October 2018


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Called “A Alma Brasileira” — The Brazilian Soul — a spirited concert recently showcased some of the best of Brazil through samba and bossa nova songs, music, dance, capoeira and cultural/historical lessons. Held at Queen’s Hall, Port-of-Spain on Thursday, September 6, the concert raised awareness of the disciplines of Portuguese and Brazilian Studies at The UWI by using the academic training of members of the Department to teach some Portuguese to the cast and crew, most of whom were meeting the language for the first time.

It was the second outreach concert of this kind, the first having been held in 2016 to celebrate 100 Years of Samba and 194 Years of Brazilian Independence. The 2018 edition was even more spectacular than the first, with a larger, more diverse cast and the blessings of the Embassy of Brazil.

Conceptualised by Sean Samad (PhD Candidate in Cultural Studies) and Heather Mac Intosh-Simon (former national Calypso Queen), both part-time lecturers in the Minor in Portuguese and Brazilian Studies programme, the show came off in fine style. The dynamic lecturers of the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics hold a passion for all things Brazilian and Lusophone (Portuguese-speaking), all having studied in Brazil. With the coordinator Dr Jo-Anne Ferreira, the team was delighted to have the support of sister Department of Creative and Festival Arts (DCFA). Together, the lecturers taught eight professional adult singers and 21 children.

The team believes in the need to link up with Brazil, our largest CARICOM neighbour, through a solid programme of language and culture learning and teaching. The Minor in Brazilian Studies opens up the colossus that is Brazil to the English-official Caribbean, and deepens knowledge of the existing commonalities between the two regions.

The concert’s cast included five national champion songbirds: Helon Francis (National Calypso Monarch 2018), Devon Seale (National Calypso Monarch 2016), Heather Mac Intosh (National Calypso Queen 2002 and 2011), Daniel Griffith (MusicTT 2017 Showcase Winner), and Jonathan Simon (2016 National Patriotic Song Competition Winner). Also performing were singers Candice Alcantara, Moricia Cagan, Gerelle Forbes, Karla Gonzales, Kevin Humphrey, Nigel O’Connor, Juliet Robin and Sean Samad. The Barataria Anglican Primary School Choir stole the hearts of all. The show was narrated by Conrad Parris, representing the 196-year old Brazilian Soul, and young Yasu Riley, who represented the younger 56-year old Trinidad & Tobago, as the two got to know each other for the first time.

The band included members of Elan Parlé, including Michael Low Chew Tung (Director), Rodney Alexander, Richard Joseph and Anthony Woodroffe Jr, DCFA lecturer and student, Mikhel Carter and Shea Sealey, Theron Shaw, and Bahian percussionist, Marcus Santos, of Latin Percussion and Grooversity.

All Concert Photos Courtesy Rapso Imaging (http://www.rapsoimaging.com/portfolio.html)