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: /br>
“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.
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.)
