|
|
|
|
Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
 Recently I took the reins of the Grand
Bahama Entertainers Musicians And Artists Assc. (G.B.E.M.A.A. ). In the
short time that I have been at the helm of this once again fledgling
organization some things have become clear to me. Some disturbing and
some reassuring. One reassuring thing I have discovered is that there is
a wealth of talent and skill present in the entertainment and arts
community of Grand Bahama and in even in the everyday not interested in
that artsy stuff Grand Bahamian. More than you would normally find, per
capita, just about anywhere in the world. This is due primarily, in my
opinion, to the fact that talented and skilled entertainers and artists
frequented this little island from the 60’s trough early 90’s and
invariably left offspring that carried the genes of musical and artistic
geniuses. Everyone from Teddy P to Pebo and even the great bands of the
80’s were here in Freeport. And it was documented. All but the after
party activities, of corse. Add to that the already immensely talented
locals. The Swain, the Kemps, the Penns’, the Mitchells, the Coakleys
and the list goes on.
The disturbing thing is that with all the
talent and entertainment and artistic skill on Grand Bahama, we have not
continued to remain at the forefront of the entertainment and art
world. We have seen the steady decline of the support of live
entertainment, the arts and live music on this island over the past 20
years. There is no significant funding or initiatives for entertainers
and persons that are interested in becoming involved in the arts.
Parents now even discourage their children when they say they want to be
a singer, poet, painters, sculptors, musicians, dancers etc. where once
ago it was the in thing. Our tourists complain of little to do and
nearly no live entertainment. No regular and easily accessible arts,
food, music and entertainment opportunities. There are no initiatives or
mandates that seek to address the issue of the decline of live
entertainment and cultural opportunities for locals, expats and guests.
The ministry of tourism develops entertainment laden programmers and
pencils us in as opposed to consulting us on the development of programs
to promote Bahamian artists and entertainers.
Now before anyone
begins to think I am complaining or begging for assistance, allow me to
clear the air on how I feel about the state of our arts and
entertainment industry. There are some things that we as entertainers
and artists of all types have allowed or even propagated over the years.
We have fought among ourselves, we have under bid each other, we have
cut each other down and criticized each other to our public and economic
detriment and without sharing alternatives or solutions to the
shortcomings we have pointed out in our fellow artists. We have been
lazy, slothful, unresponsive, stuck in an archaic mold. We have not
progressed with the times, we have not evolved with the industry. But
even more detrimental to our survival and growth is that we have not
been proactive and have allowed our destiny to be determined by those
who have no vested interest in our development or those who would
benefit from our demise.
So we find ourselves in a rut. Less than
2% of the artists and entertainers on this island are actually making a
living from their talents and the profession that brings them joy. We
are now mechanics, taxi drivers, teachers, carpenters, and mostly
security guards. Guarding the places, building the sites that house and
maintaining the vehicles that transport countless numbers of visitors
that in another era we would be performing for and bringing joy to the
hearts of and also sharing our culture with. We have come a long way
since the booming Grand Bahamian 70’s. Sadly though, it’s a long way in
the wrong direction. The decline of the arts and entertainment industry
on Grand Bahama is directly correlated to the decline of the tourism
product and performance, The degradation of the cultural, social and
spiritual wellbeing and the self esteem of the average Grand Bahamian.
We are not as in touch with who we are and we relate more to foreign
cultures and lifestyles and feel they are superior to ours.
It is,
has been and will always be the duty of cultural practitioners to define
for a nation and a community who they are, and what makes them
different and special. Legislators cannot do this, though some feel they
can. It is their job to encourage, make occasion for and foster this.
Educators can’t, though they try. It is their job to share the history
of and relate the relevance of it and to reinforce our relevance to its
existence and growth to their pupils. Legal practitioners can’t do it.
Though it is their duty to protect it and persons practicing it from
plagiarism and usury. And the media can’t do it. It is their duty, as
the fourth estate, to share and allow, even foster, its expression and
growth. Each knowing their role in the growth and protection, education
and facilitation of cultural expression and identity these 4 estates
can, through the arts and artists, foster a better Bahamas.
But even
without these agencies operating in good faith for our growth and
development there is hope, as long as there is life. And in the arts and
entertainment community there is life abundant. Though we have been
pushed to the breaking point, we are not broken. Our resolve is strong
and our vision for a more vibrant and culturally sound astute society is
clear. Our understanding of what that which we do means to the
wellbeing, social (financial, cultural and spiritual) of our island and
nation is ever present in our minds.
