Achievement Award in fashion
Guyana made an indelible mark at the annual Barbados music awards, now coined the Barbados Music, Fashion and Film Awards, which was held last weekend.
A barrage of talent from the land of many waters hit the stage at the prestigious Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre in Barbados at what has become a must-see event on the Bajan entertainment calendar.
A contingent of Guyanese talent–Lisa Punch, Ernesta Nelson and Travis Bowen–created quite a stir at the packed hall of creative arts enthusiasts and practitioners.
The Nation headlined that Lisa was the “Punch Line” at the event, belting out a powerful rendition of “Secret Admirer”, serenading the receptive front row attendees as she descended the stairs to access an intimate connection with her admirers.
Ernesta delivered one of her soca hits to the delight of the receptive audience while Travis Bowen, the winner of Gold Coast Record Talent Search in Guyana, courtesy of Guyana Fashion Week, was a breath of fresh air performing an Enrique Iglesias pop hit.
Dream come true
He was received with much enthusiasm and he is now being groomed, in Barbados, for international work and a record deal. “This is a dream come true for me and I must thank Guyana Fashion Week and Gold Coast Records for this opportunity,” Bowen said.
In the fashion department, Sonia Noel lived up to her reputation, presenting a stunning line up of Caribbean signature ensembles and separates that proclaimed that Guyana is a significant stakeholder in the development of the Caribbean fashion industry.
To top it off, she was awarded a Regional Lifetime Achievement Award for her contribution to fashion in the Caribbean. Her line was highly appreciated and indeed, prompted extensive interest from entrepreneurs in carrying her line at their shops.”It is a great feeling to be appreciated for your work”, said Noel.
Regional integration
The Barbados music awards opened up its ambit to include fashion and film, all part of a regional campaign of integrating the region through the creative industries and ultimately promoting the Caribbean brand as an alternative on the global agenda.
Guyana truly represented at this occasion, and certainly proved that its talent and creative energies can make a distinctive mark on the international scene and are a force to be reckoned with.
Ronnie Morris, producer of the award showcase and a director of Guyana Fashion Week, was elated about the inclusion of Guyanese style and asserts “this is just a beginning of remarkable things to come, in terms of collaborating with Guyanese artistes.”
He also commended Sonia Noel for facilitating the growth of dynamic inter-regional networking endeavours in this hemisphere. Brutal Tracks and Mystic were also in attendance. Mystic was scheduled to perform, but was unwell.
