I recall as a child seeing Holly Beteaudier and Sham Mohammed giving away prizes on Scouting for Talent and Mastana Bahar respectively. Growing up in these times, watching television meant watching whatever was on the screen, but living in St James, a town of mixed ethnicity, that mix of programming was nothing different to the norm of everyday life.
On Scouting for Talent, however, you got that cultural mix. I recall listening to rapso in its infancy, calypso, extempo, monologues, traditional Indian dancers and singers as well as the lesser-than-normal performances such as the men who tuned milk cans and played them like steel pans, or a man who whistled while he brushed his teeth.
As Christmas approached, Holly transformed into almost an “hispanohablante” (spanish speaker), speaking the language with the likes of Daisy Voisin for the Holly B Parang Bandwagon. He was also known as a lover and fluent speaker of our local patois, and up to his passing, could be heard on I95.5fm with his show “Toute Bagai.”
From giving away Crix tins in Scouting, to giving away pearls of our history, he shared with us. From his start in radio, to his days as a presenter on TTT and his final radio appearances, he broadcasted to a willing, loving audience. From the traditional arts to the emerging arts (such as rapso) he gave us a stage. From his contributions to performance art, to our better known spoken languages (patois, spanish and trini slang) he shared the sound of our conversation.
Holly Beteaudier truly shared the depths of T&T’s culture. More than just music, dance and storytelling, he shared our festivals, language and even spoke of the nuances of our behaviour.
He shared our true culture, and we love him for it. Rest in Peace, Holly B!
First published here in the Trinidad Guardian Newspaper on Saturday 4th June 2016