World of WINNERS!!

Well as many of you guys know, I WON OHTV's (sky chl 199) presenter competition. I had made it to the the semi - finals and then I WON, I actually WON!!
Due to my not so fabulous smartphone (using the word 'smart' VERY loosely) crashing, pausing stalling and loading whilst the info came through, I found out on twitter by a fellow contestant congratulating my self and Marlon Barclay.

Who?

Yes Marlon Barclay my co-presenter, another contestant who gained the same amount of votes as me, so there it is!!

Marlon Barclay and Amica Anselm OHTV Summer Presenter Winners!

 A double wammy and a fabulous twist that both Marlon Barclay and my self were completely surprised and elated about. So there I was jumping up and down and wanting to run to the studio's and immediately jump on screen when reality brought me crashing back down to North West London. I had to be at the Grosvenor hotel within the next hour! So thrusting my articulate frock on I headed down to Park lane where I was assisting media magnate Jodie Dalmeda at the Caribean expo.

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(Left to Right) Amica Anselm and Jodie Dalmeda (Media consultant and artist management)

On the 9th of August I arrived at the Grosvenor where there were plenty of beautifully dressed Afro-Caribbean people ready to enjoy the melodies and the final jubilation of this culturally inspired event. Bolt and co were about to run the 200 metres that night, and Jamaica's fifty years independence celebrations were just behind us which had every one raring to go, it was evident that this event could not have come at a better time.

Usain Bolt - Gold Medalist

With Trevor Nelson MBE and Sarah Jane Crawford (BBC 1Xtra DJ and Television presenter) hosting the 'Caribbean Soul Fusion,' showcasing a cocktail of Caribbean artist's, the audience was fully entertained with the dynamics between the two inimitable presenters to say the least.

Pamela Coke Hamilton Executive Director Caribbean Export Develeopment Agency, Trevor Nelson MBE and Sarah Jane Crawford

Songs were covered from numerous genre's such as Jazz, Afro latin, reggae, soca and zouk to conclude the weeks long Caribbean expo London engage. The crowd was more than entertained with a night filled with homeland melodies, media personalities who intermingled and celebrated in great jubilation.
As if this was not enough a huge screen was displayed in the foyer as well as several other rooms, displaying the 100m race where Usain Bolt won the Gold medal. The entire party ignited with pride, hugs, dancing and sheer excitement uniting the guests even further.

Taking the audience back to the journey of the music inspired from the depths of the Caribbean, we were all back on the dance floor celebrating and supporting the likes of Usain Bolts favourite winner of the Digicel Rising Stars (the Jamaican version of American Idol) 'Chris Martin' and ‘Arturo Tappin’. The smoothest, horn man the Caribbean could offer the UK.

Christopher Martin

With their being too many acts to mention, take a look at some of the award winning, creative composers and chart toppers from the Caribbean who hails not only the West Indies and Haiti, but are also favourites at Jazz and Creole festivals all over the Caribbean.

Ximora Fortuna

Michele Henderson, Claudia Edwards, Mr Dale, B´elO, Arturo Tappin

Michelle Fortuna

Belo

The crowd was entertained by the creative artists till 11pm by Dominican Republican songstress Ximora Fotuna, who combines Latin, Brazilian and afro funk to her music melodies as well as Belo and award winning Haitian who fuses his beats and lyrics with rock, reggae and Afro-Haitian traditional rhythms
known as ‘Ragganga’.

Mystic from Guyana, 

The Caribbean had stamped its mark on this UK's summer and although we got off to a bad start with pure rain and little sunshine, the sunny rays did not leave us as Jamaica dominated the Olympics with the likes of all the other African-American athletes who did our race and their individual countries VERY proud. All in all The Caribbean expo was a positive event exhibiting the positive qualities the black race is providing  regardless of the stereotypes available today. Amongst all the proud and dynamic faces amongst the crowd was Doreen Lawrence who took part in the jubilations at The Caribbean Expo. With Lawrence being a strong iconic figure in the media as well as a respectable black person breaking barriers in a dignified manner and opening doors for the new generation, rounded up this event for me as a positive movement that should continue year after year.

Doreen Lawrence

Words: Amica Anselm

Images credit: credit Paul Hampartsoumian