What Going On?

 It's the last day of January 2021. We survived. A few persons in Barbados with COVID-19 were not so fortunate. So I want to greet readers from Moldova, Canada, France, Albania, Austria, Greece and Mexico. 👋 So happy you take the time to check out the blog. 

This month, Barbados was placed in a bit of tailspin. On December 24, 2020, the island had 47 positive cases for COVID-19 in the state-run isolation facility. These were all imported cases (visitors, Barbadian nationals and citizens). By January 26, 2021, there were 742 active cases of mostly locals - and it was discovered soon after that that the island had the highly transmissible UK strain. From 47 to 742 in four weeks should have been a glaring indicator. That is not my subject for today.

A couple of days ago, the regional female calypsonian "Singing Sandra" died. She sang my female empowerment song from my youth: "Die With My Dignity". I used to sing it loud and proud - you can click on the link to hear it. Later that day, the news broke of the death of the African-American/Afro-Caribbean iconic actress, Cicely Tyson. I was close to heart-broken that day at the loss of these female titans in their respective fields. So I can't say that January began with a lot of "joy". May they rest in peace. 

                                                    Iconic actress, Cicely Tyson: 1924-2021

On the bright side, I discovered a new local awards show, Gine On People's Choice Awards, which celebrates Barbados' creatives. Winners are voted for online by the fans and on January 6, 2021, voted began for the 2021 nominees.

The 2020 awards ceremony unearthed some fine local talent. Krisirie was one such. Her music video for Long Time Love was the fans' choice for Music Video of the Year. I can see why it won with its rich, vibrant imagery of Barbados' landscape and rhythmic dancing girls. You can click on the link to see it. 

Then there was Leadpipe, who won  Soca Artist of the Year, for the Soca Song of the Year, "Sometime", which I featured before so you can click the link for the lyric video. 

                                  Leadpipe, Soca Artist of the Year 2020, Gine On People's Choice Awards

Though it was not in winner's row, this short animated film is set to one of my fave party calypsos from my youth - so I could not resist sharing the entire animation. It is hilarious. Seriously. 

              Queen of de Band Short Animated Film [Source: Queen of de Band Film 2019, August 2019]

So, how is it that this online product missed me? Well, I'm not that young anymore, so clearly I'm not following what the young people are.  With a goal to showcase Barbadian talent in its various forms, whenever I can, I'll let international singer, Shontelle, tell you why she follows Gine On - and if you have not figured it out "gine on" is Barbadian slang for "going on". 

                                       Shontelle Gets Why We Do This [Gine On, October 2018]

On that note, I sign off for another month. Bless up.

The Best Reason for the Season

Here's to a Merry Christmas and happier 2021!  🍹

Very special greetings to readers from Saudi Arabia and Taiwan. (Best seen in web view.)

Having already presented glimpses of Christmas traditions in Barbados, including our annual fashion parade as well as much of the local music - even the humourous touches - and my "goosebump" faves, I will focus on the real reason for celebrating Christmas with some recently-discovered "goosebump" songs and seasonal quotes (not quite a nine lessons and carols) but I hope you will be inspired.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the virgin is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. That is God is with us." Isaiah 7: 14

O Come, O Come Emmanuel | Filmed in Israel (Hebrew & English) [Source: Anna Hawkins, November 2015]

Mary's Song 

"Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David, called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house ns family of David. He went to be registered with Mary to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they are there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger because there was no place for them in the inn." Luke 2: 4-7 

Amy Grant - Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song) (Lyric Video) [Source: AmyGrantOfficial, November 2019]

News of Messiah's Birth

"But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid; for see - I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people; to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord." Luke 2: 10-11. 

Handel's Hallelujah Chorus | MSO Virtual Choir feat. MSO Chorus [Source: Melburne Symphony Orchestra, December 2020]

Love Incarnate, Love Divine

For a child has been born to us,

a son given to us;

authority rests upon his shoulders;

and he is named 

Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9: 6

                   Chris Tomlin - Noel (Live) ft. Lauren Daigle [ChrisTomlinVEVO, November 2015]

The Reason For The Season

On that note, I will sign off with a blast from the past. When I was a child, Jim Reeves was very popular on the local radio stations. Today, country and western music is still popular among a certain age group. He knows the true reason for Christmas (though the image with Santa and baby is unfathomable):

                    Jim Reeves..."C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S" with Lyrics [V.A. Hoss, December 2013]

Until next time...

A Snapshot of Barbados of Yesteryear

In the month of November, Barbadians celebrate all things Bajan! It is the month when we celebrate our Independence from Britain. That historic day was November 30, 1966. This year 2020, marked the 54th anniversary of Independence. So I will share images of Barbados of yesteryear. 

First, greetings to the readers who visited the page over the last four weeks from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Nigeria and Romania! Hi there! 👋

Now, for new readers, you can view previous posts when I focused on our music or a few traditions. This year it's a pictorial display.  I suspect only a few of my readers are more than four (4) decades old so here are images of my trip down memory lane... 

This is before my time. It is a view of the southern end of Bridgetown, near the wharf and the bus terminal shown below. In the background of the image, there was construction on a Government building that was since vacated.

One of the most iconic images of Barbados is the policeman's uniform. Again, before my time, a policeman directed traffic in the city. Given the type of vehicles in the background, this was well before I was born!

As a child, I remember travelling on a similar type of bus to visit relatives "in the country" - that meant leaving the outskirts of the capital city of Bridgetown to visit a rural village. Yes there were rural villages in Barbados, though it's only 166 sq. miles. To be honest there still are. The eastern side of the island remains mostly rural as town-centres are located in the south and on the west coast.

 

Also, before I was born, ships docked at the Wharf to offload goods (this must be circa 1960s): 

When the mini became fashionable in the late 1960s-early 1970s, this is what a girl's uniform looked like - I doctored the image so it no longer resembles a photograph. Note the straw-hats worn as part of the uniform - and these uniforms were handmade by parents or a seamstress. They were not ready-made as many are now. 

Writing of school uniforms, here are examples of bus tickets. When I was going to school, those I used looked like the ones on the bottom right of the image. 

Back in the day, you could use this to buy a bus transfer ticket for 60 cents and get back 40 cents change.  Then the $1.00 dollar bills were discontinued.

Now there are only $1.00 coins and effective December 1, 2020, a specially-painted, glow-in-the-dark limited edition $1.00 coin goes into circulation, which were launched in tribute to the essential workers who continued to carry out their duties during this COVID-19 experience. 

When I was growing up, music was played on record players. My father had a wonderful collection of Merrymen albums and "God Bless Bim" (the first video on the page) remains a favourite at this time of year. 

 

Of course, we used a rotary phone. There were no smartphones! This would be an antique to anyone born after 1990.

To finish today's piece, I end with a wonderful video circulating on social media of images of Barbados over the years. It's a great historical snapshot. Enjoy the handiwork of Mul!

   Old Barbados: Part I - Memories of Days Gone By [Credit: Mul]

Should anyone be curious about the informal language used in Barbados, check this out: 

On that note: Here's to another Independence celebration!🥂 

 

Fighting For A Cure

A sunny greeting to my regular readers. Thanks to you, there have been more than 3,000 views of the blog. I hope most of those are actual readers! A special shout out to you who visited my page from Cambodia, Qatar, Hong Kong and the Netherlands.👋🏼

October is known as the month for Breast Cancer Awareness. While I've been hoping for 3 years to speak to a survivor - and I did this week, the person had reservations about speaking on camera. So, for plan B I'll share an informative presentation by a Barbadian researcher, Juliet Daniel, featured for the Inspiring Future Women in Science International Women's Day event. I recommend it for parents of, and people working in community projects with, girls in particular. 

From Barbados to the cutting edge of cancer research: Juliet Daniel at IFWIS 2020 [Source: Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, March 2020]

There is also a young Barbadian male involved in research as well. He is Shawn Hercules and he was featured last year in a production in which Juliet Daniel was also instrumental in its realization. Let's learn about him:

Aggressive forms of breast cancer | Meet Shawn Hercules| Triple negative breast cancer research| [Source: Stem Caribbean Media, October 2019]

In celebration of the survivors, this classic by Lee Ann Womack, I Hope You Dance. #thinkpink.

                            Lee Ann Womack - I Hope You Dance (Official Video) [Source Lee Ann Womack, October 2009]

A Life Of Distinction

 What A Year! First let me welcome readers who were in Peru and Cambodia sometime over the last 4 weeks. 👋

As I write this, I note on international news that protests continue in Wisconsin for another police shooting of an African-American man - the subject of my June entry. I write this the day after the news broke of the death of African-American actor, Chadwick Boseman, who gave a really great quote at an Awards ceremony and who is known for his role in the Black Panther. My last blog was written the day before the news of the death of Barbados' longest serving Prime Minister, Professor the Right Honourable Owen Seymour Arthur. So, it is a glimpse of him I will share today.

But first, this partial steel pan rendition by pannist, Samuel Harry, rendering How Great Thou Art (my handiwork 😊). 

                                                How Great Thou Art – Samuel Harry, [Jaye Busby 2020]

Tributes for the late Prime Minister came in from the Caribbean and the Commonwealth (of which Barbados is a part) and gave a picture of the man - a Caribbean-focused politician, a hospitable man, a man of the people, a shrewd economist.

This one is given by the Secretary General of the Commonwealth:

                        Owen Arthur Tribute from the Secretary-General [The Commonwealth July 2020]

HTS News, St. Lucia, shared this tribute by the island's Prime Minister, The Honourable Alan Chastenet:

  

PM Chastanet Pays Tribute to the Late Owen Arthur [HTS News4orce St. Lucia July 2020]

Finally, the current Prime Minister of Barbados, the Honourable Mia Amor Mottley, gave this tribute at his state funeral:

May he rest in peace.

#BeEncouraged

Thank you to all who viewed the blog, taking visits to my musings beyond 2,900 🍹. It's not what I would call viral. Still I am grateful for small mercies. So I will continue my shout-outs to those who visit from different countries. This time it's for the visitors from South Africa and Saudi Arabia 👋.

