The first event of Trelawny Yam Festival 2007 was held on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 at Westwood High School. The exciting event saw nine schools from the Parish compete in the TYF Schools Competition, including Westwood High, Albert Town High, Maldon High, William Knibb High, Muschette High, Cedric Titus High, Granville All Age, Stewart Town Primary and Kinloss Primary. The theme of this year’s competition was "The Slave Experience" and covered such topics as Parish history, free villages, food, Maroons, the slave trade, plantation life and the struggle for abolition. 2007 marks the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade of Africans to Jamaica, which is the beginning of a true Jamaican identity. The Trelawny Yam Festival Schools Competition was one in a year-long series of events across the island that celebrated this important mark in Jamaican and world history. Students in the Competition did an excellent job of dramtizing this important period of their history through song, poem and dance.
The Competition also marked the 125th Anniversary of Westwood High School, which was started in 1882 by the Reverend William Webb. STEA would like to make a special thank you to Westwood High School, Principal Mrs. Piggot, the staff and students for all of their help in hosting this competition. Thank yous also go out to Custos Royland Barrett for bringing greetings and judges Mr.Tracey and Mrs. Hilton from William Knibb Memorial High, Ms. Hines from Clarks Town Primary, Mr. McKenzie of NEPA and guidance couselor Mrs. Barrett.
Competition Highlights:
Tanya Levy of William Knibb Memorial winning the award for top performance with her dub poem in the 16 & over category
Tayne Robinson of William Knibb Memorial winning awards in all three performance categories
William Knibb Memorial High School being chosen as overall top school
Other Winners:
Song ages 13-15: First Place: Albert Town High School group piece, Second Place: Holland High School group piece
Song ages 16 & Over: First Place: William Knibb Memorial group piece, Second Place: Shanille Powell - Westwood High School, Third Place: Tyane Robinson - William Knibb Memorial
Poetry ages 8-12: First Place: Kinloss Primary group piece, Second Place: Romareo Busiby - Stewart Town Primary, Third Place: Tajera Johnson - Stewart Town Primary
Poetry ages 13-15: First Place: Alaina Hull - Westwood High School, Second Place: Tashna-Toya Edwards - Westwood High School, Third Place: Abigail Russell - Westwood High School
Poetry ages 16 &Over: First Place: Tanya Levy - William Knibb Memorial, Second Place: Tyane Robinson - William Knibb Memorial, Third Place: Shani Spencer & Co. - Westwood High School
Dance ages 8-12: First Place: Granville All Age group piece, Second Place: Granvill All Age group piece, Third Place: Granville All Age group piece
Dance ages 13-15: First Place: William Knibb Memorial High School group piece
Dance ages 16 & Over: First Place: Albert Town High School group piece Second Place: William Knibb Memorial group piece, Third Place: Tayne Robinson - William Knibb Memorial
