Emmanuel ‘Bo’ Durand recognized for his contribution to séwinal

Band Akayo with Emmanuel 'Bo' Durand on accordion

One the high points of the Waraka Séwinal Festival, held in Atkinson last weekend, was the awarding of a plaque of recognition to séwinal stalwart, Emmanuel ‘Bo’ Durand.

Mr. Durand received the award at the Grand Séwinal Concert held on Saturday evening December 17, 2011, for his contribution to the séwinal tradition. He has been involved in the séwinal tradition for over 40 years. A multi-instrumentalist, Mr. Durand plays the steel pan, accordion, tanbou, gwaj and boom; typical instruments used in séwinal.

The séwinal tradition runs very strong in the Durand family. His grandfather Mr. Emery Zake Durand, uncle Medland Durand and father Rockson Durand were the leading séwinal musicians during the  1940’s and 50’s.

According to Mr. Durand, he started ‘running séwinal’ from his teens. He recalls the use of steel pans in the late 1950’s as part of séwinal.  He was a member of a steel pan group in Atkinson that went from house to house in Atkinson and the Kalinago Territory entertaining families and spreading the joy of Christmas. In more recent years, he concentrated on the accordion and tanbou, performing with his own group of musicians and with Bann Akayo.

After receiving the plaque of recognition, Mr. Durand entertained the crowd with a guest performance on the accordion. The festival organizers, the Atkinson Village Council and the Waraka Séwinal Festival Committee intend to recognize other séwinal stalwarts at future editions of the Waraka Sewinal Festival.

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3 Comments

  1. Angelo Allen
    December 25, 2011

    Excellent..keep it up .

  2. Amber
    December 22, 2011

    thats good news keep up the good work and it will surely pay at the end!
    so proud of u guys!

  3. mariecherie
    December 22, 2011

    congratulations mr durand keep it up

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