So then this begs the
question. Why are we not as successful in our endeavors and why is it
that the artists and entertainers are not as prevalent on the cultural
scene and in the tourism produce scene as we rightly should be. The
answer is simple. We are whet we are “Artists and Entertainers”.
Take for example the fisherman. His skill and products are necessary for
the feeding of the nation. His commerce supplies residual jobs as he
spends his money on food, clothes etc. without the fisherman our society
and economy would surely fall apart, to some extent, and a major
industry would die. The fisherman has voted for and accepted the
election of a governing party that is charged with creating policies
that he hopes will protect his industry. The policy makers charge their
permanent secretaries and directors with carrying out the policies for
the benefit of the fisherman. The fisherman is just and only that, a
fisherman. He has put his trust in a system and a group of persons that
have asked him trust them to and promised to protect and support the
fisherman if he elects them. Trust to have the wisdom and knowledge and
the good will to protect him and his industry.
Entertainers are no
different. We have voted to and elected persons hoping that they will
honor their sworn duty to protect and develop our industry. We have put
our trust in them to protect and incentivize us. To create opportunities
for us. To facilitate our development and growth. To afford us the
opportunity to share and impress upon our people and our guests the
value and special place that our music and culture holds in our hearts
and the world. Not just pay us to play for their functions.
It has
been said “a high tide floats all boats.” We are only seeking a high
tide in our industry. You just provide the opportunities, pass
legislation that protects and facilitates our development. That’s it.
We can patch our own boats. We can hoist our own sales. We can chart our
own course. But with no water we cannot float and therefore go nowhere.
And so I encourage all artists, entertainers and musicians to call
your politician and say to them, we would like to see meaningful and
positive initiatives that encourage our industry.
Initiatives that
invest in the cultural development of our youth through programs that
bring our artists and entertainers to the front and center of the future
of our countries development. Mandates that say to all investors, hotel
and other industries, as you grow, you must invest in our culture, and
not try to conform it to the culture you brought when you came. That for
you to continue to profit from the labor and land of our people, you
must, just as the government is doing, invest in the cultural and social
development and stability of those people.
To the citizen who feels
like this is not your fight I say this is just as important to you as to
the artists and entertainers. Your children are growing up knowing less
and less about who they are and where they came from and are more and
more defining themselves by American, Jamaican and European cultures.
They are taking on these beliefs, deities, attitudes, principals and
standards. They are being taught that the excesses and liberal standards
and sensibilities are not only ok but better that the conservative
alternatives that they have been taught. They are being encouraged to
follow the trends and customs of external influences and are being
numbed to things that should rightly shock them.
All this without the
gentle but consistent nudge toward what is theirs and what they
naturally would gravitate toward. Influences that we were so blessed to
have in our lives and that were so ferociously guarded by our elders.
Now we understand why. It is your fight as well. The fight for the
proliferation of Bahamian cultural influences in our communities is a
fight each Bahamian parent should be arming and preparing themselves
for.
I conclude with this. Unless we are prepared to demand, work
toward and even fight (not physically or violently) for what is ours,
what we voted for and what we are entitled to, we will continue to be
tossed aside and pulled hither and to. We will continue in the role of
“The Muse” and only that role. Relegated to the corner in the grand
scheme of things. Only a distraction, while the “important” people have
their “important” meetings and “important” balls and “important”
cocktail parties and “important” dances and so on.
A sad sect, satisfied
with the crumbs from the “important” peoples' tables. We will have
come, existed and left, and not added anything to the equation. Like a
zero after the decimal. Of no effect, 100 becoming 100.00. All the
while our culture, history and unique identity are absorbed into
whatever perverse and silly fad comes along. Whatever sad and
insignificant idea of a fun existence is popular at the time. And then
it is all but gone and we are an image of a shattered mirror on the
ground, reflecting in pieces of whatever stumbles over where we lay,
before real and well defined peoples and cultures expose them for their
canards and senselessness. But none the less canards and senselessness
that we would digest and manifest, until the next episode stumble their
way across our path on their way to oblivion.
© Copyright 2015 by thebahamasweekly.com
Top of Page
|
|
|
|
