than once!😊