The Legacy of Miss Lou – Long Story Short
by Syreeta Kenny, Reggae Vibes Media – April 27, 2023
It’s been four years since I first heard about this event and since then Covid happened, and everyone stayed indoors including me. The stories were still being told during our almost three years of lock down and now that we are on the other side and so many people have been going out, the stories continue to be told. Month after month a carefully selected group of four or five individuals would share their stories about lessons learnt or momentous occasions. For the story tellers, the task is always the same, the story must be a true story about yourself, and you should try to share that story in a way that will keep your audience engaged in about five minutes.
The stories are sometimes told with sound effects from a backing sound and most of the time, there is a live performance from an upcoming or established musical artist. Lives are being changed both on and off stage and this must be the reason why an event like this has weathered the storm and is looking forward to doing even more in the future.
I still cannot believe it took me so long, but I finally joined the audience on Thursday, April 27, 2023. The theme for this episode “The turning point” was to be depicted through the stories of six Jamaicans, Troy Orane, Nick Lue, Ron Young, Yaniq Walford, DJ Delano and Nitty Kutchie. Indie Allen and Schoy Stewart Young Star were the featured musicians for the evening. Patrons were also promised a fashion show from Tribe Nine Studios.
Let’s talk about the new location, Di Lot. Have you ever been driving down South Avenue or on Constant Spring Road and wondered what was going on behind the newly painted wall with the splashes of colour? If you have or didn’t notice before, you need to check it out. The location features an Art Gallery and two restaurants in a courtyard style setting. Patrons can choose to dine on the upper decks overlooking the courtyard or at picnic bench style seats under the decks. The main stage is the focal point of the courtyard.
I’m no storyteller myself but you know what they say, “everybody has a story”. When the Reggae Vibes Media Team got there a little before 9pm, the show was in full swing, and the air was filled with the tantalizing aroma of jerked chicken and barbeque sauce. On stage was Troy Orane who seemed to be very comfortable in the space while sharing his story of stepping into his calling. By the end of his 5 minutes turned 7 minutes we all learnt that he was the person behind Tribe Nine Studios. The models made their way from the gallery down the stairs and through the crowd giving the audience a closer look at the details on the pieces and an idea of how they would move with you if you owned and wore any of them. There was a definite African vibe to the collection which seemed to also promote body confidence and cultural awareness.
The host Deidra James, introduced the next storyteller was Yaniq Walford, who shared her journey to being part of the management team for the internationally renowned Bass Odyssey sound system. Being a female in the industry was not easy but she was determined and focused and acknowledges the immense power there is in making the dancehall experience into a business. The audience was then treated to melodies from Indie Allen a soulful reggae roots artist from the second city, Montego Bay.
After the musical intermission, patrons laughed hysterically as the comedic Ron Young told his very serious story about the dangers of excessive drinking and the joy of being sober.
Mr Young was followed by Delano Thomas from Renaissance Disco who shared a little about how Renaissance Disco got its name and the ingenuity involved in building the brand. We were treated to some more music and then the revelation from the final storyteller, Nitty Kutchie.
It was interesting how each person shared their story and how each story depicted the theme in its own unique way. Also interesting for me were the sub themes in three of the stories; the importance of good parenting on shaping the work ethic and decisions of children and the perception that desiring a career in music and entertainment is subliminally associated with being ‘dunce’ and a lack of ambition and how this perception is having a negative impact on harnessing the talents of the youth in Jamaica.
Long Story Short is held on the last Thursday of every month and is the brainchild of Daniel Edwards. Edwards is a creative at heart with a wealth of experience in various sectors and has found himself committed to transforming lives and motivating others.
In a one-on-one conversation with Edwards, he shared that he became obsessed with this aspect of story telling after being asked to share a story himself. After pitching the idea and being rejected many times, he finally launched LSS on the 100th anniversary of Miss Lou’s birth on September 7, 2019. Edwards also shared that what keeps him going is the positive feedback received from patrons and the gratitude expressed to him by storytellers who share that the experience has been cathartic for them and instrumental in their healing. He hopes to make the event into a franchise with shows in other parts of the island and possibly a television series. For more information about Long Story Short visit their Facebook page HERE or their YouTube channel HERE
