Singing a love song for 45 years

THEY USUALLY spend their time performing on the Saturday night before the wedding, but it was now their turn to be entertained. The popular Mohammed couple — Nazir and Mangree — of Cunapo Southern Main Road in Biche, celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary in fine style last week with friends and relatives at their home. The couple is well known for their skills in entertaining crowds gathered to celebrate the night before a Hindu wedding. They have travelled the country through the years providing the appropriate songs for Hindu-based functions. The happy couple received many gifts from friends who came from all over the country to celebrate with them.  Guests had an enjoyable time eating, drinking and dancing, while some laughed and talked the night away.

Both Mangree, 63, and Nazir, 66, were married in 1959 and have two children who went on to become good singers. Their oldest daughter, Shaffiroon Radica Mohammed, is a well-known recording artiste and a member of the Spread Pal Crew. Their second daughter, Kamla, has created a name for herself, singing in many “home programmes” in central and south Trinidad. The celebrations began with the knock of a bottle and spoon as the Mohammeds’ ten grandchildren and four great grand gathered to sing some of their favourite chutney tunes. This was followed by speeches from their daughters. Shaffiroon told the gathering she remembered the days when she had to hustle from school to get ready to make the long trip from Biche to Rio Claro when relatives were getting married. “Mom and Dad would be preparing for hours to make this trip and relatives would be waiting patiently for them to arrive, because on seeing this couple they were assured of entertainment for the night,” she said.

Shaffiroon said her parents are unsung heroes who have travelled throughout the country singing and entertaining without a charge. “Today, people pay thousands of dollars for the same kind of entertainment, and my parents continue to entertain free of charge. They are both kind-hearted, loving people who just want to make everyone happy,” she said. Going back to their youth, Mangree remembered the days when she first saw Nazir. “He was passing in a truck and I was going to work in the garden. He looked at me and I looked back at him. And that was it. He went straight to my mother and told her that he wanted to get married. But I was not ready. I was 16 years old and I was enjoying the company of my brothers and sisters,” she recalled. She had elder brothers and sisters who were not married and so Nazir was told to wait. He paid regular visits to Mangree’s home, but was not allowed to speak with her as was the custom in those days.

“We were not allowed to speak to any boys except our cousins and our brothers. We were always under the close watch of our parents. And I believe that this protection was necessary for us to upkeep out characters as young women in the village,” she said. She laments the fact that the times have changed and the parents no longer look out for their children as in the early days.  “When something goes wrong they blame everyone but themselves. But it is a mother’s duty to look after their daughter in every way possible,” she warned. After their marriage, Mangree and Nazir started singing as a pastime and they would write down songs as well. Mangree began beating the dholak and soon she was ringing out the right rhythm for the many classical songs and ghazals (love songs) that Nazir was singing. She would join him in the chorus and the two made a perfect couple singing many duets that the people loved to listen to.

Nazir has a powerful and melodious voice that he maintains even today. The two remained close to each other through the years. Nazir said that his wife was a partner to sing with, and a good friend as well, and together they weathered many storms. “As far I could remember, my wife has been there for me. She has been supporting me in everything I do and I believe that all the success I have is because of her love and dedication toward me and my two daughters,” he said. They have both built a home of love for all the members of the family and extended family. It is not unusual to see their grandchildren hugging them and singing along with them.

The couple is involved in gardening since Nazir retired from his job as foreman with the Sangre Grande County Council. It is amazing how these two old folks have joined hands to produce crops on a large scale. They do not hire workers. All the labouring is done by both of them. They find great pleasure in planting and harvesting crops such as peppers, bodi, tomatoes, ochro, pigeon peas and corn, which they sell wholesale. They are not involved in singing as much, but they can still entertain for hours at a time.