Platinum Kids Mas and Kaios Kids team up for Junior Carnival in Brooklyn
Grenadian-born bandleader Leesa Thornhill says the joint production ‘Mele, The Circle of Life’ is inspired by The Lion King.
NEW YORK, United States. Queens-based Platinum Kids Mas will partner with the Kaios Kids Mas band for their Junior Carnival production in this year’s West Indian American Day Carnival.
Leesa Thornhill, the Grenadian-born leader of Platinum Kids Mas, told Caribbean Life she was looking forward to the annual joint production, titled “Mele, The Circle of Life”.
“You can expect nonstop fun and vibes with pretty smiles,” she said, describing the presentation as “a portrayal of the females of Pride Rock inspired by the movie Lion King”.
Sections and masqueraders
Thornhill said Platinum Kids will field four sections with about 60 masqueraders drawn from “all over the Caribbean”.
She said preparations were on schedule and she hoped the band would finish in the top three.
Thornhill, who has played mas since the age of 13, founded Platinum Kids Mas in March 2020 after running the junior band of Kaios International. “I’ve been in the business 12 years strong,” she said.
“Carnival brings a sense of liberation and freedom that you can’t find anywhere,” she said.
Kaios Kids
Trinidadian Tamera George said she and Yankie Baptiste, of Venezuelan and Grenadian roots, were producing Kaios Kids with two sections, Azari and Kiluma.
She expects 75 to 100 masqueraders “of all nationalities across the Caribbean and even the US”.
“The children get home-cooked food on the road, unlimited beverages, snacks and goodie bags, great music, and a wonderful and safe experience on the road filled with fun,” George said.
Music for Platinum Kids Mas will be supplied by DJ Jo Monsta and DJ Father Dread.
