Some members of the tour group from Barbados pose by the Barbados sign. Tour leaders Lynette Rice and Harriet Pierce are at left. (Barbados Museum & Historical Society)
“Barbados in Cuba: A Culinary and Cultural Experience” was the theme of the celebrations hosted on Saturday, 29 November by the Barbados Embassy at Havana to mark the country’s 59th anniversary of Independence and its fourth as a republic.
Guests at the event included Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Josefina Vidal Ferreiro Cuban government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, Episcopal Bishop of Cuba Bishop Angel Rivera, Barbadian descendants and students, and a 40-member tour group which had travelled from Barbados to explore Cuba on a week-long visit.
Barbados’ culture was on full display. A tuk band comprised of Corey Bradshaw, Karl Smith and Christopher Forte greeted guests on their arrival at the venue. The event was enhanced considerably by the participation of award-winning Master Chef Creig Greenidge and award-winning Master Mixologist Dameian Williams. Chef Creig prepared a wide array of Bajan delicacies for guests to enjoy and Mr. Williams created signature rum cocktails which were a major hit of the evening.
The Cuban choral group Vocal Luna sang touching renditions of the national anthems of Cuba and Barbados, and performed the Bajan folk songs “Dah Cocoa Tea”, “Bromley” and “Barbados Uh Come From”, much to the delight of the visiting Barbadians. This cultural fusion continued as the tuk band performed with two Cuban congueros, or conga drummers. They also accompanied four dancers who captivated onlookers with rhythmic moves.
Tito Holligan, a young Barbadian disc jockey known as DJ Toes, made his international debut entertaining the attendees with Bajan and Caribbean music to close the evening’s festivities.
In her welcome remarks, Ambassador Dr. Sharon Marshall thanked all of the performers for their contribution to the event’s success, and expressed gratitude to Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. for facilitating the travel of DJ Toes to Cuba, and to the National Cultural Foundation for its sponsorship of the tuk band’s travel. She suggested to her audience that this small flavour of Bajan culture might tempt them to celebrate the country’s 60th anniversary of Independence in Barbados.
Independence celebrations in Cuba concluded on Sunday, 30 November with a service at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, the mother church of the Episcopal Church in Cuba. During the service, Bishop Rivera offered congratulations and said special prayers for the government and people of Barbados, as well as Anglican Bishop Rt. Rev. Michael Maxwell.
Some members of the tour group from Barbados pose by the Barbados sign. Tour leaders Lynette Rice and Harriet Pierce are at left. (Barbados Museum & Historical Society)
Mixologist Dameian Williams and Chef Creig Greenidge delighted guests with Bajan food and rum concoctions. (Barbados Museum & Historical Society)
Ambassador Dr. Sharon Marshall welcoming guests at the Independence celebration. (Barbados Museum & Historical Society)
DJ Toes in action. (Barbados Museum & Historical Society)
Some of the visiting Barbadians in the congregation at Holy Trinity Cathedral on Independence Day. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade)
Tuk band welcoming guests Christopher Forte, Karl Smith and Corey Bradshaw (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade)
Author: Government of Barbados
