Show me your moves, Trinidad!

And the vessel used to bring them here was internationally renowned Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and humanitarian, Angelique Kidjo. Born in Benin, West Africa, Kidjo was a guest of the Emancipation Support Committee and the headline act at the Pan-African Spektakula concert prominently featuring local acts alongside her.

These included the multiple National Music Festival award-winning choir Jeunes Agape led by Lois Lewis, former National Calypso Monarch Singing Sandra, former Road March winner Shurwayne Winchester and the Wasafoli Dancers.

Impressively, the show started at the advertised 8 pm with the singing of the national anthem and Masters of Ceremony Errol Fabien and Dara Healy wasted no time in introducing the Point Fortin-based Jeunes Agape. Their six-song repertoire included “Siyabonga Jesu”, “Ahuna Ya Tswanang”, “Salala”, “Sechaba”, “The Warrior” and “Umoja”.

The costuming and choreography were beautiful but the acoustic deficiencies at the venue resulted in the lyrics being barely discernible depending on where you were sitting. They, however, received an appreciative round of applause at the end of their set. The only real lapse in an otherwise tightly managed show, came during the band changeover to bring on Winchester who received a mixed response ranging from lukewarm to enthusiastic.

He managed, however, to get the sold-out audience singing along to Andre Tanker’s “Sayamanda”, Edwin Yearwood’s “Pump Me Up”, Lord Kitchener’s “Sugar Bum Bum” and Black Stalin’s “Black Man Feeling to Party”. He also included some of his own compositions including “Front” and “Wining Addiction”. Singing Sandra took to the stage at about 9.25 pm and thrilled patrons with Ras Shorty I’s “Watch Out My Children”, “Voices From The Ghetto” and “Ancient Rhythms”. As she exited the stage, patrons attempted to treat themselves to an encore but Fabien said he had strict instructions to keep the show moving. Nigerian hip hop artiste Two Face, who is more popularly known in this country for his song “African Queen” was introduced next following which there was a brief intermission.

The stage was then set for Kidjo who immediately instructed patrons to stand up and dance. “Show me some Trinidad moves!” she said, as she worked the stage with some energetic African dance steps.

Her fourth rendition, “Malaika”, originally sung by the late Miriam Makeba, South Africa’s queen of song, was done using just an acoustic guitar and congas.

In spite of brief audio issues, Kidjo remained unfazed. Loud applause followed. Her mid-tempo, African-infused cover version of Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song”, accompanied by Jeunes Agape and Two Face, really struck a chord. But it was Makeba’s “Pata Pata” which elicited a deafening roar at the end.

Again, patrons called for an encore. Kidjo responded, “You want the same song again ? Noooo! Come on. I will teach you a new song.”

That clearly seemed to placate the fans who quickly learnt the chorus of “Afrika”. Leaving the stage and moving through the audience, which was now on its feet, Kidjo was mobbed by those who just wanted to touch her and dance with her.

She jokingly complained at the end of the song that she has been eating too much since her arrival here. “Everything just tastes so good here.”

She took some time to call on some patrons to join her on stage to dance with her as she reached into her repertoire and treated them to “Batonga” and a few more of her hits. Even Arts and Multiculturalism Minister Dr Lincoln Douglas could not resist being a part of the action. The show ended at around midnight.