Minister of Tourism the Hon. Obie Wilchcombe, centre, was present during a press conference called by a group of musicians on Sunday, March 15 at the British Colonial Hilton. The group announced “It’s a Bahamian Ting” concert for April 11, 2015 at Arawak Cay, a prelude to the Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival. Pictured are, from left: Spider, Ira Storr, KB, Minister Wilchcombe, Geno D, Q-Pid, and Ra-pa-pum-pum. (BIS Photo/Raymond A. Bethel, Sr.)
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NASSAU, The Bahamas – The Minister of Tourism
the Hon. Obie Wilchcombe said he is pleased that local musicians have stated
their support of the Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival, slated for
May 7-9, 2015.
He was present during a press conference
called by a group of musicians
on Sunday, at the British Colonial Hilton.
The
musicians have now come out in support of the Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival, since
the Government has stated a Bahamian concept to the inaugural street festival.
“I am
very pleased and proud that the local artists (musicians) are coming out and
taking ownership of the event,” Mr. Wilchombe said.
He said however, that the Junkanoo Carnival
Commission is still trying to lock down a headliner but that he was never
worried about that aspect of the festival.
Mr. Wilchcombe pointed out that The Bahamas
is used to having thousands of visitors flock to its shores for local
entertainers such as Ronnie Butler, Peanuts Taylor and the like.
“Whoever comes as a guest, the focus has to
be on Bahamians and I’m so pleased and proud that today that the great Bahamian
sons like KB and Eugene Davis are here making their announcement, taking
ownership of our culture, of this event.
“I think it’s going to enhance this event,”
Minister Wilchcombe said of the pre-concert announced by the entertainers. Billed, ‘It’s a Bahamian Ting,’ the concert
will be held at Arawak Cay on
Saturday, April 11, from
6pm -12 midnight. The
concert will feature a full-range lineup of local musicians, artists and
entertainers in goodwill support and prelude to the upcoming carnival.
Kirklyn “KB” Bodie, who was initially quite
vocal in his opposition to the Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival, offered this
explanation in presence of musician colleagues Geno D, Spider, Q-Pid, Ira Storr,
and drummer, Ra-pa-pum-pum:
“Given the recent announcements by the Government
of The Bahamas regarding its desire for the Bahamianization of the upcoming
Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival, and the fact that this is what we musicians sought
in the first place, we have come to express our support,” KB said.
In this vein, the group came to declare that
after hearing the Prime Minister and the Minister of Tourism publicly endorse
“the Bahamian brand --insisting that Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival is to be about
Bahamians, our music and our culture, we feel compelled to get involved and do ‘our
T’ing.’”
According to KB, the Bahamian culture is a
mixture of Goombay, Rake & Scrape and Junkanoo music and “just a few weeks
ago, it appeared to us Bahamian musicians that this fact got lost somewhere in
the mix of all the fanfare about ‘carnival’ and the flair of music and
costumes.”
He also said that while they support the
music and cultural traditions of others in the Caribbean, they remain steadfast
in their beliefs that as a people Bahamians have their own expressions of
culture. “The greatest expressions are conveyed through our music, food and
authentic Bahamian culture anchored by our Goombay, Rake & Scrape and
Junkanoo music,” said KB.