Culture

Loads of talent at NIFCA Music Finals

The NIFCA Music Finals, the first of the 2023 NIFCA Performing Arts Finals, started with a bang offering patrons a night of amazing performances and an exciting showcase of talent.

The 22 finalists competed in two categories – junior and adult non-professional – faced the judges in a bid to win a gold, silver, or bronze award, or one of the special awards, doing so in spectacular fashion from start to finish.

The event was staged last Sunday, November 12 before a packed audience at Frank Collymore Hall, The City.

The soloists, choirs, and musicians all ably demonstrated the tradition of excellence that NIFCA, which is celebrating its 50^th anniversary this year, is known for, with many performing songs from Barbadians artistes, some with new arrangements. There were also a few original compositions.

Like previous years, the singers dominated but the musicians and instrumentalists such as the Christ Church Foundation School’s Steel Orchestra, the newly formed St. Cyprian’s Boys Band, Haynesville Youth Club, Christ The King Boomwhackers who make music by beating cylindrical tubes against their legs, and saxophonists Jonathan Jordan and Nikhyl Burnett, playing Saving All My Love For You and In Christ Alone, respectively, held their own.

Christ Church Foundation School Steel Orchestra gave exuberant performances of Tribute to De Doctor (Cultural Ambassador, The Most Honourable Anthony The Mighty Gabby Carter’s classics Well Done and Emmerton TNT Soca Medley (Lord Kitchener’s Pan In A Minor, Farmer Nappy’s Hookin Meh and Olatunji’s Engine Room) and the young members of Haynesville Youth Club’s hands beat a fast and energetic pace on their djembe drums in Riddum and Tempo 1, an ode to their African ancestry. In Riddum and Tempo 2, a smaller unit playing traditional drums, paid homage to Barbadian tuk music.

Also in that genre, St. Cyprian’s Boys Band thrilled with their spouge and tuk-fused rendition of Cultural Ambassador, The Most Honourable Stedson Red Plastic Bag Wiltshire’s Something’s Happening and an original song 246, and Christ The King Boomwhackers were applauded for their performance of I’m Alive, also by the noted entertainer.

The choirs were a delight to the ear as they brought classics, and original songs to the stage.

St Luke’s Academy Choir sang an original song titled Climb Every Mountain, St Bartholomew Primary School Choir’s selection was Buggy Nakente’s Just A Man, Coleridge & Parry School Choir performed Sherry Ann Maughan’s Winner and Rihanna’s Lift Me Up in the first and second halves respectively.

The Cyptones’ sang De Conkie Song, an adaptation of 2022 Tune of the Crop winner Bruce Lee Almightee’s Mauby, MLVP Elite Vox’s performed Nina Simone’s Four Women and John King’s classic How Many More, while Kirk Franklin Love Theory was Ellerslie School Choir choice.

Soloists performing original songs were Arlington Daniel with Los Barbados and Athalia Crump who shared Like the Eagle and Island Life, two of the 100 songs she’s composed, with the NIFCA audience.

Also competing in the Music Finalists were winners and high placing individuals from other competitions.

While Scotiabank Junior Soca Monarch Shontae Alleyne-Clarke who, in addition to singing her winning 2023 tune Bajan Ting to close the show, showed her versatility in her rendition of the late Whitney Houston’s Greatest Love of All in the first half, both winners of the 2023 Richard Stoute Teen Talent and Over-21 contests, Skyy Dowridge and Kibibi Greenidge respectively, were among the soloists.

Dowridge sang Charmaine Heyliger Love is The Key and Greenidge, who also won the Spirit of the Nation Talent Show had two entries – Nina Simone’s Feeling Good and The Clock, popularized in Barbados by the late Carlyn Leacock.

Jaleesa Greaves, a former Teen Talent Winner sang Rihanna’s Stay and Hallelujah. Jedidah Graham, who placed second in this Spirit of the Nation Talent Show sang For Every Mountain, and third placed Relissa Mitcham in the same contest, a 2023 Scotiabank Junior Monarch semifinalist and student of Deighton Griffith Secondary School, sang calypsonian Chrystal Cummins-Beckles’ Fly On De Wall.

The other soloists were nine-year-old Rachel Carter who performed CeCe Winans’ Worthy of It All, Dacia Moore, who also attends Deighton Griffith Secondary, sang the folk classic Emmerton, and the late Dacosta Allamby’s granddaughter ZZ Cumberbatch sang The Merrymen’s Beautiful Barbados and Marvin Sapp’s Thank You For It All.

Cassandra Crawford was the MC. (PR)

Culture

Clarification Of Investment Target For We Gatherin’ 2025

As the We Gatherin’ initiative continues in full stride, we take this time to thank those members of corporate Barbados who have committed to helping us reach our target of $5,000,000 (five million) in support and investment, whether cash or in kind.

So far, we have secured $500,000 from businesses across the island, and we continue to encourage other private sector entities to contribute to this historical initiative, that not only brings our society closer together but that will provide much needed assistance to programs that will benefit our youth, helping to steer us through troubled times to a better, more peaceful and prosperous Barbados for all.

After the recently concluded church service at St. Anne’s Church in St. Joseph, Senator Dr. Shantal Munro-Knight was keen to speak on the progress towards reaching this target.

“During my address, I inadvertently mentioned a figure of $5 million in private sector donations. That number reflects our aspirational goal, not the current reality. To clarify, we have presently secured $500,000 in contributions toward this initiative. We remain deeply grateful for the support received thus far and continue to encourage additional private sector partners to join us in this important national effort.”

