Tennicia De Freitas wins and so did Young Bill Rogers

Jr.Calypso Queen Tennicia Defreitas & Health Song Monarch Young Bill Rogers
Starting things off with the first victory for Kross Kolor Records for Mash 2012, Tennicia De Freitas is once again the Junior Calypso Monarch of Guyana. This feisty 20 year old beauty went up against ten other youngsters including the 2011 monarch Diana Chapman who placed 2nd and the lone male competitor Quincy Richmond who was announced the 3rd place winner. With her song entitled "Rumors- I Don't Know "which was written and composed by her manager, CEO and owner of Kross Kolor Records; Mr. Burchmore Simon, she immediately caught the audience's attention as she performed and belted out the lyrics on the stage at the MSC ground in Linden last Saturday night.
Due to inclement weather the show got off to a late start but that did not stop the Lindeners and others from Georgetown from being present at the event being the first along with the Ministry of Health's Health song competition to start off the usual Mashramani celebrations. Tennicia who was also defending her crown in the latter competition came in at first runner-up with former monarch Young Bill Rogers reclaiming the title. She is no stranger to the calypso arena since she started off by winning the Children's Mashramani Calypso competition in 2006 for three consecutive years and later moved up into the junior category in 2009 and placed 3rd. With her manager's guidance and motivation from the people closest to her she was crowned the 2010 junior calypso queen with the Song "Don't Want to Be Born" which took Guyana by storm and made waves across the regions and New York. She lost the crown in 2011 but once again came and proved that she is truly a fighter. According to Miss De Freitas 2012 is her final year competing as a junior and she is very overwhelmed to be leaving with a ‘bang' and hopes that her achievements thus far will motivate and encourage other young people to go after their dreams and one is yet to see the other side of her.
As a result of winning the competition Tennicia De Freitas earned her spot to compete in the senior category by automatic entry to the semi finals. This round of the competition is scheduled for the 11th of February 2012 in Wales on the West Bank of Demerara. Tennicia De Freitas wishes to thank her manager and the entire Kross Kolor family for helping to make her the person she is today and her great achievements thus far. She also sends heartfelt gratitude to all of her fans and supporters, family, Dawn Stanislaus and Mr. Derry Etkins for their support and contributions.

Tennicia Defreitas and Her Mother
Starting things off with the first victory for Kross Kolor Records for Mash 2012, Tennicia De Freitas is once again the Junior Calypso Monarch of Guyana. This feisty 20 year old beauty went up against ten other youngsters including the 2011 monarch Diana Chapman who placed 2nd and the lone male competitor Quincy Richmond who was announced the 3rd place winner. With her song entitled "Rumors- I Don't Know "which was written and composed by her manager, CEO and owner of Kross Kolor Records; Mr. Burchmore Simon, she immediately caught the audience's attention as she performed and belted out the lyrics on the stage at the MSC ground in Linden last Saturday night.
Due to inclement weather the show got off to a late start but that did not stop the Lindeners and others from Georgetown from being present at the event being the first along with the Ministry of Health's Health song competition to start off the usual Mashramani celebrations. Tennicia who was also defending her crown in the latter competition came in at first runner-up with former monarch Young Bill Rogers reclaiming the title. She is no stranger to the calypso arena since she started off by winning the Children's Mashramani Calypso competition in 2006 for three consecutive years and later moved up into the junior category in 2009 and placed 3rd. With her manager's guidance and motivation from the people closest to her she was crowned the 2010 junior calypso queen with the Song "Don't Want to Be Born" which took Guyana by storm and made waves across the regions and New York. She lost the crown in 2011 but once again came and proved that she is truly a fighter. According to Miss De Freitas 2012 is her final year competing as a junior and she is very overwhelmed to be leaving with a ‘bang' and hopes that her achievements thus far will motivate and encourage other young people to go after their dreams and one is yet to see the other side of her.
As a result of winning the competition Tennicia De Freitas earned her spot to compete in the senior category by automatic entry to the semi finals. This round of the competition is scheduled for the 11th of February 2012 in Wales on the West Bank of Demerara.
Tennicia De Freitas wishes to thank her manager and the entire Kross Kolor family for helping to make her the person she is today and her great achievements thus far. She also sends heartfelt gratitude to all of her fans and supporters, family, Dawn Stanislaus and Mr. Derry Etkins for their support and contributions. Starting things off with the first victory for Kross Kolor Records for Mash 2012, Tennicia De Freitas is once again the Junior Calypso Monarch of Guyana. This feisty 20 year old beauty went up against ten other youngsters including the 2011 monarch Diana Chapman who placed 2nd and the lone male competitor Quincy Richmond who was announced the 3rd place winner. With her song entitled "Rumors- I Don't Know "which was written and composed by her manager, CEO and owner of Kross Kolor Records; Mr. Burchmore Simon, she immediately caught the audience's attention as she performed and belted out the lyrics on the stage at the MSC ground in Linden last Saturday night.
Due to inclement weather the show got off to a late start but that did not stop the Lindeners and others from Georgetown from being present at the event being the first along with the Ministry of Health's Health song competition to start off the usual Mashramani celebrations. Tennicia who was also defending her crown in the latter competition came in at first runner-up with former monarch Young Bill Rogers reclaiming the title. She is no stranger to the calypso arena since she started off by winning the Children's Mashramani Calypso competition in 2006 for three consecutive years and later moved up into the junior category in 2009 and placed 3rd. With her manager's guidance and motivation from the people closest to her she was crowned the 2010 junior calypso queen with the Song "Don't Want to Be Born" which took Guyana by storm and made waves across the regions and New York. She lost the crown in 2011 but once again came and proved that she is truly a fighter. According to Miss De Freitas 2012 is her final year competing as a junior and she is very overwhelmed to be leaving with a ‘bang' and hopes that her achievements thus far will motivate and encourage other young people to go after their dreams and one is yet to see the other side of her.
As a result of winning the competition Tennicia De Freitas earned her spot to compete in the senior category by automatic entry to the semi finals. This round of the competition is scheduled for the 11th of February 2012 in Wales on the West Bank of Demerara.
Tennicia De Freitas wishes to thank her manager and the entire Kross Kolor family for helping to make her the person she is today and her great achievements thus far. She also sends heartfelt gratitude to all of her fans and supporters, family, Dawn Stanislaus and Mr. Derry Etkins for their support and contributions.
Freetown Collective: What an Experience!

