03152019 WEEKEND

Friday, March 15, 2019

art books culture fashion music food entertainment puzzles history

Weekend

ST PADDY’S DAY Page 7

A fairytale Carnival

Enigma leads the way for 2019 pages 14 & 15

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Friday, March 15, 2019

music

Buju’s return is finally here

Buju Banton

By JEFFARAH GIBSON | Tribune Features Writer | jgibson@tribunemedia.net

F

or the first time in a decade, fans will be able see their beloved reggae superstar Buju Banton live and in living colour when he makes his triumphant return to the stage in Jamaica tomorrow night. It will be the the concert which officially kicks off his highly anticipated ‘Long Walk to Freedom’ tour.

Fans from all around the world, including the Bahamas, have been arriving in Kingston over the last few days for the weekend-long celebrations.

This will be Buju’s first performance since being released from a US Federal prison in December 2018 after serving time for drug charges.

Once this weekend of events wraps up in his hometown, the reggae star will make his way to Nassau to perform for his fans here. The Bahamas is the first stop of the tour outside of Jamaica.

‘The Long Walk to Freedom’ tour is expected to take the artist to 30 plus countries around the world, including in the Caribbean, Africa and Europe.

The last time Buju performed in the Bahamas was in 2009 before his incarceration. The first ever Nassau performance by the Grammy Award winner took place in 1992 at the old national stadium. On March 30, he will return to perform at the new Thomas A Robinson Stadium.

The line-up for the Nassau concert is in distinct contrast to the ‘Long Walk to Freedom’ events in Jamaica, which

will feature supporting acts such as Chronixx, Cocoa Tea, Etana, Ghost, Romain Virgo, LUST, Agent Sasco, Delly Ranks, and his son Jahazeil.

Other “friends” of the artist are also expected to make an appearance, according to The Jamaica Gleaner.

Meanwhile, the line-up for the Bahamian leg of tour looks very different, with young American rapper Kodak Black and singer/comedian Lil Duval, as well as Nigerian artist Davido (known for his hit “Fall”) scheduled to open for Buju.

Since releasing the official line-up for the tour last week, there have been mixed reactions from Bahamians, with some questioning the decision by local organisers, Paradise Productions, to include such a diverse mix of talent on the ticket.

Unlike ‘Long Walk to Freedom’ in Jamaica, the Nassau concert will not feature any prominent reggae or dancehall performers apart from the headliner.

Paradise Productions Executive Perez Rolle said during a press conference earlier this week that it has always been their intention to present a festival-style event.

“If you would look at the Jamaica show, certain artists that we thought would have been on the ticket are not there. So again, different promoters, different region, different country. Everyone has their idea of how they are presenting the event,” said Mr Rolle.

He also admitted that the line-up for the local event has changed since the

Lil Duval

Kodak Black Then on Saturday, March 30, the night thousands have been waiting for, the singer will return to the stage.

Fans are looking forward to hearing the dynamic performer, known for breaking Bob Marley’s record for the greatest number of No 1 singles in 1992, belt out some of his top hits, especially those from his album “Mr Mention”, which became the

Davido initial announcement of the event last March.

Other popular dancehall and reggae acts were contacted by the promotion company, but due to scheduling conflicts Paradise Productions was unsuccessful in securing their participation.

The response to the upcoming concert, Mr Rolle noted, has still been “overwhelming”.

Buju will be welcomed back to the Bahamas on March 29 with an All-White Party to be hosted at the FIFA Beach Soccer Stadium.

Tribune Weekend’s Top 10 Buju hits

Here are some tunes to add to your playlist to get in the mood for Buju’s return: 1. Wanna Be Loved 2. Love Sponge 3. Not An Easy Road 4. Hills and Valleys 5. Love Me Browning 6. Destiny 7. Only Man 8. Love How Di Gyal Dem Flex 9. Till I’m Laid to Rest 10. Driver

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Friday, March 15, 2019

Inside Weekend

My perfect Bahamian weekend Arron Pinder CEO, Perfec-Tone Q: Saturday breakfast or Sunday lunch?

