Freddie Munnings Sr., Peanut Taylor, John "Chippy" Chipman

Nassau, Bahamas - Forty-one cultural giants were surrounded by government officials, friends and family recently as they were honoured during an art exhibition at Pompey Square.The event was part of the 41st independence anniversary celebrations of The Bahamas.

The cultural legends included names synonymous with features of Bahamian culture like art, music, writers, theatre and of course Junkanoo.

The legends that made the list were Alphonzo ‘Blind Blake’ Higgs, Amos Ferguson, Antonious Roberts, BahaMen, Becky Chipman, Beginning of the End, Brent Malone, Bernard “Buttercup” Ferguson, Charles Carter, Cleophas Adderley, Count Bernadino, E. Clement Bethel, Eddie Minnis, Ezra Hepburn, Freddie Munnings Sr., George Symonette, Jackson and Stan Burnside, James Catalyn, Jay Mitchell, Jeannie Thompson, John Berkley Peanuts Taylor, John Chipman, Joseph Spence, Kayla lockhard Edwards, King Eric, Leroy Duke Hanna, Maureen Duvalier, Pandora Gibson Gomez, Patricia Bazard, Paul Meeres, Percy Viola Francis and Winston Gus Cooper, Ronnie Butler, Shirley Hall Bass, Meta Davis Cumberbatch, Susan Wallace, Edmund Moxey, Theophilus Coakley, Timothy Gibson, Tony Mackay, Wendal Stuart and Winston Saunders.

The honorees or representatives of their families all received a commemorative 41st independence book and a sketch of the cultural legend painted by local artist Jamaal Rolle.

Prime Minister Perry Christie, who was the keynote speaker at the event, spoke about how it is important for Bahamians to know where they come from through icons.

“These 41 legends light up our Bahamas like beacons to the future. So important is culture to national development and identity,” he said.

Sketches of Godfather of Bahamian music Ronnie Butler and Legendary Play Writer James Catalyn by artist Jamaal Rolle.

“ The government has decided with the occasion of this 41st anniversary, it is fit and necessary to begin the process of identifying, commemorating and saluting all those people in our history and in our country who can be considered to be cultural warriors. And in particular pay homage and express gratitude to distinctive cadre of the first 41 personnel whose life, work, talent and contribution are distinctive to their performance.”

After the presentations, the honorees were entertained by a special performance from Geno D.

Play writer James Catalyn said he was more than excited to receive the honour.“I am truly flattered by the gesture and I truly appreciate the recognition to be recognized by the Bahamian people at this time. I was there when we lowered the British flag –the union jack and raised the Bahamian flag and I was always proud to Bahamian and this makes me even prouder right now,” he said.

For entertainer and Junkanoo enthusiast John “Chippie” Chipman this is just another notch under his belt for he has received many awards over the last several years. Among his awards are: an MBE (Member of The British Empire) from the Queen; The Bahamas Merit Award (BMA), which he got the same time as the late Prime Minster Lynden Pindling; Tourism Lifetime Achievement Award; the Junkanoo Award; the Independence Award; the Centennial Award; and awards from churches and civic organisations.

He is also listed as one of the 150 most outstanding Bahamians in Jones Communications' publication of the same name.

“It is a pleasure to be honoured,” he said. “I’ve been around the world serving this country and I was performing for this country when it was only bush. They usually give you your honour when you are dead but I am receiving all mine while I am alive. I even have a street named after me. I am proud to get these awards while I am living,” Mr. Chipman said.

“All of these honourees are great entertainers who performed well for this country. They keep our flag high and so I enjoy seeing all of them unite for this country.”

Minister of Transport and Aviation Glenys Hanna Martin greets Play writer Jeannie Thompson.

Just some of the 41 artworks by Jamaal Rolle

Remarks

Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Perry G. Christie

Cultural Warriors 2014 Proclamation Ceremony

Pompey Square

8th July 2014


There is no question that The Bahamas is a country rich with history, talent and culture.

