BLOGGIN' WITH NEKI -NEKI'S BLOG

  by Onica Dick (The Poetess Neki) The Tobago Heritage Festival was first held in 1987. It is generally held annually over a two-week period and basically highlights Tobago's cultural traditions. We see various stage productions, sample local tasty food, hear traditional songs in different villages across the island. The theme for this year's Tobago Heritage Festival is Time Longer Than Twine. Pic 1. ALL SMILES-This year's groom Lyndon Lashley with bride Tamia Palmer and Chief Bride Nikiesha Augustine Phillips  Photo Credit: Bianca  Pic 2. The beautiful bride greets guests at the 'Cake and Wine' at the Moriah Community Centre   Pic 3. Deryck Brathwaite aka Brother B -Host of Tobago Channel 5- Morning Show was a participant in this year's Ole Time Wedding. I grew up in Highlands Road in the village of Moriah. I attended the Moriah Government Primary School from 1985 to 1992. However, as a child I never got to experience much of the Ole Time Wedding even though I ...

                                               By Onica Dick aka Neki   It took some time before he was able to sit and have a conversation with me. However, when he was able to, he certainly did not disappoint. Born and bred in L’Anse Fourmi, in the vicinity of the oldest legally protected rainforest in the Western Hemisphere, Calvern ‘Kahlil’ Hernandez, the second of five siblings is a multi-talented creative.   Photo 1. Calvern 'Kahlil' Hernandez  “When I was young, I wanted to be a chef; I like cooking smoked bones. However, as I got older, I realized that my calling was more than cooking. There was an entrepreneurial side in me that was waiting to come alive because I had lots of business venture ideas.” The past pupil of L’Anse Fourmi Primary School, St Patrick Anglican and Signal Hill Comprehensive says that his days of growing up w...

 By Onica Dick aka Neki I am thankful for the opportunity to continue to put out articles on this Blog page. I am thankful to the artistes and other individuals who give of their busy time to sit and have a conversation with me. I recently met with the young, rising talented Tobago artiste Zelous. The article below gives some details about our conversation. The 6th of four boys and three girls, Shakir ‘Zelous’ John is extremely gifted and intelligent.   Zelous is making his mark in the music industry in Tobago and beyond. He spent his formative years in Canaan/Bon Accord and is still a resident of the area. His days growing up were favourable and his best childhood memory is that of visiting England in 2014 and seeing how large the airplanes were compared to Caribbean Airlines. The 21-year-old is a past pupil of the Bon Accord Government Primary School and the Scarborough Secondary School. He remembers Sir Smart as his favourite teacher at primary school and Ms. Thompson Wil...

     By Onica Dick aka Neki   It is a cool Saturday afternoon at the Botanical Gardens of Scarborough. I have been given the opportunity to chat with Tobago artiste Num Num who is also the reigning October Carnival 2023 Tobago Soca Monarch. The article below gives some details about our conversation.   Born on October 25, 1985, Adrian ‘Num Num’ Isaac wanted to become a fireman as a child. However, at the age of 18 he started thinking about becoming an artiste after watching shows such as the Jamaican annual entertainment event ‘Sting’. His younger brother also played an integral role in his interest. Isaac says, “I heard my little brother Foster Isaac aka Foster General on CD; he sounded real good and after that I wanted to hear myself on CD too.” Pic 1. Adrian 'NUM NUM' Isaac  Photo Credit - Akeshea Dennis  ‘Num Num’ Isaac who is from Concordia, Tobago is the son of Leon Hughes and Delisia Isaac and has three brothers. He is a past pupil of ...

It is very long overdue but I am pleased to present Article #6 for this Blog.  Some time ago I sat and interviewed Tobagonian artiste Deon Thomas aka Dimension Muzic from Lambeau. Here are some highlights from our conversation. Also see video footage attached.    By Onica Dick (NEKI)                                                         Pic 1-  Deon 'Dimension' Thomas  At the start of the interview he tells me, “When I was younger I wanted to be a fireman”. Deon Thomas aka Dimenson Muzic is a Tobago dancehall and reggae artiste who grew up in Lambeau, Tobago. His favourite childhood memory was “playing starship shooting on the plum tree while pretending to be Star Trek characters even though our parents were always quarrelling with us to come down from the tree.” The last of seven children, Thomas attended...