Freetown Collective Flier
There was an extraordinary hype about this Trinidadian group Freetown Collective, so extraordinary that I needed to unearth for myself what the buzz was all about.
So I attended Freetown Collective Unplugged: The VIP Show held at Night Cap on Sunday, January 29, 2012. I was blown away by the talent and conscious vibes that were oozing from these young men. Twas a truly entertaining evening!
The evening was so engaging that I'm sure most persons probably forgot the late start due to inclement weather and maybe even the weather itself. The performance commenced with a variation of sounds from Freetown Collective's very artistic percussionist, Baba Onilu. The amazing thing about Baba is that he makes all the instruments he plays. His brilliant sounds paved the way for the beginning of a very intimate session between Freetown Collective and the audience.
Keegan Maharaj, the poet; Lou Lyons, the guitarist and Muhammad Muwakil, the vocalist took the audience on a lyrical journey filled with real life experiences, tribulations, relationships, sex and love. Muhammad encouraged the listeners to "raise your hands at anytime, it's that kinda session."
The pieces were captivating, uplifting and awe-inspiring. The group exemplifies versatility, flair and togetherness. Lou shifted from keyboard to guitar and the group's bass player, Ikechi Griffith added to the rhythm and harmony of the evening.
"We have no song list..." said Muhammad, "…we want to feel the vibes from the crowd." The crowd was very much in tuned with the group; everyone was under their magical spell. One audience member asked "Who is Freetown Collective?" Muhammad replied "We are us." (Keep reading I'll tell you who they really are).
Freetown Collective is sheer conscious vibes. This is even exhibited in their spoken word pieces recited by the group's 'resident poet' Keegan. He treated the crowd to two pieces; the last one about sex was being recited for the first time. That one had everyone smiling from ear to ear.
Muhammad noted that Freetown Collective is very emotional about what they write, though entertaining to us; their pieces are what they feel, think, experience and dream of. We were very fortunate to be granted a tour through their minds.
My favourite song for the evening was a song done by Muhammad about the very first girl he loved. The lyrics told the story of love in its purest form, love defying borders, love lost. I was almost drawn to tears (the tears were there), and I am positive that I was not the only one.
The show ended with everyone on their feet, shaking and moving to the beat and the vibes coming from the group. What better way to conclude a remarkable evening of soulful lyrics, gifted performers and good vibrations?!
Now for the million dollar question, 'Who is Freetown Collective?' Freetown Collective is a tribe of highly passionate poets and lyricists. The Freetown concept follows on the notion that every man and woman has a personal responsibility to free themselves from negative mental and social chains so as to free their families, their neighbourhoods, their nations and indeed by extension, the world. So the music must remain a freeing agent creating within each listener a "free town" that he/she is able to build upon and move out to affect the world. Based in Trinidad, the group is swiftly becoming a force to be reckoned with.
If you missed the Night Cap showed you surely missed a damn good thing, but not to worry you can have your chance to be blown away at Freetown Collective's next show at the National Cultural Centre on Saturday, February 4, 2012 commencing at 8pm.
Freetown Collective is in Guyana as part of Upscale Poetry's 10th Anniversary Celebrations.
By Schemel Patrick

