|
|
|
|
Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
NASSAU, Bahamas -- The Grammy Award winning Soweto Gospel Choir performs during the ceremony to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the Nassau Accord in Rawson Square, Thursday, October 29, 2015.
It was in October 1985 in Nassau when Commonwealth Heads of Government held their inter-sessional meetings and high on the agenda was apartheid in South Africa and the imprisonment of freedom fighter Nelson Mandela. Coming out of those plenary sessions was the NASSAU ACCORD. (BIS photo/Kemuel Stubbs)
|
NASSAU, Bahamas -- In a relatively low key affair, the Grammy
Award winning Soweto Gospel Choir were in The Bahamas this week to commemorate the 30th anniversary of
the NASSAU ACCORD.
Music enthusiasts would remember that this
choir was formed in Soweto by choir directors David Mulovhedzi and
Beverly Bryer. Their blend of gospel, Negro spirituals, reggae and
American popular music has won them two Grammy Awards. Their albums
Blessed and African Spirit both won the Grammy Award for Best
Traditional World Music Album in 2007 and 2008 respectively.
It
was in October 1985 right here in Nassau on the Cable Beach property now
known as the Baha Mar resorts campus when Commonwealth Heads of
Government held their inter-sessional meetings and high on the agenda
was apartheid in South Africa and the imprisonment of freedom fighter
Nelson Mandela. The world community considered Nelson Mandela a prisoner
of conscience and a political prisoner.
As fate would have it,
Tourism Minister the Hon. Obie Wilchcombe was the lead journalist from
the Bahamas Broadcasting Corporation (ZNS) to cover this event and
record its historic significance. The Religious Tourism Department of
the Ministry of Tourism is playing host to this choir’s visit this week.
Then
Prime Minister the late Sir Lynden Pindling was elected chair of the
CHOCM, a policy decision was made to impose broad based sanctions
against South Africa because of its race-based policies and the rest as
they say is history. All formally banned political parties were
legalized on 2nd February 1990; Mandela left the Victor Verster prison
on 11th February a free man and was sworn in as the country’s president
on 10th May 1994, forming the first majority rule cabinet since the
imposition of apartheid. Mr. Mandela would serve until the 14th June
1999.
During their tour, the Soweto Choir was serenaded by the
National Boys Choir, the National Youth Choir and components of the
College of The Bahamas Choir on Wednesday night at the Center for the
Performing Arts. They also performed in concert during the Caribbean
Music Festival in Rawson Square on Thursday evening at 7pm.
(BIS photo/Kemuel Stubbs)
|
(BIS photo/Kemuel Stubbs)
|
© Copyright 2015 by thebahamasweekly.com
Top of Page
|
|
|
|
