Universal Children’s Day, which will be observed on November 20, will be commemorated in a unique and special way this year by Full Moon Limited (FML) with the staging of TriUnity Benefit Festival on November 21, at Adam Smith Square, Woodbrook. The event will benefit three organisations—TallMan Foundation, Swimming 2 Success and Ishtara Centre.
Creative connector Tracey-Anne Gill explained that FML is the brainchild of entrepreneur Harande Elie. She added that FML was actually given birth in 2004 by Elie through his mentor Dr Keith Appolis. “As a young student at Concordia Alabama, Elie was inspired by the work being done by Appolis with 21st Century Youth Movement in empowering at-risk youth through the medium of the performing arts,” said Gill. “Wanting to give back, on his return to Trinidad, his passion and drive fuelled his dream to create change amongst the nation’s youths. This was the nucleus for the formation of FML and it morphed into Harande’s organisation becoming the service provider for Caribbean Prestige Foundation for the Performing Arts’ International Soca Monarch Competition.”
FML is a four-pronged entity which embraces concept and design; event rentals; security; and artiste management. FML now manages Prophet Benjamin and Mystic Elements Band. The TriUnity benefit is being staged under the umbrella of Concept & Design.
Elie said he chose the three beneficiaries of the TriUnity Concert primarily because he is directly connected to them. He explained: “Wendell Manwarren is the artistic director of TallMan Foundation and his 3Canal group will be one of the headline acts for the concert. TallMan is similar to 21 Century in that it helps at-risk youth via the performing arts.
“I became close to Swimming 2 Success, created by William Munro, after I became involved with Caribbean Prestige. I still actively support this programme which is co-ordinated by Ronald Nathan.
“Ishtara Centre is a holistic, well-being centre in Chaguanas. The centre was instrumental in opening my eyes to the methodology and benefit of holistic health. From my wife Osa and myself, I must pay tribute to the research that the centre’s Dr Harry Ramnarine is doing.”
Elie said that the TriUnity Benefit Festival is a concept and model for the arts that has never been seen before locally. “Through this production we will be able to embrace who we are as Trinbagonians through the three tenents of food, music and fashion.”
Gill quipped: “Food nourishing our bodies; music nourishing our souls; and, fashion expressing our sense of style. These three underline the essence of mind, body and spirit.”
Elie said, “The event itself is but a part of a bigger picture as it will be done as a documentary to be screened at next year’s T&T Film Festival.
“The documentary, to be shot by Kendall Layne and Leroy ‘Gotti’ Thomas, will focus on preservation of indigenous culture. It will document every aspect of our being as Trinbagonians, from the farmer who plants chive and seasonings in the hills of Paramin to our fashion and music practitioners.”
Ecliff Elie will be the face of the fashion module while Prophet Benjamin will be the same for music. National footballer turned chef will be the poster boy for food.
FML is being partnered by the Port-of-Spain City Corporation in the staging of TriUnity Benefit Festival. Elie said: “The city of Port-of-Spain is being celebrated as part of the theme of the concert, hence the reason that the skyline of the nation’s capital is the backdrop of all our branding, designed by Ricky Fernandez.
The event is also being held in the heart of a city that is full and rich in culture, in taste and in the arts.”
Windy Hill is the name of the concert’s theme song, which was launched on Slam 100.5FM on its Grand Slam Morning Show on Monday. The song, produced by Vincent de Leon, is on the TriUnity rhythm and features Prophet Benjamin, Ziggy Ranking, 3Canal, Fana Marie and Atlanta native Latosha Brown.