Kirkland Bodie at yesterday’s press conference. Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
BACKTRACKING from their previous denouncement of the upcoming Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival, several Bahamian artists gathered at the British Colonial Hilton yesterday to endorse the inaugural event set for May.
The men said the government’s decision to put Bahamian culture and music at the centre of the event has inspired their change of heart.
Singer Kirkland Bodie, also known as KB, has been one of the harshest critics of the event, saying recently that he hoped it would fail. However, yesterday he said he has grown satisfied that the event will be a proper showcase of Bahamian culture.
“We have gathered to speak in one voice to express our support for Bahamian music and Bahamian culture,” he said. “Given the recent announcement by the government as far as the Bahamianisation of this upcoming Junkanoo Carnival and the fact that this is what we as musicians sought to have in the first place, we have put our support behind it.
“This is what we were looking for long ago. We wanted it to represent our culture and for it to represent who we are. We know we have worked hard and long through the years to keep this culture alive.
“When I said a few weeks ago that I want this to fail, it was because of this same thing. It’s because when I saw it looking like it was heading (to be) Trinidadian and Jamaican, I got upset. I want it to express our Goombay, our Rake ‘n’ Scrape. So we have come to declare that after the prime minister and minister of tourism publicly endorsed the Bahamians and said that the Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival is to be Bahamian, we feel compelled to get involved and to do our thing.”
Although the event is weeks away, there is still no word from government about who will headline Carnival’s concert. It has been reported that the government was last in talks to engage Barbadian-born singer Rihanna, however it is unclear if these negotiations are still on the table.
Yesterday, the artists said while they would prefer if a Bahamian artist headlines Carnival, they understand that an international artist could help increase the event’s profile.
Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe, who attended yesterday’s press conference, noted that the Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival Commission is still trying to lock down a headliner.
“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 country, of their culture, of this event,” he said.
“I think it’s going to enhance this event.”
Comments
duppyVAT 9 years, 8 months ago
What??????????????? KB just got the job for headliner???????????? And now its the best thing since slice bread hey???????????? .................. Boy I tell ya, its still a bad idea ....... SMDH
killemwitdakno 9 years, 8 months ago
I hope KB remains an advocate for cultural identity and is not a sellout because carnival is going to Seychelles. I'm sure they were invited for traditional junkanoo and not this Trinidad style adaption.
"Mrs. Jibrilu of Bahamas is considering bringing a known and popular music group as part of their delegation." http://mobile.dudamobile.com/site/eturb…
killemwitdakno 9 years, 8 months ago
What all do carnivals get by Twining with major ones
killemwitdakno 9 years, 8 months ago
Throwing out heritage doesn't get a UNESCO Masterpieces of the Oral Intangible Heritage of Humanity Award.
Thou shalt not:'
-Use corporate brands in the name of the parade like Scotiabank's Caribana. - Wear Fishnets, Frilled necks, Latin (Spain) elements, Medieval/Venetian masks or Venetian styled clowns , jesters or thespians. No joker's diamond or jailbird striped patterns, joker's hats, or medieval curl toed bell tipped shoes. -Throw Mardi Gras beads mimicking New Orleans festival or wear them as necklaces. That will not profit local suppliers. (Freeport throws bennicake) -Thou shall not flash, shall not wear body costumes of a vagina or buttocks, nor sexually perverted pornographic T's. -No blue devils mimicking Trinidad or stilt walking, jacking Virgin Island's festival. -No circus items in the parade. -Limit nude body paint. -Graffiti gets ugly. No graffiti on transportation. -No fluer de lis. - Don't use the chief's bull or ram shaped horns to mean devil horns. -Shall not use frill cloth shoulders and skirts like Miss Chiquita Banana. -Shall not advertise divinity as witchcraft or write songs about the devil. - Do respect that Congo Carnival Elephants are Columbian. -No groups of Roman gods. -No Halloween costumes or random Cosplay. -No horror. -Please never call explicit dance trends culture or of the festival ( ie: puppy tail is not a junkanoo move, bongey cheek twerking has nothing to do with junkanoo) -Do not condone violent behavior like Usain Bolt's infamous drunk aggression. -Thou shall not use Mardi gras colors palette (purple, green and gold), nor crown a colonial imperialist king and queen every time (Spain, Portuguese, Monarchy). No symbolic keys to the city should be passed to foreigners as done in Mardi Gras. - Thou shall not DISS centuries old Junkanoo ever. Thou shall learn your history.
