To be human is to make music; and the music we make in Saint Lucia says a great deal about who we are — or, at least, who we think we are — and last weekend at the Clear Sky Hotel in Vieux Fort was no exception, as A VORT SERVIS, the drumming group from Vieux Fort North, took the house down with a series of Creole renditions.
The five-hour onstage performance was all about uniting people through entertainment and the group sent out a clear message of defining their identity, as their drumming is still very much part of their lives in Vieux Fort North.
They showcased their culture through vibrant explosion with the likes of Uranus Flood (drum), Virgil Burke (drum), Embert Charles (shakshak), Anthony O’Brian (t-bois), Cleon Deflemon (guitar/vocals), Francis Deflemon, GillanPoleon (bass guitar) and NyamJn Baptiste (drum).
The VOICE spoke to Virgil Burke, affectionately known as “Gwo Beck “, an original member of the now-defunct drumming and theater group ‘Tamboo Melee’; Burke has now turned his attention to the community of Vieux Fort North (precisely Belle Vue and its environs).
He said, “I discovered AvortServis at an event they were having every month called Casma-bal. At that time I considered myself a freelancer, so on weekends I would put my Tamboo in my vehicle and drive around especially around the La Rose season and they ask me to join them on stage”.
AvortServis (meaning “at your service”), they came together because the committee that was put together to host the Jounen Creole activity in Belle Vue pulled out at the very last minute. Those individuals having culture at heart in the community because Belle Vue being the cultural capital of Saint Lucia they formed themselves into a volunteering group, they call themselves AvortServis. Afterwards they just cool out doing nothing. When I later discovered them we decided to regroup in 2010.
The group have grown from strength to strength, “We have participated in a number of national celebrations including Jounen Creole, Jazz festival, (Monchy, Vieux Fort), October Fest and as individuals we take part in the La Rose festival. There is a group in Belle Vue, the Belle Vue La Rose group, the drummers and percussionist we are also members”. He noted.
In terms of recording, since it’s been establish, they have recorded a CD, “Not many hits yet, but we are in the process of going back to the studio before year end. The demand for the group is high and we cannot keep up with that demand, said Burke.
There are two songs that are aired very often, ‘Sis – Mr Give me my money’ and ‘Coco’. Apart from their very own originals, they group also perform the songs of other folk artistes as they try to maintain the folk aspect of it.
He said, “Interestingly, we also perform at house parties, which is something that really surprised me, and it’s in demand”.
Burke continued, “We are thankful to the Windward and Leeward Brewery Limited, which have supported us since our inception. They discovered us and we have been at all their activities they have organized, even at their human resource level for their staff”.
The VOICE inquired as to whether there were any plans for the balance of 2018. Burke replied:
“Our plans are to travel and to export what is truly Saint Lucian. We want to take it regionally and internationally; we trust we are going to market Saint Lucia with our stuff. We intend to produce a full CD because people have been asking for a lot for our documented music. We also look to work with the youth, the VFN schools”.
Talking about the youth aspect, the VOICE asked what were their plans?
“I must say we are guilty for not keeping up with that aspect as we have had discussions with the principal; we really want to liven up and put our act together to see that initiative materialise in support of the culture”.
In terms of the schools, the group normally goes to them during creole heritage month; they visit as many schools as they can in VFN on a chosen day.
“The demand is growing, even stretching all the way to Castries and we have not been able to live up,” he said.
Burke took the time out to thank all the individuals who have supported them over the years; special mention went out to WLBL.
He would also like to see the culture stay alive and want the many stakeholders to recognize that there is a place out there on the international market for Saint Lucia culture and AVORT SERVIS is committed to that.
