It was a cultural expression to embrace and celebrate Bahamian-American links, lineages, roots, love and legacy at last weekend's Miami/Bahamas Goombay Festival celebration in Peacock Park, Coconut Grove, Florida.
In its 38th year, the event featured an art exhibition and cocktail reception at Kroma Art Gallery in Coconut Grove, as well as a park festival. And some of The Bahamas' most renowned artists, artisans, chefs, entertainers and cultural icons performed at this year's event to showcase the culture of The Bahamas.
As expected, Junkanoo, which represents Bahamian roots and heritage, was a hit and was presented by The Junkanoo Revue Band and the Junkanoo Shakers.
The world renowned Royal Bahamas Police Force Pop Band, and legendary soul singer Betty Wright, who has Bahamian roots and who was crowned Goombay Queen 25 years ago, were crowd favorites. Paul Bodie and The Togetherness Band, Steve "Golden Child" Carey and Kenneth and The Eleutheran's Band were also hits.
Guests also got a taste of authentic Bahamian dishes created by award-winning chef Simeon Hall Jr., who delighted patrons with his famous split peas crab soup and dumplings, fish cakes and guava duff. Dozens of other vendors, comprising Bahamians in the United States, provided native peas 'n'rice, fried snapper, cracked conch, baked macaroni and cheese, curried goat, and conch salad dishes.
Culturally inspired booths including a Junkanoo educulture expo by educator Arlene Nash-Ferguson; wood carving by James Rolle; straw craft by Veronica Dorsett; Bahamian colored and crafted jewelry by Whitney Butler and artists renderings by Piaget Moss and Jamaal Rolle were also on display.
"The Bahamas and the United States of America [Miami] in particular, share a unique history," said Harrison Thompson, permanent secretary at the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism. "The community of Coconut Grove, Florida has been built and settled by Bahamians, many of whom went there on contract to accept menial jobs as farmers, construction crew members and the like to financially support their families back home. Those Bahamians that stayed settled in Coconut Grove and other nearby districts of Miami. Those that returned to [New Providence], purchased land in the then emerging inner city constituency they called Coconut Grove, which served as a reminder of the prominence and independence of those 'merican cousins' and family members who stayed behind in South Florida."
The festival was sponsored by the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism; Commissioner Marc Sarnoff and the City of Miami, District 2, City of Miami Commission, Miami-Dade County; the Bahamas Consulate, Budweiser and the Bahamas Goombay Committee of South Florida.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian