by Javorne Williams-Campbell
The Junior Calypso Monarch crowns will once again travel to the town of Layou, after a brother and sister emerged winners for the second consecutive year.
Kristian âLil Krisâ Christopher was crowned the Primary School Monarch with his rendition of âCelebrating 40 yearsâ, completing a hat-trick in the junior calypso competition.
The nine-year-old grade four student, who could not contain his excitement, said âit feels greatâ to be crowned monarch for yet another year. Second was Ziel âSinging Zielâ Cain of the New Prospect Primary with her song âClean up the countryâ. Third went to Jontiel âDe man Jon-Tâ Burke of the Paradise Primary with his âFishing lineâ.
In the Secondary School category, Kristianâs big sister Kristiana âSinging Kristyâ Christopher won her fifth title, singing her song âFragmentationâ. The 15-year-old student, who won the competition four times representing the Layou Government School, won for the first time in the Secondary Calypso category, having won the Soca category last year.
In an interview with SEARCHLIGHT after being crowned, Kristiana stated that singing was in her blood and Vincentians can look forward to more from her, as she sees herself entering the national competition again, having reached as far as the semi-finals this year.
In second position was Damian âBoney Manâ Noel of the St Martinâs Secondary, who seemed to be the crowd favourite, with his âD man with D Planâ. Dalean âLady Daleâ Nero of the Sandy Bay Secondary had to settle for third, with her âSave Sandy Bayâ.
Both of the winning songs in the Junior Calypso Monarch competition were written by the childrenâs father, Wallace Christopher.
Mâriah âYoung Saiahâ Robertson of the Thomas Saunders Secondary was victorious in the Soca competition, outperforming the other eight competitors with her song âCarnivalâ.
âI was shocked, because I was not expecting to win, but I feel real nice, I feel real good,â exclaimed the 13-year-old shortly after being crowned.
Singing Kristy, last yearâs champion, had to settle for second position with her âSuper heroesâ. Delisha âSoca Dâ Brackin of the Sandy Bay Secondary was third with âGimme Socaâ.
There were 11 competitors in the Primary category of the Calypso competition and nine in the Secondary category. The soca segment had nine competitors.
Schools represented were: Sandy Bay Secondary, with three competitors each in the Soca and Secondary Calypso category, Belair Government, Greiggs Government, Bishopâs College, Girlsâ High School, Paradise Primary, Questelles Government, Gomea Methodist, Kingstown Government, Owia Government, Biabou Methodist, CW Prescod and Kingstown Anglican.
The show saw guest performances from seven-time Junior Calypso Monarch âMan Kemmyâ Christopher, who is a cousin to this yearâs winners in the competition.
Also performing at the show were this yearâs Soca favourite Dynamite and Hance John.
The winner of the Junior Calypso Monarch Secondary category, Kristiana âSinging Kristyâ Christopher, will represent this country at the Caribbean Junior Calypso Monarch competition next month.
Chad Blackman, a representative of the competition, speaking at the Junior Calypso and Soca Monarch competition at the Victoria Park on Tuesday, said the competition is being organized to showcase the talent of the young calypsonians in the Caribbean.
The competition is expected to be held in Barbados on August 20.