Event Date : Sunday 27th November
Location : Sugar Dumplin in Glasgow
Event Description :
Come and celebrate 50 years of Barbados Independence with us in our second fundraiser for Haiti, this time at Sugar Dumplin restaurant in Glasgow. Enjoy a welcome cocktail courtesy of Clayton’s Kola Tonic and Caribbean buffet from Sugar Dumplin.
Talk from historian and genealogist Selena Carty from Black Poppy Rose for stories of the contribution of Caribbean servicemen and women to Britain in times of war.
Poetry from Lesley Traynor of Women Poets with Fierce Words
LIVE music from Afrobeats singer Levis Albano and Afro-Jazz fusion duet Ladies of Midnight Blue
Party on with DJ Marshal Telisman, the king of Glasgow party nights, for the best selections of soca, dancehall and reggae…
Enter our raffle to win great prizes and buy something from the special menu for a chance to win a week’s stay for two at Divi Southwinds Beach Resort, Barbados.
All profits from tickets and raffle going to support community organisations in Haiti.
Tonight I attended the charity fundraiser Scotland for Haiti 2, this was being held at the Glasgow Caribbean restaurant Sugar Dumplin. On arriving we were welcomed to Sugar Dumplin and given a welcome cocktail. The cocktail is called a Jamestone 2 Tonic and was courtesy of Clayton’s Kola Tonic, this is how its made :
- 1 part rum
- 1 part Kola Tonic
- 1 part Falernum
- Soda and lime
This is a very nice cocktail and I will be ordering this again.
Once I got my welcome drink I looked for a table, I wanted something near where the performances were so I could try and get some good photos and videos and to get a good view.
The DJ for the night was already setting up and started playing some tunes, while we waited for everyone else to turn up. I really liked the tunes he played and was happy that it wasn’t loud that you needed to shout over it.
Everyone was ready and it was time for the event to offically start.
Edinburgh Caribbean Association Twitter : twitter.com/edincarib
A Lisa Williams from The Edinburgh Caribbean Association got up and welcomed us to the event, and what we were to expect from the evening. Lisa’s welcome speaks started with its now 50 years that Barbados has been independent, and how this event and others are continuing to support Haiti and a brief talk about Haiti.
Lisa then introduced us to the first guest speaker Selena Carty.
Selena Carty Twitter : twitter.com/SelenaCarty
Black Poppy Roses Website : www.blackpoppyrose.org
Before tonight I didn’t know any of the names that were going to be speaking or performing.
Selena Carty is a Historian and founder from Black Poppy Rose on British West Indies Regiment in WW1.
WHY A BLACKPOPPYROSE?
TO REMEMBER THE LEGACIES THAT BEFALL EACH AND EVERYONE OF US.
THE BLACKPOPPYROSE IS A SYMBOL TO NOT ONLY HIGHLIGHT BUT HONOUR AND REMEMBER THE CONTRIBUTIONS MADE TO VARIOUS WARS SINCE THE 16TH CENTURY BY THE AFRICAN/BLACK/CARIBBEAN/PACIFIC ISLANDERS COMMUNITIES.
I am still getting to grips with WordPress and seems I need to upgrade to upload videos, so please check out my Instagram to view the videos :
https://www.instagram.com/krismunro/
What Selena was telling us was very emotional, powerful and very educational. If you ever get a chance to see her and to listen to her do take the time.
Next was some touching and funny poetry from Lesley Traynor, from Woman Poets with Fierce words.
Twitter : twitter.com/LATraynor
Lesley told us a little about herself and let us hear a few poems, one was even about a family member and one which was my favourite from the night was called “Big Bad WolF”.
I am not really into poetry but I did enjoy listening to Lesley, and by going to this event I got to try something I wouldn’t normally have gone to see.
Now its was time to get some food from the buffet, I just took a small sample of everything. I have to say I have been to Sugar Dumplin before but whatever glaze they used tonight on the chicken wings wow it was amazing!!!
The next act to go up was Chief Kofi Amu Master Drummer who was from Ghana, and he was also going to do poetry for us.
This type of poetry again was new to me, and different to Lesley’s. Chief Kofi was very entertaining, and even got some audience participation with everyone going “mmmmm” a lot….you had to be there.
The next act was my favourite part of the event, it was very entertaining and great to listen to. The act that ended the night were called Ladies of Midnight Blue. Ladies of Midnight Blue are an Afro-Jazz Fusion brass/drums and vocals act.
Twitter : twitter.com/LadiesofMBlue
Ladies of Midnight Blue’s performance was entertaining, amazing to watch and listen to but also since they are so energetic on the drums you feel tired just watching them. For me I would love to see them perform again, so I will be keeping an eye out for when they are back in Glasgow.
Again check out my Instagram as I have two videos from Ladies of Midnight Blue :
https://www.instagram.com/krismunro/
Near the close of the night there was a charity raffle, where you could win goodie bags with random items e.g Jam, sugar etc all from Barbados. I was lucky to win a bag, which contained several booklets on Barbados and also some “Hot Hot” sauce which I will use at some point.
Overall I had a really good night, it was educational and entertaining. I learned about black history, different styles of poetry and got to experience Afro-Jazz for the first time. Everyone around me also really enjoyed the night, as there were lots of smiles, laughs and dancing.
