Chat-bout.net - Mello Go Roun- The Best Of Festival

Mello Go Roun- The Best Of Festival

Under the theme, 'Tea Meeting Extravaganza', this year's Mello-Go-Roun' was a delightful blend of the best sights and sounds from the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission's Festival of the Arts competitions.

The excellence portrayed in music, speech and dance left the massive audience, that packed the National Indoor Sports Centre almost to capacity, more than satisfied that 'high tea' had indeed been served, and it was enough to appease the large appetites they had.

Adding to the quality entertainment delivered at Mell-Go-Roun were the evening's chairpersons, Fae Ellington and Dervan Malcolm, who donned fittingly appropriate outfits -full of bright colours and ruffles characteristic of Old England attire. Fae Ellington represented Mrs. Malaprop. As a 'proper' English lady, she spoke the Queen's English with her affected accent and used many words out of place. Her partner-in-crime and co-chair for the meeting, Dervan Malcolm, changed his red and yellow outfits between acts, and also sported an exaggerated English accent that had the audience laughing all night long. Their non-stop jokes and jives at each other kept the audience highly entertained.

Only the very best of festival's music, speech and dance were on display, providing the audience with strong confirmation that Jamaican talent is of exemplary excellence. In the speech category, Tajahrie Rose's Dialect poem, 'Mi Daddy' had the crowd in stitches, especially in the last line when he reminded his daddy -whom he praised for the better half of the poem and labelled 'the best daddy in the whole world'- that he promised to take him to Burger King.

Similarly entertaining was Simone Henry's 'Pon Di Wall', which got the audience chiming in with her repitition of: “Mi siddung pon di wall, a watch him a watch mi.” Rosseau Primary's 'Gi-Pi-Si-Pi' was a show-stopper that cautioned parents to be careful of the names they give to their children, which sometimes set them up for ridicule in schools. The sombre consciousness of Clan Carthy High's dub-poem, 'Construction' had the crowd in a pensive mood as these boys begged, “Lawd, mi Saviour, a beg yuh, curb mi behaviour.”

Dance was a spectacle to behold, with bright, beautiful colours coupled with energy and vibrance from all levels of schooling across Jamaica. From the revival piece offered up by Deeside Cultural Club to the Quadrille performed by the tiny tots from St. Theresa Primary, the audience showed their appreciation for all dance pieces with much clapping and shouting. Umojah's 'Sensasia' stole hearts with its rhythmic liveliness to African drum-beats. Ascot High's 'Tie Souls' left the audience pensive and reflective of the effects of the slave trade on their ancestors. Tivoli Dance Troupe's 'Festival Fiesta' was a party of swirling bright bandana skirts that received a standing ovation.

In music, Kimiela Isaac's rendition of 'At Last' also got the crowd to its feet, clapping, whistling, screaming, and shouting appreciation for the visually-impaired Isaacs' extraordinary musical talent. Little Darielle-Dave Nicholson was a master on his recorder, and his ska medley was very well received. An interesting mixture of music and dance was featured by Munro College's 'He Lives In You', with beautiful singing coupled with sounds and moves from the jungle.

The night was appropriately closed with a mixed presentation from all the night's performers, to Roy Rayon's 'Rise and Shine', signifying the unity which prevailed throughout the entire show. It was indeed 'Festival 2000 and love.'

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