Chutney missing in Mix-up at UWI

THE EDITOR: There was a conference at the University entitled “Cross Culturalism.” Every lunch time there was a session called “Mix-it-Up” under the trees near the library where I pass.

There were cultural items being performed for local and foreign delegates. What was disappointing was that there was little or no Indian cultural items. There was Gillian Moore and rapso artiste Brother Resistance. There was also Melvina Hazard and Nneka Edwards, and Northwest Laventille drummers and Carol La Chapelle dance troupe. There was too the Los Dinamos Trinitarious. Quite noticeable was the absence of tassa drummers and chutney singers — art forms indigenous to Trinidad.

The “Mix-it-Up” programme could have included the band SSL Melobugs or Karma or Triveni. They play a wide variety of music including calypso, soca, bhangra, parang and dub.  They should be hired at many of the multi-ethnic events because quite frankly, Pantar with Mungal Patasar, is being overused. And sitar is not a popular folk instrument like the dholak, dhantal and harmonium. There are many young versatile Trinidadian singers like Anil Bissesbhar, Kavita Maharaj, Anil Bheem and Suresh Jagroo who are not given national exposure to multi-ethnic audiences.

SARIKA ALI
Arima