It's big, it's dynamic and it's going to blow the house down. Under the theme 'Celebrating our People: Contesting the World Stage,' The Ninth Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA IX), will be held in Trinidad and Tobago from September 22 to October 1, 2006.
This is the third time that the twin-island Republic will be hosting CARIFESTA, having previously staged the cultural extravaganza in 1992 and 1995. The largest cultural festival of the Caribbean and Latin America, the festival will feature over 1200 artists representing thirty countries, including The Bahamas, countries in the Caribbean Region, Latin America and Spain.
The Bahamas contingent will include over 120 performers, including actors, singers, musicians, artists and Junkanooers.
Organisers of CARIFESTA seek to showcase Caribbean art and culture, with the objective of developing the arts, and facilitating artistic and intellectual exchange within the Region.
It is also hoped that CARIFESTA will provide more trade and economic opportunities in the Region. "We'll be taking Saunders' You Can Lead A Horse To Water, produced by Ringplay Productions, A Taste of The Bahamas [and] a variety show prepared for the Bahamas Country Night. The show will feature Bahamian classical folk music, a digital art exhibition, Bahamian cultural products, souvenirs, crafts, jewellery, music and literature and Junkanoo artists, musicians and presenters," said Nicolette Bethel, Director of Culture.
This variety show will be broken up into sections and excerpts will be performed around Trinidad and Tobago between September 23 – 30. A Taste of The Bahamas was written and arranged by Lee and JoAnn Callender. Segment including traditional, popular, and gospel rake and scrape, classical and ethnic dance provided by the National Dance Company of The Bahamas, and a taste of Junkanoo in sound and dance.
In addition, a literary segment will feature Bahamian literary arts by the core group of Obediah Michael Smith, Michael Pintard, Christian Campbell, and Dr. Keith Russell supplemented by other writers in the group, such as Winston Saunders, Cleveland "Anku" Eneas, Patricia Bazard, Enith Darling, Charles Huggins, Nicolette Bethel and Christian Justilien, among others. "The contingent was picked according to each individual's ability and preparedness to contribute in more than one area. Every member of the contingent is a well-rounded cultural worker; versatility as well as excellence were fundamental criteria. The idea is to give patrons of CARIFESTA the broadest possible exposure to Bahamian cultural excellence in the tightest possible group of people," explained Bethel.
The Bahamian contigent is particularly excited about participating in this year CARIFESTA as The Bahamas will be hosting the event in 2008. "We are especially happy to be a part of CARIFESTA. The Bahamas will be the host country in 2008 and so we have decided to go over to Trinidad and show the region what we can do. Presently, we are in the process of getting ourselves ready to play host and so we have been working hard for the past year to ensure that it is a success," said Patricia Bazard, Senior Cultures Officer.
The contingent leaves for Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday, September 21.
By: Betty Vedrine, Nassau Guardian Lifestyles Reporter
