Great Bay:--- Dancer/Choreographer Indhira Marlin, carnival costume designer and sculptor Randolph Scot, youth group, Voice of our Children foundation and new author, Lydia Henderson were among first-time nominees for the annual Culture Time Awards who took top honors when the winners were announced Sunday, February 5, 2012 in a special edition of the island's longest-running cultural program on PJD-2 radio 1300AM.
Indhira Marlin "whose consistency in producing quality work with the island's youth ensures the continuity of excellent output in dance on the island," took over from Broadway star Nicole de Weever, winner of the dance category for the last couple of years.
Producer and host of Culture Time, now in its 25th consecutive year, Fabian Badejo, expressed the hope that a National Dance Ensemble could emerge from the work of artistes like Indhira Marlin, Clara Reyes of Imbali Creative Movement Center, and groups like the Motiance Dance Company, the other two nominees in the Dance category for 2011.
The Mighty Dow, who had a stellar year during 2011, with accolades pouring in for him both at home and abroad, won the Music category against nominees like Addy "Shadowman" Richardson and the band, Control. Others nominated in this category included Tanny and the Boys, the Jolly Boys (both leading exponents of stringband music) and the Ebony Steel Orchestra.
However, Addy Richardson would not be denied a well-deserved recognition when his song, "In your eyes" was adjudged "Song of the Year" in a mano-a-mano with Control band's rendition of the Sparrow classic, "No money, no love."
"Shadowman has come out of the shadows to enter the spotlight of Caribbean music with his undeniable success on regional charts and on Tempo," noted Badejo. Culture Time co-host, Fernando Clark, stressed that "Shadowman has been consistently on the radar in the region, producing quality work that has made him stand out as a frontline musician."
However, it was not a matter of musical chairs when Control took the "Band of the Year" award in a category that included nominees "Youth Waves" and "No Limits". It is the second year consecutively that Control has won this category.
Randolph Scot, one of the island's leading carnival costume and set designers, won the Fine Art category in his first year of being nominated, while Lydia Henderson, another first-timer in the nominations race, won the Book of the Year award with her controversial autobiography, "Lydia; from heterosexual to homosexual to bisexual to God."
"Yori Yori" by Bracket, won the "Foreign Song of the Year" title, while "DJ of the Year" was won by Mix Master Pauly.
The Culture Time Lifetime Achievement Award went to artist/musician Urmain Dormoy who has gone from "Slujj to New Status Generation Drum Band in a lifetime full of hard work, dedication and breaking new grounds," according to Clark.
Chef Dino Jagtiani, won "Chef of the Year" award, instituted last year in recognition of the fact that the island is commonly referred to as the 'Culinary Capital of the Caribbean'. His Rare and Temptations restaurants offer "creative and innovative fare that soothe the palate," the judges noted.
"Culture Time Person of the Year" is Jacques Hamlet (better known as "Billie D") of SOS Radio in Marigot. "This is also a first for us," said Badejo, who observed that not only Billie D's work as Radio Personality but also as "local entrepreneur in the broadcast field has had a significant impact on the island's cultural field which has not escaped the notice of our judges."
There were a total of 16 categories for the Culture Time Awards, with two being declared vacant – Theatre and the Fashion Designer of the Year categories.
The Culture Time Awards do not carry any monetary or other material value but have become a prestigious recognition of consistent and excellent work in the field of culture by those who are in the field.
Click here to view detailed list of winners of Culture Time 2011 Awards.
