Dancehall artist Vybz Kartel, acquitted of murder, seeks to transition into politics by running for Parliament in Jamaica. 

Kartel has pinpointed South St. Catherine, currently represented by Fitz Jackson, as his desired constituency, expressing his intention during a TikTok live alongside attorney Isat Buchanan. 

This move is motivated by Kartel’s desire to combat social injustices in Jamaica.

The National Cultural Foundation recently concluded the island’s first Luthier Training Workshop. 

Over the two-week period, nine local musicians received hands-on training in beginner restoration and repair of violins and bows. Each participant underwent intense instruction in the areas of instrument and bow assessment, proper usage of tools and materials, varied technical approaches, measurement, instrument care specific to our climate and understanding client requests, among others.  

The workshop, an initiative of the National Cultural Foundation and The Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training was produced in conjunction with Luthiers San Frontieres of the United States.

It is strategically linked to the ongoing Strings Project, where students from each of Barbados’ 68 primary schools will benefit from music education with practical application through violin. 

Experienced luthiers, Sarah Peck of the United States of America, and Natasha Sealey-Worrell of Trinidad and Tobago conducted the sessions at the Queens Park Steel Shed, Queen’s Park, The City. Trained in violin restoration and repair were: John Matthews, Andria Rouse, Roger Jordan, Sergio Smith, Romel Richards and Anthony Hood. While Shalon Parris, Graham Hutchinson and Dwain Gill were taught bow restoration and repair. 

Coordinator of the workshop and NCF’s Cultural Officer for Music Organisation, Aisha Butcher, expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the workshop. 

“The desired objectives were met and for that I am extremely happy. For some participants, it was a new learning experience and for others it was an unlearning and relearning exercise as some were self-taught in a similar area. Whatever the level, they all were open minded to the very intricate process and made the most of the two weeks”.

At the end of the workshop, the instructors were impressed with the work completed, lauding the participants’ achievements given the relatively short timeframe.

Joy Knight, Strings Project Coordinator and Director of the Barbados National Youth Symphony Orchestra shared her view on the value of this training. 

“Barbados doesn’t have any trained personnel who can repair the body of the violin nor the instrument’s bow. This workshop would ensure that we can care and maintain our string instruments. In addition, as we restart the string program in the schools, we will be increasing the number of violins, violas, cellos and double basses. Therefore, we will need repair persons who can handle the volume. We have always had repair persons here for winds and brass but never trained string luthiers. It will also create jobs for these newly trained luthiers”.

On the final day, certificates of completion were awarded to the participants along with a donation of startup tools. Each participant will also have access to other tools and materials at no cost to them, through a rental/donation agreement at the National Cultural Foundation thus equipping them with the necessities to continue honing the skill on their own. (PR)

A collaboration with the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) and Pull De Trigger Records resulted in the production and release of nine new soca songs by female artistes for the Crop-Over Festival.

Shanta Prince (Tek A Wine) and Rhea Layne (Fumble), who have both been singing for more than a decade, along with emerging artistes Tae (Wuk It), Miracle (Moonlight), Asanta (Control), Summa (Too Nice), Yahandje (Show Me) Reniece Bonnett (Vibe Dey) and Kereesa (Handle It) were all part of The Pink Pen Project, the aim of which was to have more female artistes and producers involved in the festival and Barbados’ music industry.

Apart from the artistes, the other females involved in the project which started in April and ended in May, were songwriting facilitator Shana Hinds of Pull De Trigger Records, producers Kimberley Inniss and Dae, and multi-award-winning artiste and Cultural Ambassador Alison Hinds was the mentor. The NCF’s Business Development Manager for music Lisa Howell had overarching responsibility.

Addressing the recently-held listening party where the songs were heard publicly for the first time, by the artistes, specially invited guests and the media, Senior Business Development Officer André Hoyte said The Pink Pen Project is “very dear” to the NCF.

He told the audience gathered on the terrace of the Queen’s Park Gallery Terrace, in Queen’s Park that the NCF “wanted to have a little more power in terms of the direction of what was written, in terms of the ownership of the songs, in terms of the production”. He said it also wanted to “see the increase of female writers, producers, and artistes in our festival and music scene”. 

The participating artistes were selected from among the individuals who attended the NCF’s various workshops, music development, writing for music and distribution camps or those who successfully obtained grants over the last 24 to 48 months. 

Meanwhile, Shana Hinds, in her remarks said she loved being a part of the project during which she watched the artistes move from “a blank paper to a production”. 

“I’m very grateful to be part of this project. I’ve learnt a lot personally and I hope that the girls learnt a lot as well. Nine females would have come of this process with a soca song for 2024, for Crop-Over 50, and that in itself, is a feat.

“I know many of these girls have other songs out there. They’re very serious artistes and I loved the development from the beginning stages from when everybody was in the room talking about, ‘I never write a song, I don’t know how to write nuh song; I can’t do this’,” she recalled to laughter.

“I heard you (Hoyte) talk about future plans. I really thoroughly enjoyed this process. It did not come without its challenges, challenges I will learn and grow from, and be able to apply and come back even harder. Should they have me, I will be more than happy to do this again. I love the girls. I love working with you guys, I just love helping people, and I felt for the first time in a long time, I helped people,” she stated.

Hinds, who is a mentor in the project, said she felt “very humbled to have been asked” to be part of the project which was “near and dear to my heart” because it was about the development of artists generally, and female artists in particular. She congratulated the artists, told them it was “an absolute pleasure” working with them, and that they can reach out to her anytime.

“Our female artistes aren’t seen as much as they should be,” she said. She lauded the project saying it provided “much needed assistance, guidance … with material … and all of these different thing […that make up an artiste]”. 

The next phase of The Pink Pen Project is the distribution of the music. Hoyte said by supporting all the artistes over the last couple of months, the NCF has global catalogues that can be distributed. (PR)