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Newcomer to the 2020 Calypso Competition, Nicole \u2018AbiYah\u2019 Christian-Alfred has revealed that educating the masses is her motivation for participating in this year\u2019s competition.<\/p>\n
Despite being a Hebrew Israelite, who does not usually partake in carnival celebrations, Christian-Alfred feels that calypso may serve as a means for meaningful communication with the masses.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really do see that calypso is more than we have probably made it to be, more than just a carnival thing. It come from such deep roots, and it deserves to be used as a platform to really express to the population and the people what is really happening among us, what are the social issues happening among us\u2026\u201d she explained, in an exclusive interview with Dominica News Online. \u201cI have a message, and just like our ancestors used calypso to send messages to each other, I am now using it to also send a message to my people.\u201d<\/p>\n
She continued, \u201cNow I am solid\u2026 I have decided to use this means to really bring the message, and now people are attentive. This is the time that people really want to listen to that genre. I am very solid now in what is truth, what I have absorbed and believe to be truth, and I feel like it is my responsibility to share\u2026 Now I am at that point where I am ready to use the platforms that are available to me, being a Dominican, to send out that truth\u2026 to the population.\u201d<\/p>\n
In her song \u2018A Message\u2019, which was written and produced by her husband, Christian-Alfred discusses oppression among minorities.<\/p>\n
\u201cClearly there is oppression around us\u2026 I feel our limitations, because after the abolition of slavery we still have colonial laws\u2026\u201d she said. \u201cWe, who are considered the minority, we the blacks and the kalinagos, are really the ones who are suffering in society\u2026 we don\u2019t have all the money; we don\u2019t have all the assets.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Christian-Alfred is a newcomer to the competitive calypso stage, she is a seasoned artiste. She began her musical journey as a child, winning the Artists of Tomorrow contest, in 1998, at eight years old. She was also a finalist in Cable and Wireless\u2019 Star Quest, and was named second runner-up in the 2019 Domfesta Song Contest.<\/p>\n
The songstress also released gospel album, \u2018Speak to Me\u2019, in 2012.<\/p>\n
Detailing her musical background, she stated, \u201cI have been singing in primary school choirs, high school choirs… When I was in the Christian church, I would sing on the worship team, and then I had Gospel Explosion\u2026 I would back up a lot of the gospel artistes, and I myself would do solos on the shows.\u201d<\/p>\n
Christian-Alfred encouraged other artistes to \u201cenjoy the process\u201d and develop their skills.<\/p>\n
In ‘Calypso New Blood’\u00a0 DNO will be highlighting the 3 new comers to this year’s calypso competition.<\/strong><\/p>\n