Interview 4-5 Bahamian Giovanni Johnson, Nova Scotia’s only black brewer, adds his Caribbean flavour to the mix

Food 7 Shenanigans goes big for St Paddy’s Day with authentic Irish fare

Art 8 - 9 Eddion Whyms celebrates the strength of black women with his charcoal pencils

Culture 10 - 11, 18 Iconic Bahamian drummer Peanuts Taylor is honoured, plus NAGB celebrates the ‘Riddim n’ Tingum’

Books 12 New releases hitting shelves this week

Beauty 13 The bath bomb craze comes to Nassau

Carnival 14 - 15 Enigma makes fairy tales come true with its 2019 costumes

Relationships 17 An all-male panel will give women ‘real’ answers on love and sex

Gardening 19 Jack Hardy reports on the start of Earth’s sixth mass extinction

Pop culture 20 Year-round celebrations to mark 80 years of Batman

Literary Lives 21 - 23 The fall of opera’s divine diva

Forgotten Facts 25 Paul C Aranha asks, ‘What is a true-true Bahamian?’

Puzzles 26

Animals 27 Highlights of the Grand Bahama dog show, plus Pet of the Week

Cover photo | Roderick Wells

“Saturday power breakfast. I’m in bed by Sunday afternoon.”

Q: Wine, rum, cocktail or Kalik?

“Depends. Wine with dinner, scotch for after work, and Long Island iced tea for a good time.”

Q: Beach or sofa?

“Definitely the sofa.

And go to the beach when it’s summer.”

Q: What is the one

thing that you can’t live without?

“Great company, engaging conversation, Coca Cola and some ‘me time’ to relax and reflect.”

Q: Weekend away, where would you go?

“I live a few minutes from the beach with perfect scenery, serene vibes and good food.

That’s the plus of being a Bahamian. We should take advantage of our natural resources.”

Things 2 Do this weekend Friday

• Return to the Classics - Boogie Wonderland Time: 5pm - 11pm Venue: Travellers West An evening of 70s and 80s music, Guinness and food specials. Tickets are $15. Hosted by Sexy Lady Tanya and Hope Shelly Ann.

• Love & Soca Time: 7pm Venue: Halcyon Restaurant, Charlotte Street Hosted by the Island Rhythms Mas Band, this party is for real soca lovers.

• St Patrick’s Day Weekend with Commonwealth Brewery and Guinness Time: 1pm & 6pm Venue: Commonwealth Brewery & Bottles Up The weekend of celebrations kicks off with a bar crawl at 1pm today. Stores such as Vons Liquors, Lightbourne & Sons, Rum City, Carmichael Wholesale and Discount Beer are all participating.

The street party will commence at Bottles Up on Joe Farrington at 6pm, featuring Guinness beer specials, Guinness infused food all prepared by “Da Spot”, and Guinness cocktails provided by Mr Mix Bahamas. A dancehall king and queen competition will also take place. On Saturday, the street party

continues at the Hard Rock Café Downtown at 7pm.

• Fusion Reggae Party Time: 9pm Venue: Lukka Kairi A reggae party in tribute to Buju Banton. Music will be provided

by Selector Ty and Selector 3D. Admission is $20.

Saturday

• Bahamas Kennel Club Dog Show Time: 8am - 2pm (continues on Sunday) Venue: Collins House grounds Dogs compete in breed, obedience, rally and agility classes to become Bahamian champions, get titles and ultimately battle it out for ‘Best in Show’.

• Yoga in the Park Time: 8am Venue: Primeval Forest BahaYogini has partnered with the Bahamas National Trust for a brand new class which will help raise money for the upkeep of the Primeval Forest. This is a well-balanced yet vigorous practice that contains breath work, movement and holding postures for short periods of time. This class is recommended for beginners to intermediate and advanced yoga practitioners. Call 434-2706; 7pm the night before is the cut off time.