Please do not forget: -Preserve junkanoo's bright color palette (html5, windows8.1 metro colors) and color relationships. -Portray the signature junkanoo/goombay color theme of yellow,red,blk,white,blue in some full pieces. -Preserve Junkanoo shapes and drawing style just as Japanese Anime is unique. -Costume pieces around the face should look authentic. -OWN THE DESTINCT SYMBOLS AND PATTERNS THAT YOU HAVE just as Navajo, Mayan, Zulu, Ashanti, Polynesian and others do which is paraded in fashion, before someone else does ( ie. A junkanoo chevron is not a regular chevron). OWN GOOMBAY before someone else makes it hot. GOOMBAY TO AFRICA! GOOMBAY TO THE WORLD.
Unless junkanooers are to look like lost fools. Or worse, a Brazilian parrot representing Bahamas at Miss Universe.
TalRussell 9 years, 8 months ago
http://tribune242.com/users/photos/2015…
killemwitdakno 9 years, 8 months ago
As long as soca has been out , is it mainstream? I'm sure such a god given sound can attract more talented lyricists rather than repeating "bam bam" , "Bumper" and "back it up".
Do our cronies know what's playing mainstream right now? Tell me does this sound closer to soca or our GOOMBAY ?!
http://youtu.be/bg1sT4ILG0w
Same views a Rihanna , on tour right now, available April and May 7th and sure won't cost a million, and hey if they win a Grammy this yr they might say they've been to the Bahamas. plus it better fits the sound we're trying to promote and has an African market hello.
When PLP diss junkanoo drums, they just don't know wtf they're talking about. But that's right, Perry's daughter is on a label and ain't got nothing pippin yet.
"Am I wrong for thinking that we can be something for real, for having a vision" http://youtu.be/YskaCL2uSRg
Lol at da peeopplllle !! Do you ever see any tourists in those Carnaval vids?? Call them out KB. Bahamianize, tribal right now is hot, this our shot.
TalRussell 9 years, 8 months ago
Carnival 2015
TalRussell 9 years, 8 months ago
If Comrade KB headlines Carnival 2015, I'd pay $1000 for a ticket, if he could have his brother His "Eminence" Orland H. Jr; join him up on stage and dance to Sammy Davis Jr's: Mr. Bojangles. But one condition His "Eminence" must wear da hat, or no $1000. ..
Sammy Davis Jr. "Mr Bojangles"
........//https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMcfUjIguSs
http://tribune242.com/users/photos/2015…
killemwitdakno 9 years, 8 months ago
Junkanoo can't be heard no where else in the world??
http://youtu.be/c0PxcAfYuzI http://youtu.be/7LA5eNEBomU http://youtu.be/E5tmaql_z04 (just like junkanoo went to Brazil as a program for at risk boys, this is who carnival needs to remember, can even reunite Africa in the west) Tell Mr. Paul Major shut his trap and have a seat, "junkanoo isn't marketable" because they never heard junkanoo anywhere ? ... We'll look what's trending in South Africa http://youtu.be/qB6fYSRY-yc
Cape Town Minstrel Carnival uses their drums http://youtu.be/VvbagnH66zM "Cooning was singing". JunCOONuers. WHAT CAPE TOWN CARNIVAL SOUND LIKE TO YOU?!? And in their native speak they call it Kapsee Klopsee. http://youtu.be/96Z6AM05ZNg However, Kapsee Klopsee formally started as a parade in 1907. The first junkanoo king was crowned in the 1800's. Tell Paul catch a vision b4 he try run anything. Anyone could hire a D list celeb Amorose. you think that market of tourist wan listen to "bam bam" straight through? Trinidad gin be sorry they didn't save some calypso.
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