Caribana News

The Future of Mas

By RON FANFAIR

Calvin Warren watched with pride last Thursday night at the Mas Toronto camp in Scarborough as his granddaughter, Rebecca Martinez, tested her costume.

He was confident that she would parade the outfit well at last Saturday's Scotiabank Junior Carnival in the Jane & Finch community, and he planned to be there to support her.

By QUEEN MACOOMEH

De ting din start on time but dais awright. When Greenwich Mean Time was setting de clock dey fugget to sen somebody to tell Caribbean people, so is not we fault.

People does want to boof me about de fack dat I en have no music degree an I cyah read music. An is troot. I only have a degree in Steupse. De judges at the recent Pan Alive have plenty degree more dan me an could tell you bout sharp, flat, minor, major, doh-ray-me an far-so-lah-tee. All I could tell you is if it song good to me or if it grater on meh nerve. But is people like me who does play pan an is people like me who does pay to come an hear pan. So I go take meh boof because nobody paying rent fuh meh mout.

Marsha Williams showing off her art

By RON FANFAIR

The annual Scotiabank Caribana visual art exhibition provides a unique opportunity for Canadian artists like Cheryl Rock to showcase their talent and meet their peers.

The Beyond the Rhythm exhibit was unveiled at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) last week.

By RON FANFAIR

Pleasing the fans has always been entertainer Redman's (Michael Thomas) priority.

"I try and put myself in the place of the audience who pay their good money to come out and see me perform," said the reggae singer/rapper-turned calypsonian. "Whenever I write a song, I ask myself if it's worthy enough to go over well with the crowd. If the answer is no, I immediately scrap that song and go on to pen another set of lyrics.

"I aim to please the audience I am performing for first and foremost and then I leave it up to the panel of adjudicators."