• The Bahamas vs Turks and Caicos Time: 6pm Venue: Thomas A Robinson Stadium The Bahamas soccer team takes on Turks and Caicos in this international friendly match. Admission is free.

• “for colored girls who have considered suicide/ when the rainbow is enuf” Time: 8pm (encore on Sunday at 6pm) Venue: Dundas Centre for the Performing Arts A revival of 2014’s version of the famous by Ringplay Productions.

• City Girls Live Time: 10pm Venue: Privé Lounge City Girls, who are featured on tracks with Drake and Cardi B, are coming to the Bahamas for the first time. RSVP at (242) 801-8580.

Sunday

• Fusion’s Super Brunch Time: 11am - 4pm Venue: Fusion Superplex The cinema complex’s official brunch at edge, featuring $25 bottomless mimosas and a signature brunch menu. Music by DJ Cam The Comfort

Giovanni Johnson

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Friday, March 15, 2019

interview

He is believed to be Nova Scotia’s only black beer brewer. The Nassau native tells Jeffarah Gibson how he developed his passion for microbrewing and is now infusing craft beers with Caribbean flavours, much to the delight of Canadian beer lovers.

D

rinking on the job is not only necessary but in fact essential for Giovanni Johnson.

He is the in-house microbiologist who deals with yeast management and assistant brewer at Good Robot Brewing

in Halifax, Canada.

“It’s (taking sips) a crucial part of quality control,” said Giovanni told Tribune Weekend. “Beer making is a mix of science and art, so the beer transforms from start to finish.”

The 27-year-old is originally from Nassau and graduated from Saint Augustine’s College in 2011.

For a short time he studied biochemistry at the then College of the Bahamas.

“At that time I was an avid rugby player and travelling with the Bahamas national rugby team.

I remember one year going to Ottawa for a rugby

(PHOTO/JOANNE BEALY)

game with the team and staying at Algonquin College. It was a wonderful trip and I remember thinking to myself that Canada is a beautiful place and I would love to go to school up here,” he said.

“Coincidentally, I had a Bahamian friend who was studying at Holland College on Prince Edward Island and he transferred to Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax. He was able to give me some information about the university and they had my programme, so with the help of my family, the rugby community and East Nassau Rotary Club, I was able to go to university in Canada.”

The young Bahamian’s story has been gaining traction in the Canadian press recently. He is believed to be the only professional black brewer in Nova Scotia.

Race aside though, Giovanni’s expertise in brewing is what landed him the job with Good Robot, where he has been employed for several years now.

“One day in my microbiology class we were tasked to go out in the field and swab certain trees for yeast to bring back to the lab to culture them. A

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Friday, March 15, 2019

few months later we made apple cider with that yeast that we cultured,” he said.

This one activity during his time at Mount Saint Vincent University, from which he graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Biology, started a domino effect. He became more inquisitive about yeast and started independent experiments.

“I purchased a few home-brew kits and started experimenting.

I then researched some more about the fermentation process and humulus lupulus (hops) and made presentations in class. At that time I was in my last year of university and I wanted to make my hobby a job, so I went around to a few breweries with my resumé looking for any brew related work,” he said.

Out of the countless places he applied to, the Good Robot microbrewery called Giovanni in for an interview, which ended up lasting three hours.

“The Good Robot is an inclusive and diverse place so I think I landed the job with my scientific background and the fact that I was from a different place,” he noted.

“Brewing was one of the things that I knew I could use my scientific knowledge to do, so it was a career choice.”

But what truly solidified his career choice was his ability to make tasty tropical beers that everyone enjoys.

And in the midst of studying for a few brewing examinations later this year, Giovanni and a few of his Bahamian friends are bringing Bahamian cultural events to Nova Scotia through tropical craft beer, Bahamian cuisine and Junkanoo.

The conglomerate started by Giovanni, O’Neil

Giovanni prepares his watermelon kiwi Radler called Pink Flamingo.

