00:00It's being called a battle royal, as the grand finale of the B-Mobile Chutney Soka
00:05Monarch 30th Anniversary show will include performances from Soka Superstar Marshall
00:10Montano and Chutney Soka Superstar Rikki Jai.
00:14They will be vying for the crown held by the defending 2024 champion Rikki Ramuta.
00:19Both men have copped several titles in their respective genres, however, it's Montano's
00:24first time entering the CSM.
00:27A statement from Southex reveals that Jai and Montano topped the semi-final competition,
00:33with only a few points separating them while distancing themselves from the rest of the
00:37contenders, including past champions like Nival Chaitlal and Daddy Chiny.
00:42Southex says, quote,
00:44All 34 contestants came with their A-game, and what was most evident at this year's event
00:49was the integration of Soka and Chutney artists, with a fusion of the Afro and Indo elements
00:55were in full bloom on the semi-final stage.
00:59Based on the high quality of the performances at the semi-final stage, the producers have
01:04decided to take a few extra artists to the grand final stage, end quote.
01:09Apart from Jai and Montano, the competitors who will perform at Skinner Park on Saturday,
01:14March 1st are Wackaman, Rihanna Gopal, Ricardo Melville, Hurricane Hemlata Dindyal, Nival
01:21Chaitlal, Reshma Ramlal, Subrukay Warrior Princess, Master Salim, Adesh Samaru, Vikas
01:27Sahadev, Vanessa Ramutter, and wildcard King of Guyana's Chutney, Terry Gajraj.
01:34Montano is also set to compete at the Calypso Manor competition this year as the reigning
01:39Calypso King.
01:40We asked Montano about the two competitions at CIC's Fight With The Saints on Saturday.
01:46You have to defend your Calypso Manor title as well as you are, you have entered Chutney
01:52this year.
01:53So tell me about those two things, defending your title and entering Chutney, Chutney this
02:00year.
02:01It's all fun.
02:02I think a lot of young Soca artists are going to come into the Calypso Manor competition,
02:07which is a blessing and I welcome them, you know.
02:10Come and take the crown from Marshall and carry on the legacy because I want to take
02:14Soca music to the globe.
02:16So I'm very grateful.
02:17Chutney music, same, and just having fun.
02:19Thank you and all the best.
02:21Thank you so much.
02:22Feel better.
02:23South Excel's Dula Tropical Club venue, which was used to host the CSM semi-finals, was
02:28too small and as such, a decision has been taken to put the competition back into an
02:33outdoor arena to accommodate bigger crowds that the event now attracts.
02:38Alicia Boucher, TV6 News.
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