The city of Castries came alive on Wednesday and Thursday as hundreds of Saint Lucians turned out for the annual Assou Square celebration. Touted by Castries Constituency Council as a “cultural showpiece”, the event did not disappoint. On day one the focus was on the calypso and reggae genres, with fine performances by Nintus, Lady Leen, Ashanti and the reigning calypso monarch Ti Carro.
A veteran performer, Ashanti lived up to his moniker of “the people’s king” and had attendees demanding encores. The crowd was also bedazzled by the talent of Lightning Stars International. They combined dance, fire-eating and the use of a snake in a jaw-dropping performance. The Ohio-based Terry & Eustace Bob Project capped off the evening with reggae tunes, Saint Lucia’s ace guitarist Ronald ‘Boo’ Hinkson jamming alongside the band.
On day two Dennery Segment had its turn, with appearances by Pablo, Kisha, Surbance, Alley Cat, Kelly B and Mac 11, backed up by Extreme Band. Both days attracted scores of children with brightly lit faces, descending on the many booths located around Derek Walcott Square.