Since the beer-drinking culture in Canada is strikingly similar to that of the Bahamas in Giovanni’s estimation, The Limestone Group’s unique brews were quickly and enthusiastically embraced.

“People drink for many occasions, however, a lot of people drink at their local brew pubs where the beer is made on-site with fresh local ingredients,” said Giovanni.

The outstanding difference though when it comes to the beer drinking in Canada versus the Bahamas, he said, is the possibility to “stash your beers in the snow to keep them cool.”

In Nova Scotia, he said, there are currently 41 craft breweries, and more coming up every year.

Giovanni’s guide to enjoying beers at the right temperature Different styles of beer taste

better at different temperatures. Here are some general guidelines:

Giovanni (centre) and his friends formed The Limestone Group to showcase Caribbean culture in Canada through cuisine and brews.

Miller and Damian McCartney is called The Limestone Group.

All group members are from the the Bahamas and met by chance while in Canada. They decided to work together when they discovered that they had the same cultural mindset.

Most of what the group does reflects their Caribbean roots; their style, cuisine,

accent, business mindset, and even attitudes show a cultural difference.

And especially their newly invented brews Gimme Guava, Stag A LEE, Calypso Gator and a watermelon kiwi Radler called Pink Flamingo – which were all featured during a pop-up event the group hosted in Halifax – are a nod to their Caribbean roots.

• 35 – 40°F (2 – 4°C): Mass market light lagers • 40 – 45°F (4 – 7°C): Czech and German Pilsners, Munich Helles, wheat beers, and Kölsch • 45 – 50°F (7 – 10°C): IPAs, American pale ales, porters, and most stouts • 50 – 55°F (10 – 13°C): Belgian ales, sour ales, Bocks, English bitters and milds, Scottish ales • 55 – 60°F (13 –16°C): Barley wines, imperial stouts, Belgian strong ales, and Doppelbocks

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Friday, March 15, 2019

food PHOTOS/SHAWN HANNA

By CARA HUNT | Tribune Features Writer | cbrennen@ tribunemedia.net

I

t’s time to paint the town green and have fun with leprechauns and shamrocks as we celebrate St Patrick’s Day this Sunday.

St Patrick’s Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick, is a cultural and religious celebration held each year on March 17, the traditional death date Emerald Isle’s foremost saint.

If you’re looking to celebrate this weekend, have no fear, you won’t have to cross the pond to experience the taste of Ireland, as the Shenanigans Irish Pub on Bay Street offers the perfect place to stop by for an authentic St Paddy’s Day meal.

The pub has been serving up authentic Irish dishes and beverages for almost three years now.

In fact, several of their savoury pies are prepared by an Irishwoman with local roots, adding to the homemade appeal of the restaurant.

Earlier this week, Tribune Weekend popped in to chat with General Manager Tra’ Cee Guerrier about the pub and their plans for St Patrick’s Day. The pub is the brainchild of Irishman Paul Fox and his friend Douglas Cowper.

Douglas is not from Ireland, but fell in love with the country and its cuisine following a visit there.

Shenanigans offers a mix of traditional pub fare, including such favourites as bangers and mash, Irish stew, cottage pie and all-day Irish breakfast. There are also desserts items such as sticky toffee coffee pudding and Irish coffee. Of course it wouldn’t be an authentic Irish pub without Guinness or Jameson

The Paddy Colcannon, an Irish vegetarian dish of mashed potato, cabbage and kale.

Whiskey, and Shenanigans has enough alcohol to satisfy the heartiest of drinkers.

With six HDTV television screens, Shenanigans also seeks to ensure everyone gets to see their game. There is no better place in downtown Nassau to catch all of the NFL, UFC, Premiere League and rugby action.

“We are open seven days a week from 11am and we show all of the games. When it’s a big game you won’t be able to find a seat, it will be packed,” said Tra’ Cee. This year, the St Patrick’s festivities begin on Friday with live music by indie-folk artist Matthew Pinder from 8pm to 10pm. On Saturday, Kris Sweeting will take the stage from 8pm to 10pm, and on St Paddy’s Day itself, the Mash Potatoheads will perform from 1pm to 4pm.

