Heritage Queen contestants celebrate Tobago traditions

Ten women will tonight vie for a chance to be crowned 2018 Tobago Heritage Queen at the competition which takes place at the Cyd Gray Sporting Complex in Roxborough.

The young women, representing villages and organisations throughout Tobago, say their preparations for the competition have given them the opportunity to engage and embrace the rich culture of Tobago.

Déjah Vincent,19, representing the Signal Hill Police Youth Club, said she learnt interesting facts about the island’s historical sites, its heritage - unique culture and values passed down from the ancestors - and “the history behind who we are as a people and what we have accomplish throughout the years.”

Alisha Denoon, 17, representing the Scarborough Police Youth Club, also said she learnt new aspects of Tobago’s heritage by being a contestant in the competition. “For example when we (contestants) visited Charlotteville for Natural Treasures Day, I got the opportunity to witness the cane squeezing process, which really opened my eyes to how creative our foreparents were, and I also danced the cocoa which was very fun.”

Denoon said she admires how Tobago’s heritage is kept alive through the Festival and plans to participate in future festivals.

For all contestants, the journey to tonight’s stage took them along a path of knowledge about their homeland’s heritage and has provided them with a chance to help preserve and contribute towards this legacy. Sheneikha McDougall, 25, representing the Plymouth/Bethesda Village Council, said she saw her participation as a way of paying tribute to the ancestors

History student Cindy Andrews, 19, from Belle Garden, who also for the first time, danced the cocoa at Charlotteville Natural Treasures Day, said her involvement in the show “has allowed me to gain a new perspective and insight into how preserving our culture by recreating our traditions in the (Heritage) productions … unites our people.”

“Tobago Heritage Festival is our opportunity to share our unique and diverse culture and history with each other and the world,” she said.

For Annesha Shinelle Webb, 21, representing Lambeau, the Festival is about showing gratitude ot our ancestors.

“There are many little things we do on a daily basis that was a ritual long ago, performed for particular reasons…pouring on the ground the first sip of a bottle of rum. Participating in the heritage activities helped me put meaning to and gain appreciation of these practices, that’s why for me the Tobago heritage festival means to show gratitude to our ancestors,” she said.

Webb said she plans to advocate for a Lambeau heritage event to be a part of the Festival in the future.

Other contestants at the show tonight include Kershel Pierre,17, representing Lisa Mc’ Sween School of Dance; Oshun Trim,19, representing Les Coteaux; Zavina Sergeant,18, representing Delecia's Dance Agency; Chelsea Tyson, 18, representing Canaan/Bon Accord/Crown Point; and Aliyah Kernisha Brooks, 17, of Roxborough Police Youth Club.