AS TOLD TO BC PIRES
Because Trini to the Bone is an individual feature, all six members of Freetown Collective will appear one-by-one over six weeks starting with co-founder Loy Lyons on May 30 and ending with co-founder, Muhammad Muwakil on July 11
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My name is Shanna Joseph and I am one-sixth, or at least one part of Freetown Collective.
I’m also part of Trinity, the three backup singers.
I am the member of Freetown who would run in the complete opposite direction from being interviewed. This is not my flick at all.
But I do sing in a band with a message to share around the world. So I need to get over the fear of interviews.
I hail from Diego Martin. I’m a Westie. I used to feel like past the lighthouse was FAR! And now I live in the countryside in Central.
As a child, I could go in the road in Diamond Vale. It’s not the same now.
But the world is not the same.
My sister Malene (pronounced Muh-laney) is also in Freetown.
My own family is Wendell and Xyon Neemar-Aleung and me, not Shannon, Shanna –Channa with an S!
My five-year-old daughter is spelled Xyon, pronounced Zion. Most people say, “Oh, so you have a boy?” Xyon is a straight descendant of China, India, French Creole…she’s a Trini baby.
She mixed up!
The community we moved into five years ago, all the people there grew up together and still have this old-time, trusting way.
Diamond Vale Primary was right around the corner: I went in early, at four and a half, not even five.
My mom was a teacher and the plan was for me to not ever be in her class. But I ended up in it.
And the friend, Sheryss, who sat on my left and the one who sat on my right, Christine, are my friends today. Sheryss is Xyon’s godmother and I’m godmother of her child.
All three of us Joseph sisters went to Bishop’s. I really didn’t like school. I wouldn’t say I hated school…but I coulda easily done without it!
Would you like to hear my profession? Teacher!
All my life, being under my mom at school, people asked, “You want to be a teacher?”
I always replied, “
Anything but that!”
And now I love it. I teach music at primary and secondary level.
I’m proud of being a Hilarian. But I don’t have a ring.
I was baptised Catholic, in a Catholic family and teach in two Catholic schools. My daughter is baptised Catholic. I once thought I would be a nun and live my life in the church.
But the more I grow in love, forgiveness, understanding and acceptance, is the more I understand we were created in love. Allah, Jehovah, whatever, it’s the same energy, Jesus. If you believe in and manifest God, whatever you want to call him, it is the same energy that created us.
I have always done music with family. Mom was our music teacher.
Malene called me up one day and said, “You remember the band I to