St Patrick’s Day was made an official Christian feast day in the early 17th century and is observed by the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion. The day commemorates St Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, and celebrates the heritage and culture of the Irish in general. Celebrations generally involve public parades and festivals, céilís, and the wearing of green attire or shamrocks.

Steak and Guinness pie served with a side of fries or mashed potatoes.

‘Soda and Uncle Sam’ (soda bread with cream cheese and Atlantic salmon) served with the ‘Wicked Little Leprechaun’ cocktail.

Basil sprouts; roasted Brussel sprouts tossed in honey and balsamic vinegar.

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art

A tribute to strength Charcoal artist captures beauty of black women

H

By ALESHA CADET | Tribune Features Reporter | acadet@tribunemedia.net e is known by his handle, “The Whymsical Artist”, but there is nothing whimsical or droll about the inspiration behind Eddion Whyms’ work.

The young artist mainly uses charcoal to depict strong black women, who he says suffer much, but show only little of their pain.

Long before he found is preferred medium and niche, all Eddion had was YouTube tutorials and a vague idea of how he wanted to pursue his passion for the arts.

One thing was for sure though, he was willing do whatever it took to chase his dream. In fact, Eddion used his entire first paycheck to purchase a canvas, sketchpad, pencils and charcoal paint – all of the things he thought necessary to begin the journey of the artist he aspired to be.

He remembers staying up late at night watching YouTube videos, learning about different techniques and mediums. He continuously drew the same thing over and over again to get feel for the craft. He soon discovered that figure drawing and portraits were his favourite styles.

“Even though I was doing this, not many people knew that I was doing it. I may have posted a picture here and there on Facebook, but I really left people to guess what I was aiming for,” Eddion told Tribune Weekend.

Last year, an opportunity presented itself to him when he saw an advertisement by MAVS, a local non-profit

organisation that seeks to provide a platform for young creatives to gain information about their areas of focus and develop meaningful connections.

The ad asked for submission of work for the chance to have your talent showcased at the organisation’s event series.

“I quickly jumped on that bandwagon and sent in my work. The work was accepted and I was about to show people for the first time what I have been working toward, and because of this show I was able to meet artists like Allan Wallace and Philece Roberts. It was the first time that people had ever really given me any feedback,” said Eddion.

Since then, Eddion’s charcoal art has been exhibited at the Doongalik Art Studios, during the Central Bank of Bahamas’ 35th annual competition, and at various events. Additionally, he has been able to sell eight pieces, which has given him extra motivation to continue on this path. Since the start of the year, he has completed six charcoal pieces for clients and is hoping to paint many more in the near future.

“I didn’t really train under an institute for my craft so I had my many doubts about my work not being enough, but I now understand that people love what they love. Furthermore, even though I love to both paint and draw with charcoal, I find that charcoal is my medium,” he said.

“People actually enjoy my work.

They always ask my age, and when I tell them I’m self-taught they begin to encourage me. They sometimes admire how I capture the essence of women in my pieces, admiring the beauty of black woman.”

His artwork focuses mostly on black women, whom he views as

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Friday, March 15, 2019 the embodiment of God. Eddion said when viewing his pieces, he wants others to understand how strong the black woman is.

“They go through a lot, so I decided to highlight them in my work. I see black women as being the ultimate beauty, the ones who experience so much pain but show so little. I find that young women and men have lost themselves trying to be someone they are not, so even though I mainly only draw women, it can apply to men too,” he said.

And even though he has only been creating art for a relatively short period of time, Eddion said he sees just how far he has come when he views his older work on Instagram.

“I was in complete awe of what my work has become; more details, quality paper, and work done with no rush. When I first started I did work with no intention and just for the sake of it, now I know why I do it. I have a story behind every piece and how it relates to this life.

Basically, I have developed a reason for my work. I can see that my work will bring a drastic change to my life and the lives of others,” he said.