This is the month and today (July 26) is the day of "National Significance" when we remember Barbados' own #BlackLivesMatter movement of 1937, which I highlighted last year to little traction. Obviously it was not a fashionable theme then. After a month of unrest in the USA and solidarity from others around the world, it came to prominence. In Barbados, we still need to have a discussion on race relations since wealth imbalances continue based on race and concomitantly class. 

This month though I want to encourage. Illness due to COVID-19 continues to run rampant in many countries of the world. Health services are under pressure to cope with the cases. In Barbados, to date we've had 94 recoveries of 104 cases with 7 deaths - and no new deaths since April. There are currently 7 persons in isolation - including a 10 year old boy, his teen brother and their mother. All current cases are imported cases. To date there is no evidence of "community spread'. We are asked to wear a mask in public spaces and to maintain a distance of at least 3 feet. 

The entertainment community over the last few months have done several collaborations to encourage those on the front-line and those who are restricting their movements. I featured one by Edwyn Yearwood in April. Today, I will share a few others:

Beautiful Barbados - a cover of a classic Merrymen hit of a bygone era and a great showcase to invite visitors to Barbados to take up that Welcome Stamp and live here for a year while working away from home 😉:

Beautiful Barbados with Melinda Hughes and friends - Come Back to Beautiful Barbados [TravelMedia.i.e., May 2020]

Then there is the encouraging collab featuring the voices of some of our popular entertainers: 

This is Who We Are Final [NCF, June 2020]

If there is still any doubt about the outcome of our fight with this disease, make no mistake: 

We Got This - 25 Voices. 14 countries. 1 message [Vibe Barbados, May 2020]

Then to encourage farming we have this anthem - penned by one of my fave Crop Over festival artistes and it's right for the times. If all else fails, we need to feed ourselves:

The Farmer's Anthem - A World of Farmers [NCF, June 2020]

And for final recognition:

Alicia Keyes - Good Job (Robin Hood Relief Performance) [Alicia Keyes, May 2020]

Until next time...

You Raised Us Up

May seems to be a strange month. Last May, I dedicated my blog entry to remember persons I knew who had passed on in the previous months. As May 2020 closes, I find myself having to pay tribute to three women of excellence who all died in the month of May. 

They were all retired principals of an alma mater, the secondary school I attended, the St. Michael School. A secondary school is really a combination of junior and senior high school in the USA. We enter at age 12 and leave at age 16 or 18.  Our secondary schools prepare us for life after school. Yes, we learn subjects but it is where we make friends for life. Our teachers do not only teach. They counsel. They guide. They discipline. They pass on knowledge about the subjects they teach and life in general.  Well, I can say mine did and that's why I begin with this song, dedicated to teachers.

                                                        In this Moment [Source: Billy Barker]

The co-ed St. Michael School has a quasi-elitist reputation today since most of the graduates acquitted ourselves well and entered successful careers in the teaching, administration (both public and private sector), nursing, medical and the legal professions. The school was founded in 1928 to fill the need to provide a solid, post-primary school education for girls from working class families whose parents could not afford to pay for them to attend one of the private girls' schools. With only a primary school education, girls had to learn a skill such as dressmaking or find work as maids or shop assistants in grocery or corner shops or become hucksters (vendors). The St. Michael's Girls' School was opened by the vestry to provide girls with an education in the hope of providing opportunities for upward social mobility.

Here's a shot of the St. Michael's "museum":

The uniform when I was at school is the one on the left. 😀

Constance Inniss (1916-1920)

                

As headmistress, Constance Inniss is credited with instilling the girls in the girls' school with the importance of being independent, self-assured and cultivating the social graces. She taught Spanish, having earned a degree in Spanish, French and Latin from London University. She introduced science subjects, school meals and the Spanish Club. Born in May, she died some days before her 104th birthday.

Dame Olga Patricia Symmonds (1925-2020)

Dame Patricia, as she was more popularly known was headmistress at the school when I attended. She presided over the first cohort of boys. Her tenure as headmistress began in 1976 and ended in 1985. An English teacher, she was known for her poise, articulation and her graciousness. Everything about her exuded old-world charm. She was able to instill in her charges the importance of character and civil conduct in the pursuit of excellence. In 2000 she received the honour of Dame Commander of the British Empire for her contribution to education, civil life and politics. 

Dame Patricia Symmonds and Dame Maisie Barker-Welch 

Dr. Wendy Griffith-Watson 

Dr. Griffith-Watson served as another of the School's English teachers before becoming Head of the English Department and then  Deputy Principal. She was Principal (Headmistress) from 1994 to 1996. In 1997 she became Barbados' first female Chief Education Officer serving in that position until 2009. Warm, witty, eloquent, firm, fear and fearless are words used by Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley to describe her as she was Minister of Education during the tenure of Dr. Griffith-Watson.

Three outstanding female educators, who all taught at the same school, who all impacted the lives of their charges, mostly for the better. I don't often weep (there is a touching movie now on TV too), but I am weeping now. They raised us up.

         Al Josh Groban Children Choir from Africa - You Raise Me Up [Source: Boon Ming Ng]

May they rest in peace.