Sounds of the Caribbean at Mohawk

The sounds of the Caribbean rocked Hamilton Mountain this afternoon. Members of the Caribbean community were celebrating three decades of accomplishment.

The sounds of steel drums and plenty of calypso at the Mohawk College concert hall this afternoon. This was the 30th annual Caribbean Potpourri concert in Hamilton, and a chance to honour the founder of the concert and what they’ve been able to do.

Calypso star Macomere Fifi and folk singers LaPetite Musicale were rehearsing through the afternoon for the event.

Organizers say it brought together some of the top Caribbean talent in the region to raise money to support young people.

“Thirty years of telling the young people whose heritage is the Caribbean that what they do is important. It’s beautiful,” said David Christopherson, member of parliament for Hamilton Centre.

The MP presented the concert founder with a plaque, praising her for making a difference through the concerts.

The money raised — about $15,000 last year — is used to help charities, and provide scholarships for Caribbean-Canadian kids.

Eleanor Wiltshire-Rodney of African Caribbean Potpourri is a retired teacher who started the concerts to bring Caribbean culture to kids who were missing their music, and it grew from there.

“I would tell you that I hope it would engender pride in their culture, their heritage, and also the fact that not only are we bringing something here to be proud of. In the process, we’re bringing something to help youth in this country and also our global country,” said Wiltshire-Rodney.

The concerts can bring the Caribbean community together with others in Hamilton, according to actor and comedian Richardo Keens-Douglas of Grenada, one of the headliners.

{Richardo Keens-Douglas}

“I think in the community here that when we do more of these things that we try not to separate it,” said Keens-Douglas. “I’m not into separation. I’m into coming together, inclusiveness, you know.”

After 30 years, Wiltshire-Rodney is stepping down as chair of the concerts, but hopes someone will keep them going.

They were hoping to raise about as much money this year as they raised last year. It’ll go to scholarships and toward disaster relief in the eastern Caribbean.