Eddion is looking forward to entering multiple art competitions this year, most notably the international ArtPrize event held in Michigan.

“I have live art pieces that I’m also doing later on this month. I have had people hitting me up asking me to do murals for them, but I already have three definite murals for this year. And I also plan on having two shows in August: a pop-up showcasing my work and an artistry show showcasing poets, singers and artists.

Hopefully there will be more to come after that,” he said.

Readers can keep up Eddion’s work via Instagram @whymsical.artist, Facebook at Eddie Alex Whyms or e-mail at whymsical.artist@gmail.com.

“I see black women as being the ultimate beauty, the ones who experience so much pain but show so little.”

Charcoal paintings by Eddion Whyms

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Friday, March 15, 2019

culture

A tribute to legendary drummer Peanuts Taylor

By JEFFARAH GIBSON | Tribune Features Writer | jgibson@tribunemedia.net

I

t was declared a successful night of “incredible music and great friendship” as Bahamian artists gathered to pay tribute to legendary drummer John Berkley “Peanuts” Taylor.

The Nassau Beach Hotel Alumni Association honoured the musician for his 60 plus years of dedication to “true-true Bahamian” entertainment, promoting the country’s music both at home and abroad.

The event was held in the courtyard of Junkanoo World Museum & Arts Centre (home of Barabbas & The Tribe). It featured many of Mr Taylor’s friends and local musicians like Pat Rahming, Elon Moxey, Anita Ellis, Roney Armbrister, Anastacia Charlow, Alia Coley and the Munnings Brothers (Ray and Fred), who all honoured him in song.

Former Prime Minister Perry G Christie was among the guests and expressed gratitude to Mr Taylor, who turns 84 this June, for being the “Godfather of Entertainment” in the Bahamas.

The iconic drummer started his career by singing and dancing at the Paul Meeres Club when he was only four years old. There, he was given the opportunity to perform for the Duke and Duchess of Windsor during Edward VIII’s tenure as Governor of the Bahamas in 1940.

But it was another twist of fate that ultimately started Mr Taylor on his path to become a legendary figure in Bahamian entertainment and culture.

A drummer for George Symonette became ill and Mr Taylor was asked to fill in at last minute.

In 1956, Mr Taylor opened for Nat King Cole and The Mills Brother in

California. He appeared on some of the US’ most watched talk shows, including The Johnny Carson Show, The Steve Allen Show, The Jack Carr Show, and The Ed Sullivan Show, sharing his talents with the world. He also composed the theme song for the movie “Calypso Island”.

Major networks like Canada’s CBC and the UK’s BBC all featured Mr Taylor on television programmes aired between the late 1950s up to the early 80s. The local and international print media, among them Newsweek, The Telegram (Canada) and The New Yorker also ran many feature articles on the Bahamian musician.

“Peanuts Taylor is an absolute legend and I would’ve not missed an opportunity to say thanks to him and to wish him well in the rest of his life,” said Pat Rahming, who performed during last weekend’s tribute event.

“The event was fantastic. The love that was shown for Peanuts was very gratifying...you could hear the quality of stuff being presented. The host was Barabbas and he really deserves an incredible ‘thank you’ from the whole community. He is just so appreciative of the work of people like Peanuts.”

Mr Rahming told Tribune Weekend it is important to celebrate people like Peanuts Taylor who have made a significant contribution to the culture.

“Every nation is built on its history.

No matter what is happening today, it’s only happening because of people that were there before, and if you stop honouring the people who brought you to where you are, you’re wasting your present and then you won’t have a future. So it’s absolutely fundamental,” he said.

Peanuts Taylor in 1956

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“Every nation is built on its history. No matter what is happening today, it’s only happening because of people that were there before...”

The Nassau Beach Hotel Reunion Alumni Association had previously held a three-part series featuring former entertainers of the famous hotel, inducting them into the Hall of Fame. But then they realised there were still some musical legends living that needed to be honoured.

