Food, fun and friendly competition -- it was all to be had at the recent 11th Annual Bahamian Music and Heritage Festival. Hundreds flocked to Regatta Park in George Town, Exuma, for the cultural explosion, a signature event of the Ministry of Tourism, held under the theme "Celebrating the Islands ... We're Going Island Hopping".
Educational storytelling, poetry readings, a Bahamian history corner, arts and crafts, Bahamian dance lessons, sugar cane peeling, onion peeling and conch eating contests and culinary and bartending competitions were the order of the day. And at night, the festival was transformed into an all-star Bahamian concert with performances from local gospel and secular artists -- Cacique winner Nehemiah Hield, Al Gibson, the Sandals Choir, Prophet Lawrence Rolle, Veronica Bishop, Cindy Romer, Geno D, Puzzle, the Spank Band and Dillon "D Mac" McKenzie all performed.
Gibson, a 42-year gospel veteran performer, and a native of Exuma who has traveled the world said he looks forward to performing at the Festival.
"No matter where in the world, I am mindful of this arrangement. I am even booked for next year. Whenever I leave home I go to represent The Bahamas and everyone knows I live in Exuma -- the one place on earth where God really lives," said. "D Mac" capped off the festival's performances. It was his third performance at the festival.
"It is a humbling experience. This is home and this is where I am most of the time when I am not in Nassau. I'm glad that the people appreciate me and let me close out the show," he said. "It's things like the Heritage Festival with the various foods and the various talents that shows the younger people what our culture is all about and how we celebrate it," he said.
There were also a number of surprise acts like a Junkanoo rush-out by the Exuma band featuring Bahamas Carnival models, a circus performance by the Emanji Circus, limbo dancing by "Sweetboy Leroy" and a special dance performance by the Juice Unit.
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