George Town, Exuma ﾖ Celebrated crooner Ronnie Butler joined Cacique Award winner Gino D, chic Nita and Androsian Elon Moxey to bring down the house at the first Bahamian Music and Heritage Festival here last weekend.
Backed by Fred Ferguson and the all-star Tingum Dem band, they left a packed house screaming for more rake and scrape music.
Under clear skies and fanned by balmy zephyrs, hundreds of Bahamians and visitors streamed through Regatta Park here for a two-day celebration of things Bahamian.
They were joined by participants in the George Town Cruising Regatta for visiting yachtspersons, which is celebrating its 25th annual series.
From boat building to straw weaving, from jewellery created of local ingredients to paintings and photographs of Bahamian scenes, from savory native dishes to bush medicines and teas, from poetry to dance, all marked the success of this the Ministry of Tourism’s signature event for Exuma.
“I am very pleased with the response from the Bahamians and visitors,” said Charity Armbrister, general manager of the Ministry of Tourism’s Exuma Office. “I knew there was room for an event that would highlight so much more of our heritage.”
The festival evolved out of a suggestion by the organizers of the George Town Cruising Regatta who wanted to upgrade the variety show that climaxes their regatta.
“I knew that we wanted to do something outside the regatta that would put Exuma on the map for another big festival event,” said Ms Armbrister. “As we met and discussed the idea…this is what evolved.”
Ministry of Tourism’s Parliamentary Secretary, Agatha Marcell said the festival provided the opportunity for visitors to get a taste of the Bahamas
“We get the opportunity for you to see some of what we are, some of what we do, and some of who we are,” she said.
“This festival gives us the opportunity to take the Bahamas tourism product to the next level ﾖ when we begin to show the pride and the passion in what our cultural heritage is all about.”
Audrey Allen’s fish scale jewellery, the newest fashion design to make the Bahamian scene was showcased among the interesting display of Bahamian products.
She uses scales from the tarpon, gold fish and parrot fish to produce a variety of colourful hair clips, broaches, and earrings. Small, colorful shells enhance her designs.
“The idea and the craft was a gift to me from God,” said Ms Allen who attended the show from Nassau. “It is wisdom, knowledge and understanding which I call from trash to treasures.”
Dorothea Rolle, of Curtis Exuma, showed off her skilled use of weaving palm fronds into purses, bags and fruit baskets.
“It’s divine inspiration,” she said. “When I am designing my purses I see my customers and so I design according to what I see.”
Lydia Rolle from Mount Thompson Exuma, displayed conchshell jewellery, shell-decorated coasters, and lady’s dress bags using silver top.
John Branton Gynell who grew up in the Exumas, used black and white photography to immortalize the island’s pristine land and seascapes.
His work has been exhibited throughout the southeastern United States and the Bahamas, and belongs to a growing list of collectors who share a vision of the natural beauty of “these pristine and brilliant islands.”
Exuma artist Elspeth Jackson’s work also portrayed typical Bahamian scenes.
“I am a big fan of Bahamian culture,” she said showing off her junkanoo pieces. She also has some “conscious art, talking about the Earth and our need for healing as human beings.”
Senior Director for Family Island and Heritage Tourism, Angela Cleare said visitors, according to surveys, want more to do when they visit the Bahamas.
“They want to learn more about the country and its culture,” she said. “That is why Tourism would put money into a project like this.
“We have a signature event in nearly every island ﾖ the Crab Festival in North Andros, the Coconut Festival in South Andros, the Rake and Scrape Festival in Cat Island, and in Long Island we have the Corn and Mutton Festival.”
Chief Councillor Rev Franklyn McKenzie hailed the festival as “good news for George Town. People came in from all walks and enjoyed themselves. We are excited about it and hope that it expands. It is a stepping stone in a new direction. It brings back memories of how things use to be in the Bahamas.”
“Everybody enjoyed themselves,” said Exuma Member of Parliament and Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Anthony Moss.
“We would like the neighbouring islands take a similar step in this direction,” he said. “It could only encourage tourism to our islands. It has been a very successful festival weekend.”
The aim is for each island to become self sufficient in providing the entertainment for its festival, said Ministry of Tourism’s entertainment consultant, musician Fred Ferguson.
Exuma entertainers included the Rolleville Unite band, Audley Dames and the Boys, the Exuma Police Community Youth Marching Band and choirs.
“There has never been a shortage of Bahamian music; it’s just the appreciation of it and the frequency of it being played. It feels good to have people finally coming around again to understanding that we have great musicians and great music.
Performing their signature hits Ronnie Butler (‘Age ain nothin but a number’), Geno D (‘Drunk again’), Nita (Still gat you goin my way’) and Elon Moxey (‘Catch der crab’) elicited rapturous admiration from grateful fans.
By: Gladstone Thurston, The Nassau Guardian
