The Second Annual One Guyana Concert hosted by the Ministry of Culture Youth & Sport was a major success. The concert can be described as nothing short of a platinum level, a celebration of cultural and artistic diversity. As the name suggests the event feature’s themes and love and unity while showcasing Guyana’s rich cultural diversity. This year’s concert saw the Minister of Culture Youth and Sport being immensely praised for creating platforms for local artiste with special commendations being given for widening the performances so that they cater not only for the successful artiste but also budding young talent.

It was a night of back-to-back hit performance opening with a Spoken word collaboration featuring veteran spoken word artist Daniela Araujo and the recently discovered poetic GEM Queenisha Patterson. Their patriotic battle cry was the perfect opening and set the tone for what would be an undeniably spectacular night. Their performance was followed by performances from young budding talents including Nia Allen and Cassie from the recently concluded National talent Search and the artistic spectacle that was reigning Junior soca & Calypso Monarch OKC’s riveting performance. The combination of humor, vocals, and authentic performance energy was a sight to behold with a climactic ending that is guaranteed to leave you clamoring for more of that OKC vibe.

One Guyana second edition brought to life some unusual pairings that served to cement themes of unification and diversity including Vanilla and Steven Ramphal, Bounty Singh and Jumo Primo and Michelle Big Red King, Sean Sober, and Lion Cub.  In addition to these pairings, the audience’s thirst was amply satisfied as they got the opportunity to vibe even if just virtually with some of their all-time favorites such as the always entertaining Brandon Harding, Bounty Singh, and Vanetta Willie, and many others who commanded the stage with powerful performances.  The Team of Gully Rass CKush and Drew Thoven was one of the most anticipated performances of the night and they did not fail to deliver singing a medley of their most popular hits including their break-out hit ‘Eggball’.

There were of course many standout performances to enthrall the audience before musical legend Natural Black took to the stage to close off what was indeed a brilliant showing of diverse Guyanese talent. The audience could choose from the always captivating Dianna Chapman who as usual utilized her diverse training in the arts to combine a bit of drama, vocals, and brilliant choreography to create yet another Diana stamped moment of artistic gold, singing sensation Nekeita who showed her vocal prowess and professionalism with a pitch-perfect rendition of her hit Vibes again, or the Reigning Soca Monarch Samuel Medas who more than compensated for whatever initial disappointment the audience may have felt for him not singing the monarch winning stadium with his moving raw and emotional rendition of his early hit ‘Royalty’ Medas left everything on the stage with this vulnerable performance.  He belted the hit to vocal perfection using his characteristic raspy vocals to deliver the strong and empowering message of the song.

To view the performances on Facebook click link.

As usual, the Guyanese audience is known for being tuff and there were, of course, negative comments about artistes lacking originality among other such issues but there was no denying, however, the need for these platforms to showcase the wealth of talent that permeates the local music and arts industry. One Guyana second edition was indeed a major success and we here at Caribbean Entertainment Hub anxiously await One Guyana Edition three (3) and promise to continue keeping you our faithful readers locked and loaded as regards the happening in Guyana’s thriving arts industry.

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