It’s called “fungi” in the Virgin Islands, “string” in St. Maarten, and “scratch” in the United States VI. But whatever you call it, when you listen to it, you’re likely to be moving your waist or tapping your feet.
“Any man, any man, any man. Any man in another man’s house, rise up and go home,” members of Leon and the Hot Shots sang as they began a performance on Saturday that lasted a little more than half an hour.
The group was among more than 10 fungi bands from various Caribbean islands that took the stage this weekend during the Fifth Annual Fungi Fest on Friday and Saturday at the Noel Lloyd Positive Action Movement Park. The event culminated the territory’s celebration of Culture Week.
Many songs were satirical, and some told stories of the VI’s past. As the musicians played, attendees danced in the grass or browsed local food and drinks that were on sale in the park.
See the Nov. 24, 2011 edition for full coverage.