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… Vinel Hinds, Osei Clarke win Junior Calypso and Soca Monarch respectively
By Svetlana Marshall
Faith Corrica aka Lil Canary took the National Stadium by storm Friday night with her Kaiso “Give The Youths A Chance” as she successfully defended her Calypso Monarchy. In the junior competition, Vinel Hinds won the Junior Calypso Monarchy while Osei ‘OKC’ Clarke was crowned Junior Soca Monarch.
Donned in a partially gold jumpsuit, Lil Canary lit up the stage as she championed the cause for the young people of Guyana to be supported in their endeavours.
“… Give the youths a chance, support the skill whether song or dance; give the youths a voice, when they winning, with them rejoice; give the youths support, treat them with dignity and worth,” Lil Canary said as sang lustily to the gyrating crowd.
Through her lyrics she also called for the development of the Music Industry, which she predicts could help to boost the Tourism Economy. From the onset, she made it clear that her Kaiso was not about politics but she did mention, the country’s booming economy linked to its new found wealth – oil and gas.
In a pre-recorded interview, which was shown ahead of her performance, Lil Canary said though she won the monarch in 2021, she suffered major “lash back”.
“As a youth, I didn’t feel really celebrated by the seniors in the competition due to the lash back that I got after receiving the crown. However, as a champion I continued to press on,” she said.
Last year, her message was that of freedom. In an interview with the Village Voice Newspaper, Lil Canary said it was never about dominating but representing the young people of Guyana. “It was never really about winning or dominating, it was always about representing the youths, speaking up and advocating for the youths. I believe that I would have set a great example for any other youth to go for their dreams,” she told this publication.
Lil Canary attributed her success to her parents, grandfather and manager as well as her mentors Bonny Alves, Lord Canary, and the Mighty Rebel.
Akeem Alexander with ‘Spiritual Healing, Ivelaw Campbell aka Granny Ivy with Red Flag, Kenroy Fraser aka Mighty Believer with ‘Stop Killing De Women’ and Mark Ferdinand with ‘The Mace,’ were among the other performers in the competition.
‘YUH LIE’
Meanwhile, in the junior calypso competition, Vinel Hinds copped the top spot with her calypso “Yuh lie.”
Through her lyrics, Hinds tackled the issue of grooming of young girls by men. “Big men let me tell you flat, I gun talk no matter what, I am so tired of your display, you’re not acting responsible,” she sang while urging young girls not to be caught up in the web of lies told by men, particularly those married and in relationships.
“I’m gunna pay all of your school fees, I’m gunna tek yuh to the movies, just tell them yuh lie, yuh lie, yuh, yuh lie” Hinds urged young girls.
Hinds told this newspaper that the win Friday evening came as a major surprise. “First of all, I was speechless, I didn’t know that I would have won because I wasn’t that confident,” she told the Village Voice News.
On Saturday, she said undoubtedly her confidence has been boosted by the win. She attributed her success to her family and friends but more so Kross Kolor.
The other calypso competitors included Omaiah Hall, Torana Caesar, Keona Batson and 2021 Junior Calypso Campion, Osei Clarke.
While Osei Clarke did not win the Junior Calypso Monarch, he successfully ‘mash’ his way through the Junior Soca Competition to be crown Monarch.
