Heru during his performance at the Microphone Messenjahs spoken word extravaganza held yesterday October 7, 2012. Photo: VINO

Dalan Vanterpool during his saxaphone rendition. Photo: VINO

The event, which was held at the Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium of the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, yesterday October 7, 2012, featured performances from the headline act, Heru out of Ghana, in addition to Lysanne Charles of St Maarten, local performers Dalan Vanterpool, Smoke, Wasasha X, Ms BVI 2012 Sharie de Castro and the Callaloo Poets among others.

One of the organizers, Jerome Joseph, explained that Microphone Messenjahs was created to bring poetry to a grand scale in the Virgin Islands (VI). The initial aim was to showcase local talent he said, but indicated that over the years featured performers were invited from overseas to boost the attendance at the event. Joseph revealed that this allowed the local talent to express themselves on a bigger stage.

Joseph also mentioned this was the first year that local featured poets, such as Dalan Vanterpool, were added to the roster. Vanterpool belted out a brief saxophone recital during his routine to the pleasant surprise of the audience.

Additional local featured guests included Ms de Castro and Smoke who all managed to wow the audience with their amazing talent and poise in delivery.

Explaining that finance was always an issue, Joseph said getting sponsors was very difficult because the event doesn't offer the regulars such as alcoholic beverages and was therefore not a guaranteed ticket seller.

The small crowd of about 50 persons seemed pleased with what they were hearing and cheered vociferously for the performers as they departed the stage following their recitals.

Joseph said he had seen the growth in the writing style of the local poets who made a special effort to bring their ‘A’ game to the stage of the event.

The Callaloo Poets usually hold a monthly recital at the Mellow Moods Café in Road Town on each third Saturday. He hoped that Microphone Messenjahs would continue to get bigger and bigger and appealed to persons to make contributions to the art. Joseph envisioned that this may someday lead to poets publishing their individual work right here in the VI.

Last evening's event was organized by Time is Time promotions in association with the Callaloo Poets. Major sponsors included the Department of Culture, JTV, and the Mellow Moods Café among others.

Hon. Myron V. Walwyn was in attendance and was singled out for special praise in his contribution to the event by the MC, Jahweh David, and also for his promotion of African History in the school curriculum by Heru.