The Tribune

THE return of the Caribbean Muzik Festival to The Bahamas next month has been hailed as “a tremendous asset to the destination, one that celebrates the rich musical culture of the region” by one of the country’s leading resorts, SuperClubs Breezes.

Muna Issa, Managing Director of SuperClubs, says the Festival, which takes place in Nassau from October 28 to 31, “will certainly be helpful in stimulating travel to the destination. It will also provide a wholesome entertainment option for guests who are already here”.

The Ministry of Tourism has signed an agreement with the event’s organisers for the festival to be staged in Nassau for five years.

The Festival will officially celebrate the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Nassau Accord by heads of government of Commonwealth countries in the Bahamas in 1985, which closed ranks against the then apartheid regime in South Africa and ultimately resulted in the end of that regime and of Nelson Mandela’s imprisonment.

In recognition of this, the Soweto Gospel Choir has been invited to perform at the Festival and Hugh Masekela will be awarded a Living Legend Award, one of the highlights of the event. Others to receive Living Legend awards will be Ronnie Butler (Bahamas), Jimmy Cliff (Jamaica), Omara Portuondo (Cuba), Emile Straker (Barbados) and McArthur Sandy-Lewis “Calypso Rose” (Trinidad and Tobago).

Former recipients have been Bahamians Freddie Munnings and Tony ‘Exuma’ McKay, Montserrat’s Alphonsus ‘Arrow’ Cassell, Jamaica’s Cecil ‘Sony’ Bradshaw and Slinger ‘Mighty Sparrow’ Francisco, who a year ago also received Trinidad and Tobago’s highest civilian award.