Bahamian Artists Superb at 16th Meeting in Beijing Arts Festival

Thu, May 26th 2016, 10:11 AM

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The music, films, art and iconic photographs of The Bahamas were recently on display in Beijing, China, as Bahamians participated in the 2016 Latin American and Caribbean Cultural Exchange as part of the overall 16th Meet in Beijing Arts Festival which annually attracts hundreds of artists from around the world.

Bahamian artists performed at the highest level and were well-received at this Beijing world celebration of the arts.

The 16th Meet in Beijing Arts Festival opened at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) on April 25, 2016 with a Spring in China and Canada themed concert.

Chinese Vice-Minister of Culture Ding Wei, and former Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Sheila Copps, attended the concert.

Ding addressed the audience before the concert saying, “Since its inauguration in 2000, Meet in Beijing has developed into a comprehensive international arts festival. After 15 successive sessions, it has presented diverse and fabulous cultures and arts through performances by more than 30,000 artists and 1,000 art troupes from 115 countries and regions to the Beijing audience.” (http://www.chinaculture.org/2016-04/29/content_769698.htm)

Commonwealth of The Bahamas Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, His Excellency Paul Andy Gomez stated that “these are very exciting times for the development of culture in The Bahamas,” and that “The Bahamas was well-represented in China by all the participating artists.”

The Latin American and Caribbean Music Festival segment of the cultural exchange took place April 30 through May 2. Bahamian musical groups Visage, Fred Ferguson and the Tingum Dem Band, along with Fred Munnings Jr. and the Goombay Dancers, represented The Bahamas at the highest level and were overwhelmingly embraced by festival attendees.

Visage presented an amazing 30-minute musical narrative of all original Bahamian music, which included 6 transitions and a choreographed routine. Visage band leader Obie Pindling says “this created an exciting visual to go along with the narrative.” Pindling says, "All music performed by Visage was original Bahamian music, either recorded or performed by Visage band members.” He added, “It was an honour and a privilege to have the opportunity to represent The Bahamas on this level.”

Fred Ferguson of Tingum Dem band said “opportunities such as these represent a monumental opportunity for Bahamian musicians and I am hopeful that a rake and scrape and Junkanoo component will be added to the presentation in the coming years.”

Ambassador Gomez stated that “Fred Munnings and the Goombay Dancers were the opening act at the Caribbean Food Festival and they immediately got everyone involved, followed by the great Caribbean talents Mr. Killa, Rupee, Everton Blender and others. Fred Ferguson and Tingum Dem are unquestionably the number one house band in The Bahamas and their performances were flawless at 798 ART ZONE.” He said, “Bahamians who see Visage perform often may not appreciate the impact that they have on an international audience because they really put on a musical and dance show in Beijing.”

With a direct focus of introducing Caribbean films to the Chinese public, the inaugural Caribbean Film Festival also kicked off on May 6 through 8. The opening night film was ‘Trailblazer: The Mychal Thompson Story,’ and the film’s director Gina Sealy was on hand to participate in a lively Q & A session after the film.

Other Bahamian film selections in the festival included the award-winning ‘Gentle Giant: The Andre Rodgers Story,’ also directed by Sealy, and ‘My Father’s Land’ a documentary by Tyler Johnston and Miguel Galofre which explored the life of a well-loved Haitian gardener Papa Jah, as he returns to his homeland from The Bahamas, to visit his 103-year-old father.

Ambassador Gomez says that “clearly Bahamian Director Gina Rodgers Sealy is at the top of her game with ‘Trailblazer’ and ‘Gentle Giant: The Andre Rodgers Story,’ which were presented with Mandarin subtitles for the benefit of the Chinese audience, and which were very well-received and the audiences got to know a lot more about the best of The Bahamas.”

Other Caribbean and Latin American nations participating in the event included Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Argentina, Dominica, Suriname, Brazil, Jamaica, Barbados, and Antigua and Barbuda.

Sponsors for the event included: The Government of the Bahamas; Sir Franklyn Wilson, Chairman of FOCOL; Ivylyn Cassar, Vice-Chairman of Equity International Bank and Trust Limited; and Robin Nichols, President of the Palm Cigars and the Directors of Paje Investments Limited, China Arts and Entertainment Group and Instituto Cervantes Beijing. Ambassador Gomez stated that without the 11th hour sponsorship by Sir Franklyn Wilson, Ms. Ivylyn Cassar and Mr. Robin Nichols the event would not have been the success that it has turned out to be.

L-r: Bahamas Embassy, Beijing, Consul Julie Campbell; Bahamas Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China His Excellency Paul Andy Gomez; and Bahamas Award-Winning Film Director Gina Sealy.