Black History Month Carnival Style

October was a busy and exciting month. So many events showcasing black history and the celebration of Africa, the Caribbean and the Diaspora.
October 4th was also my birthday so I celebrated in true Libra style.

If you have not visited the restaurant 805 on the Old Kent road, I highly recommend you go there. My friends treated me to a lovely evening of great food and fun.
 My mother also put on a great Sunday spread at the family house, so I had a fun packed weekend.

Anyway enough about Me ....The Just Carnival Events review


CMA Dinner Dance Awards Saturday 9th October

I attended the Caribbean Music Association (CMA) dinner, dance and awards show held at the Bloomsbury Holiday Inn.
I arrived fashionably late but just in time to get a taste of the Caribbean buffet which went down well I must add!! The entertainment included London' s finest Caribbean artists. Socalypso artists "Trini Boy Juicy"and  the talented singer,songwriter Nikiesha  performed their latest music. The Hilariously vivacious Comedian "The Jamaican Bajan Princess" tore it up ,funny witty and cleaver innuendos had the Holiday Inn crying with laughter!!
The awards presented on the night included "Soca on the Move", "UK Roach March", and "Lifetime Achievements", to name a few. Congratulations to Soca Johnny and Shadow HiFi.
I am very proud to announce that my father the late Vernon "Fellows" Williams was awarded the "Lifetime Contribution to Carnival Award!!
This was a very emotional yet proud moment for myself and the Genesis family.

So once the awards wrapped up we got to dancing. I danced my shoes off...literally. However that did not stop me from keeping it moving down to the Grove to Mangroves Thank you Party.!! Nuff Love to the Mangrove family!!

Genesis Thank You Party October 16th 2010
Genesis Mas celebrated the end to a successful carnival season @ JJs wine bar. It was a night of great music and partying Genesis style. Smokey Joe, up and coming Soca DJ Intracacies and DJ Dukez entertained the crowd with back in time soca, funky house, R&B and the latest soca music.

I was due to attend other events including Caribbean Dinner Jazz, The Ex tempo Calypso Show at Carnival Village ,The International conference on Steel Pan, and Ramajay and Burrokeets Thank You party. Unfortunately I had a car accident which slowed my "social life" down... luckily no serious injuries. So I rested until Saturday 30th October and headed down to the Pan Explosion (PE) at the Bernie Grants Centre in Tottenham
For those of you that don't know I started playing pan when i was 8 my first panorama was in  the tents at Scrubs  lane I was 9 years of age and I continued for a further 16 years .
I love love panmusic so i wanted to go down to PE and support my fellow panist.
Again i was fashionably late!! I just cant seen to get to shows on time these days!!
I arrived when CSI steel orchestra were performing their 15min session. Then Metronomes Steel Orchestra treated the audience to a show like no other. The musical arrangements and playing style is one I have not seen from Metronomes for years, but they have definitely stepped up their game. 
Big up to my girl Vanya Reid and the "Four Seasons" for their lengthy but highly entertaining session of  rare groove and neo soul arrangements.
Congratulations to Metronomes  Steel Orchestra for wining the Pan Explosion competition. Well done to all the other steel orchestras.

I urge you all to stay true to your culture. My carnival lifestyle has not only been one of fetes and Mas but of culture and historic education. Support the artists and Keep ya culture alive!!!

Peace & Love S.x