Today, we are here to honour 41 Culture Warriors -- warriors who personify that perfect mix of history and talent that makes their cultural contribution to our country so important.

We can actually measure the accomplishments of The Bahamas by looking at the measure of the strides made by these honourees.

For example, among the 41 Culture Warriors we pay accolades to today are trailblazers like Paul Meeres, Maureen Duvalier, Ronnie Butler, and Freddie Munnings, Sr.; introductory ambassadors like Alphonso "Blind Blake" Higgs, George Symonette, Amos Ferguson and Cleophas Adderley; pop stars like The T-Connection, The Beginning of the End Band and Baha Men and innovators like E. Clement Bethel, Brent Malone, Antonius Roberts and Tony McKay.

We have tradition bearers like Peanuts Taylor, Chippie and Becky Chipman, King Eric, Count Bernardino, Buttercup and Joseph Spence.  We have "keepers of the flame" like Charles Carter, Edmund Moxey, Meta Davis Cumberbatch and Vola Francis and Gus Cooper and we have masters of the written word like Winston Saunders, Jeannie Thompson, Susan Wallace and James Catalyn.

There are so many stars of the Bahamian Cultural Skies that one would not dare to choose any one as the brightest. These 41 luminaries light up our Bahamas galaxy like beacons to the future.

So important is culture to national development and identity that the United Nations has developed several conventions that highlight the importance of heritage and cultural diversity as critical components of national identity. For our part, the Commonwealth of the Bahamas is a signatory to the following UNESCO Conventions as a tangible demonstration of our commitment to cultural development as being intrinsic to overall national development:-

1.   1972 World Heritage Convention

2.   2003 Intangible Heritage Convention

3.   Diversity in Cultural Expression Convention

With this international commitment and a realization that the country has not done enough to honour these national treasures, the Government has decided that the occasion of this Independence Anniversary in “The Year of Culture” is a fit, proper and necessary to begin the process of identifying, commemorating and saluting what I call “CULTURE WARRIORS” of this country.

And in particular to celebrate, pay homage and express gratitude to a distinctive cadre of the first Forty One (41) personalities whose life, work, talent and contribution distinguishes their performance, creativity and lifelong work.

The Government is committed to continuing this process of honour, commemoration and award to more of the   nation’s deserving Cultural Artists in further programmes and events to be held this year. I note specifically the gala banquet in November of this year commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Ministry of Tourism as another seminal moment where the country will again pause, pay homage and say “THANK YOU” to another cadre of deserving warriors.

We do so because we are cognizant of the appreciation of the Bahamian people; for the major contribution of the hundreds of Cultural Artists, in addition to Art and Literature; whose work define spiritual, intellectual, emotional features of our society and encompass areas of national life and value systems, our shared beliefs and traditions.

The Roman philosopher Senceca said: "As the soil, however rich it may be, cannot be productive without cultivation, so the mind without culture can never produce good fruit."

These Cultural Warriors have enriched our country's mind and have lead to the cultivation of future leaders and innovators.

As we construct and fortify this cultural bridge to the future, we must continue the institutional recognition of the current and future generation of cultural leaders in persons of Dr. Nicolette Bethel, Obediah Smith, and K.B., and even younger still like Theodore Ellyet, Kishan Munroe, Eric Rose, Puzzle, Willis and the Illest, Jamaal Rolle and the Junkanoo Commandos who are following in their footsteps.

This month alone we have the National Youth Choir, the Bahamas National Children's Choir and the Junkanoo Commandos carrying the gospel of Bahamian culture throughout the world -- proud Bahamians who know that their culture is amazing and the rest of the planet needs to sample what we have to offer.

I reiterate that this is just the first in a series of persons we will recognise for their cultural contributions.

2014 is the year of Culture; but here, in our Beautiful Bahamaland, culture is the currency of choice and we are indeed rich beyond our wildest dreams.

Thank you and congratulations.