News
DeKalb County - A Carnival Culture Connection
Commissioner Connie Stokes and Ms. Michelle Jordan-Menifee, DeKalb Office of Economic Development traveled to Trinidad & Tobago in mid February on a Trade Mission facilitated by Evolving Tecknologies, an Enterprise Development Company (“eTeck “) of The Republic Trinidad & Tobago. However, scheduling unfortunately set them down on the island two weeks after carnival. GCCDC hopes that in 2009, representatives from DeKalb County will be back on the islands on a Culture Mission. A mission to observe the business of, and enjoy the culture that is Carnival - Steelpan!, Calypso!, Mas!’ and Dance - The Greatest Show on Earth.
First Lady Marjorie Brown judging the competition in Downtown Port of Spain.
Mayor Murchison Brown and his wife have been orchestrating carnival in Downtown Port of Spain for many, many years and continue to do a superb job. This year was no exception. Mayor Brown had little problem picking up his bull horn and getting out in the midst of it all, The bands moved with a continuous flow across the staging area to the beat of the soca music. His wife Marjorie, the head officiant, spends hours paying attention to the details and creativity presented by the bands as they pass across the stage. Hundreds of bands later (including two weekends of Children's Carnival), the results are announced like clock work. Ash Wednesday 4:00 p.m.!
I spent some time for the Children's carnival and on carnival Tuesday as a guest of the Mayor and his wife in the stands on South Quay in downtown Port Spain. They are great hosts and you have a wonderful vantage point of all the color and splendor of the bands and their Masqueraders.
But I had "been gone too long". .I'm a native and I longed to join my daughter, a 'first timer', and all the revellers jumping up to the beat of Fay Ann Lyons "Get-On". The Road March for 2008. Boy did they ever. Look for me among them next year. Carnival is Mayor Murchison and Marjorie Brown working together to present the Greatest Show on Earth or for certain the greatest show on South Quay in downtown Port of Spain!
Bill Leavell -
Executive Administrator DeKalb County Office of Art Culture and Entertainment taking GCCDC to the Schools. It can all be changed in the twinkling of an eye! Bill E. Leavell
The DeKalb Office of Arts, Culture & Entertainment Office: 404.371.6363 Fax: 404.371.6360 Cell: 404.392.1935 beleavell@co.dekalb.ga.us