Caribfest Blends Best of Island Life to Benefit Local Schoalrs

Scholarship Runner up Khyon Williams, News Anchor Keitha Nelson, Scholarship winner Jah'Nai Williams and Festival CEO Ian Walker

By Marjorie Flash

One Caribbean Inc. presented the 4th Annual Caribfest at the Jacksonville Landing with food vendors, arts and crafts, stilt walkers, an African garb fashion show, and Reggae and Soca music.

Dressed like an African Queen, anchorwoman Keitha Nelson introduced the winner of the One Caribbean Academic Scholarship Award to Jah’Nai Williams who graduated Westside High School. Jah’Nai received a $3,000 check to help her with expenses as she starts Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University in the fall.  As another candidate was so close in the running, One Caribbean CEO, Ian Walker, contributed $500 dollars from his pocket and invited the audience to make a donation to match for the runner-up.  Audience members walked across the Landing in the pouring rain to make their contributions.  Runner-up, Khyon White from Robert E. Lee Senior High School, was presented with $1,030 cash towards her expenses as she goes to University of Florida this fall, given by the hearts of Jacksonville.

Entertainment was started early with cross-culture Reggae Band Scholars Word, Lionheart, the Carib Isles Dancers and the Platinum Band from Miami, and Kapital Stone before headliners Tanto Metro and Devonte hit the stage. Tanto and Devonte did not disappoint as they blazed through all their hits giving the crowd a taste of Caribbean music and lifestyle.  “Caribfest was a wonderful event that not even Mother Nature could dampen the party,” said Nelson.

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