We Gatherin’ 2025 continues with events and activities in St. Joseph for the month of April and moving on to St. John in May. (PR/GIS)

Culture

We Gatherin’ Activities Launched In Boston Over The Weekend

The spirit of Barbados was alive last Saturday, March 22, as the Consulate General of Barbados in New York, in partnership with the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI), officially launched the ‘We Gatherin’ 2025 series in Boston.

According to Consul General Lorenzo Harewood, the event, held at the Sorrel and Lime place, was a spectacular showcase of Barbadian culture, bringing together scores of Barbadians and friends of Barbados for an unforgettable experience.

“Attendees were immersed in the rich sights, sounds, and flavours of the island, enjoying pulsating local music, mouthwatering Bajan cuisine, and a vibrant marketplace filled with stalls owned by Barbadian entrepreneurs,” he said.

He noted that from handcrafted souvenirs to locally made products, the event provided a platform for businesses to connect with the diaspora and promote authentic Barbadian goods.

The Consul General said that the energy in the room was electric as Barbadians, young and old, reunited with friends, made new connections, and celebrated their shared heritage.

A major highlight of the evening was the exciting giveaways, including exclusive discounted travel packages and the grand prize won by Carson Straughn – a trip for two to Barbados. The winners were thrilled at the chance to visit their homeland and immerse themselves in all that the island has to offer.

Mr. Harewood stated that the successful launch marked the beginning of what promises to be an exhilarating ‘We Gatherin’ 2025’ series.

“With overwhelming support and enthusiasm from attendees, the celebrations are set to continue in Connecticut, and Philadelphia, and culminate in a grand finale in New York throughout April and May. Many attendees have pledged to follow the journey, eager to experience more of the warmth, culture, and togetherness that define the Barbadian spirit,” he remarked.

The Consul General added: “The partnership between the Consulate and BTMI underscores a shared commitment to strengthening connections between Barbados and its diaspora while promoting the island as a premier destination for both leisure and business.

“As the excitement builds, Barbadians across generations are encouraged to join the movement, return home, and take part in the national festivals and activities happening throughout 2025.”

During the event, a brief intermission provided an opportunity to recognise outstanding professional achievements. Mr. Harewood took to the stage to present the prestigious Professional Achievement Award to Professor Cardinal Warde, a distinguished faculty member at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

Professor Warde is widely regarded as a leading expert in optical information processing and display technologies. His extensive contributions to the field include over 150 technical papers, co-editorship of a book, and co-authorship of three book chapters on optical materials and devices.

Beyond academia, his innovative work is reflected in 12 patents related to spatial light modulators, displays, and optical information processing systems, solidifying his influence in advancing cutting-edge optical technologies. (PR/GIS)

Culture

Season Of Emancipation Must Grow Beyond “A Set Date Of Activities”

Minister with responsibility for Culture, Senator Dr. Shantal Munro-Knight, is suggesting that the Season of Emancipation (SOE) moves beyond the commemoration of a “set of dates of activities”.

In fact, she believes that the time has come for the successes of the celebrations to be consolidated to create a larger footprint that resonates with Barbadians on a larger scale.

Senator Munro-Knight expressed this view during the 2025 Season of Emancipation media launch at the Rock Hall Freedom Village, St. Thomas.

The Minister told the gathering that the Ministry engaged in “a period of reflection” after the hosting of each Season of Emancipation activities through the lens of the Ministry’s internal critique, public opinion where applicable, and that of its stakeholders.

“And that reflection has said a couple of things to us, one, that the Season of Emancipation needs to move beyond a commemoration of a set of dates of activities to grounding that understanding of that intersection again with the past, now and future within communities and within the wider Barbadian psyche…. We need to move beyond the chorus of those of us who understand, those of us who are enthused, those of us who have already embraced the notion of emancipation and that journey and what it means…. Like I said before, embracing the wider Barbadian [public] and bringing them into the discourse and to the full understanding,” Senator Munro-Knight proffered.

She continued: “Our reflection on the Season of Emancipation also says to us that we need to create scale, that while we have done a number of things that have been good on their own, a number of activities that have been good on their own, that we need to make sure that we can now consolidate on those efforts that have been successful by creating a larger footprint, and then again, as I said, engaging more Barbadians.”

The Minister maintained that this year’s activities would see a “more concentrated effort and not just public relations” but educational awareness that involved a mix of competitions, docudramas, and other activities to lift the Season of Emancipation to a higher level of engagement.

A highlight of this year’s activities Dr. Munro-Knight said will be a partnership with Duke University in the United States of America on a project to immerse the bust of King Cuffie at sea in Speightstown, St. Peter. The bust will be removed one year later from the date, as an act of reconnecting with the past.

Meanwhile, Programme Advisor for Reparations and Economic Enfranchisement in the Prime Minister’s Office, Rodney Grant, gave an overview of the activities for the season, which runs from April 14 to August 27.

Mr. Grant said the public must never take the sacrifices of our ancestors for granted as we reflect on our journey to emancipation.

“Our ancestors never had free will. They could not choose when they wanted to eat, when they wanted to work, when they wanted to get up, when they wanted to go sleep, and we now, today, take this free will for granted. They died, suffered; they were burnt to death because they fought for us today to have freedom to do the things that we see are necessary and the things that we enjoy…. We should not take freedom for granted.”

Mr. Grant noted that emancipation and freedom were processes that were not yet over and it was “incumbent on all of us to continue to fight for emancipation”. (PR/GIS)