The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

THE second installment of Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival is being dubbed a “fusion of global sounds”, as a combination of local and international performers are set to “up the vibe” during tonight’s Music Masters concert.

At a press conference on Thursday at the British Colonial Hilton, two of the concert’s biggest performers - Grammy award-winning Haitian hip-hop artist Wyclef Jean and Caribbean soca singer Destra - promised a mesh of energy and good music.

Destra, of Trinidad and Tobago, praised the establishment of Junkanoo Carnival, insisting that despite still being in its infancy, the festival has already become the talk of the Caribbean.

According to Destra, who will close out Friday’s concert, the mix of the celebratory nature of Bahamians and their love of good music has made the country a premier destination on the Caribbean carnival circuit.

Speaking to her enthusiasm for tonight’s performance, she said: “I know that everyone is participating (tonight) and I can’t wait to get on the stage and do what I do best... mash up the place.”

Mr Jean said his performance would feature “a little bit of everything”.

“I am going to take (the fans) in to a time capsule, I am still doing music, and I want to take the audience on that ride with me. I want to show them how it began, the little Haitian refugee strumming his guitar to where we at now.”

“There may be some in the crowd that know ‘Sweetest Girl’ and don’t know the ‘Fugee’ side of me,” he said, referring to his former hip-hop group.

“Then there would be those there for the ‘Fugees’ and do not know anything I am working on currently. It’s going to be like a musical revival, with something for everyone in attendance.”

Roscoe Dames, Bahamas National Festival Commission (BNFC) CEO, added that the commission has worked to grow the profile of Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival around the world.

“I want you to understand that the Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival venue is an iconic venue. We are the only venue that is actually on the water. Other venues that produce carnival don’t have the panoramic view of the harbour,” he stated.

Mr Dames said the pairing of the venue and performances scheduled over the weekend moved festival to the forefront of the minds of everyone in search of a premier carnival experience.

“We have lots of entertainment lined up for you. We have a little taste of reggae, we are going to give you some of that. We are going to give you rake ‘n’ scrape, we are going to give you soca. We have a group out of Cuba, we are going to give you salsa as well,” he added.

Junkanoo Carnival kicked off at Taino Beach, Grand Bahama, April 15-17 with performances by Stileet, DMac, Geno D, Jay Mitchell, Julien Believe, Visage, Ronnie Butler and international acts, Fadda Fox, Shurwayne Winchester, Olatunji.

The festival began in Nassau yesterday.

The Music Masters concert will get underway at 7 o’clock tonight in Da Cultural Village.