The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

Who we sent to the Dubai Trade Fair raises yet again what really is the culture of our country? Culture is US!

I ask and beg the question the reasoning: Why a US-styled Marching Band was included - it isn’t Bahamian it is 1000% American.

Was Rake ‘n Scrape included? We don’t know. Ironic as guess who is the MP for the Constituency which is well known for the Rake ‘n Scrape Festival .... Cat Island. Surely after successive elections he should appreciate his people’s tradition and culture - seems not!

Police Band - golly if that isn’t as colonial as you can get except what they play - yes that is a significant culture expression they pass and can travel. Their play repertoire of our traditional songs played in their style excellent ambassadors.

Why is it that seemingly our culture starts from 1967 - what was our culture pre-1967? There was so much our ancestors practised - played and danced to which is really the foundation of our National Culture Island people danced the waltz - played the fiddle - tapped the kettle drum - played the accordion, unfortunately in 2022 you rarely hear any of this as the powers probably decided any culture pre-1967 was condemned .... yes condemned even did not exist as everything started on January l0th, 1967…

Can’t forget Junkanoo .... historically the expression of slaves... tells through the kalik of the cowbell, the noise the repetition of the slave chains... and, yes, the wow of the design and creativity of the professionals who create. Fantastic acknowledged. But... we have to be careful promoting an attraction which only happens twice a year... to suggest a visitor can witness a parade anytime of the year is false advertising.

Gospel Choir? Yes we suggest we are steeped in church, but where is the required originality of it being Bahamian’?

Unique is our sailing sloops... now that’s real Bahamian 100%. Cracking of conch... Bahamian.,. our cuisine, native, not the abridged we have adopted the real native stuff.

An expression at such a Fair is supposed to image ones country to be true ..... in my opinion your choice fell seriously short.

JEROME MOSS

Nassau,

January 15, 2022.