Millions
of people around the world will get an in depth glimpse into the culture of The
Bahamas as the award-winning, Travel & LifestyleTV series, Music
Voyager, will feature indigenous Bahamian music and culture in three 30-minute
shows.
Music
Voyager, originally co-produced with Nat Geo Music and PBS, is in Season 6 and
broadcasting with over 200 top broadcasters across the world, including
International In-Flight, cruise ships and A+ hotels worldwide.
The
series focuses on the story of a location as told to the world directly by the
local artists, while using local music as its story vehicle.
Music
Voyager ‘Bahamas’, features host Jacob Edgar, an ethnomusicologist and CEO of
world music label Cumbancha — exploring thriving, exotic global music scenes to
discover existing and emerging talent.
Minister
of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe endorsed Music Voyager’s production.
“The
task at hand is to grow The Bahamas’ tourism industry at a faster rate and
expand our economies to meet the rising expectations of our growing
population,” he said.
“In
this highly competitive and challenging global environment, we cannot rely only
on our natural features of sun, sea and sand, as the compelling reasons to
visit our shores. We are taking advantage of our heritage and featuring our
rich culture, our festivals, our literature, our art and craft, the bounty of
nature, our cuisine and our celebrated music. The broadcast of Music Voyager
will help to do just that.”
In
December and January, the show visited Grand Bahama, Nassau and Cat Island in
hopes of experiencing The Bahamas through its creative spirit and hospitality.
CEO
of Music Voyager Farook Singh said The Bahamas will be broadcasted in over 120
countries and dubbed in 33 languages.
“Art
and Culture is the legacy of The Bahamas, the local artists are the cultural
ambassadors who show us the heartbeat of the Bahamian islands which needs to be
experienced by everyone visiting these magical islands,” he said.
“We
found that the heartbeat of The Bahamas is its people, a very honest spirit,
with no frills, refined, refreshingly polite and genuinely hospitable.
Everywhere we went it was like coming home, like you were an old friend. We’ve
filmed a lot of countries all over the world, but with The Bahamas…. you need
to experience it to believe it. It will speak to your senses directly and
spiritually. The Bahamian heartbeat is warm, deep and reliable, step out of
those beautiful resorts and go out and resonate with the people.”
Mr.
Edgar said he was intrigued with Bahamian music.
“In
the short time that I have been here, I have been so amazed with Bahamian music
– the history, the sound of it the depth of it. It’s so appealing and there are
so many different characters involved in the music scene and it means so much
to the people of The Bahamas.
“The
rhythm is in their soul and that’s what sets them apart from other places in
the Caribbean and the world and that’s so important,” he said.
“I
think this show will really help people to understand that going to The Bahamas
offers a lot of great experiences, not just going to the beach.”
The
episodes will air over 30 times on each broadcast partner channel across the
world, Music Voyager Season 6 begins May 2015.