Celebrating The Motherland

The month of February is celebrated as African Awareness Month in Barbados. Local school children were taught British History during the colonial era; then we were introduced to Caribbean history in the post-Independence era. More recently, children are learning about Africa and the untold stories of great achievements by persons of African heritage. That will be the focus for today's blog entry. 

With that let me shout out the person in Zambia who visited the blog. 👋 Someone in Indonesia also visited recently. Hello from the gem of the Caribbean, Barbados.

Coinciding with African Awareness, is the national release of the regional film, JOSEPH - the story of a West Indian professional, who reconnects with his African roots in Ghana. The movie has been receiving some acclaim internationally. Ladies and Gentlemen, the official trailer for JOSEPH...

                                  JOSEPH Official trailer [Dave Weekes, November 2019]

Coincidentally,  in December 2019, Barbados' Prime Minister, the Honourable Mia Amor Mottley, reciprocated a visit from the President of Ghana, His Excellency Uhuru Kenyata. Here is a clip of her brief speech on the occasion of the 56th Jamhuri Day celebrations. 

                      Mia Amor Mottley’s during Jamhuri Day celebrations  [DailyNation, December 2019] 

As Barbados' Prime Minister mentioned the word "battle", I considered sharing Shontelle Layne's "Battle Cry" - one of several songs by her that I enjoy immensely. She is Barbadian for anyone who did not know this and she is one of the actresses in JOSEPH as well. Then I opted for Barbados' own Alison Hinds' collab with Richie Spice, which celebrates our people as Kings and Queens - after centuries of being brainwashed into thinking we are slaves, property, a different species, "hewers of wood and drawers of water". The whole purpose of African Awareness month is to remind our children of the great continent Africa has always been and to instill pride in our African heritage. Note also that Alison Hinds is starring in JOSEPH.

                                     Richie Spice & Alison Hinds – King & Queen [Jay Will, July 2009]

In parting, I say here's to our Kings and Queens everywhere.👑