"Who seh Creole no gat no kulcha?" - that deathless question will be ringing in the ears of schoolchildren countrywide for the next few weeks as the woman who made that rhetorical query into a famous chorus goes on a schools tour. Leela Vernon and NICH have organized the tour to introduce Belize's children to the lady, her legend and her lyrics. We visited at the first stop on her tour at Trinity Methodist School.
Alfonso Noble Reporting,
With an introduction by The Grandmaster, the children of St. Luke's Methodist were this morning treated to the always stellar performance of Leelah Vernon. The National Institute of Culture and History's Andy Palacio says having this kind of contact with the children was always on Vernon's agenda.
Andy Palacio, NICH
"Leelah Vernon has always wanted to travel to different schools around the country to perform for the children so she approached us at NICH for this to happen. We are launching this tour here in Belize City at Trinity Methodist School this morning. Really its to highlight the contribution of Leelah Vernon as an artist, to showcase her talents and her culture, to children who use her material in the Festival of Arts and really enjoy her music on a daily basis on the radio and in her home."
And while performances like these for children highlights this icon of the Creole culture Palacio says is also serves to broaden awareness of the Creole culture as well as giving the children a little time to relax and enjoy themselves.
Andy Palacio,
"Its entertainment, and to go a little further, it should also provide some inspiration for them. It gives them something to look forward to and in a lot of ways its temporary relief from the hectic day's work which school really demands. By so doing children are able to take pride in something positive that the Creole culture has to offer."
7NEWS produced for broadcast by News Director Jules Vasquez
Edited and Prepared for the internet by Keith Swift