“We started by doing a tribute to Priscilla Rollins in December 2018 and we followed up with our second event by honouring John Berkley “Peanuts” Taylor,” said Bryan McCartney, vice president of the alumni association.

“The Bahamas has a rich history in culture, especially within the entertainment segment. Everyone needs to know who our national heroes are, in every area – religion, politics, education, music, sports and culture. We must archive those persons so that they will never be forgotten. It’s better to honour and lift them up while they are on this side of the vineyard. Stay tuned as there are more musical legends to be honoured,” he said.

PHOTOS/MCKENZIE’S PHOTOGRAPHY

Friday, March 15, 2019

Pat Rahming honours Peanuts Taylor and his accomplishments.

Former Prime Minister Perry G Christie greets Peanuts Taylor.

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Friday, March 15, 2019

books

Hitting shelves this week • “The Trial of Lizzie Borden”

by Cara Robertson

The true story of one of the most sensational murder trials in American history. When Andrew and Abby Borden were brutally hacked to death in Fall River, Massachusetts, in August 1892, the arrest of the couple’s younger daughter Lizzie turned the case into international news and her trial into a spectacle unparalleled in American history. Was she a cold-blooded murderess or an unjustly persecuted lady?

Did she or didn’t she?

Cara Robertson explores the stories Lizzie Borden’s culture wanted and expected to hear and how those stories influenced the debate inside and outside of the courtroom. Based on transcripts of the Borden legal proceedings, contemporary newspaper accounts, unpublished local accounts, and recently unearthed letters from Lizzie herself, ‘The Trial of Lizzie

Borden’ offers a window onto America in the Gilded Age, showcasing its most deeply held convictions and its most troubling social anxieties.

• “The Iliad – A Graphic Novel”, by Gareth Hinds

In a companion volume to his award-winning adaptation of “The Odyssey”, graphic novelist Gareth Hinds masterfully adapts Homer’s classic wartime epic.

More than 3,000 years ago, two armies faced each other in an epic battle that rewrote history and came to be known as the Trojan War. The Iliad, Homer’s legendary account of this nine-year ordeal, is considered the greatest war story of all time and one of the most important works of Western literature. In this stunning graphic novel adaptation — a thoroughly

researched and artfully rendered masterwork — renowned illustrator Gareth Hinds captures all the grim glory of Homer’s epic. Dynamic illustrations take readers directly to the plains of Troy, into the battle itself, and lay bare the complex emotions of the men, women, and gods whose struggles fueled the war and determined its outcome. This companion volume to Hinds’s award-winning adaptation of The Odyssey features notes, maps, a cast of characters, and other tools to

help readers understand all the action and drama of Homer’s epic.

• “All the Wrong Places”,

by Joy Fielding

Online dating is risky—will that message be a sweet greeting or an unsolicited lewd photo? Will he be as handsome in real life as he is in his photos, or were they taken ten years and twenty pounds ago? And when he asks you to go home with him, how do you know it’s safe? The man calling himself “Mr Right Now” in his profile knows that his perfect hair, winning smile, and charming banter put women at ease, silencing any doubts they might have about going back to his apartment. There, he has a special evening all planned out: steaks, wine, candlelight...and, by the end of the night, pain and a slow, agonising death.

Driven to desperation — by divorce, boredom, infidelity, a beloved husband’s death — a young woman named Paige, her cousin and rival Heather, her best friend, Chloe, and her mother, Joan, all decide to try their hand at online dating. They each download an app, hoping to right-swipe their way to love and happiness. But one of them unwittingly makes a date with the killer, starting the clock on a race to save her life.

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Friday, March 15, 2019

beauty

BATH TIME FUN!

By ALESHA CADET | Tribune Features Reporter | acadet@tribunemedia.net

N

o where is the bath bomb craze bigger than perhaps in the United Kingdom.

And it was while attending school in England that Bahamian Tai Dorsett fell in love with the fizzy, colourful, scented balls designed to make bath time more fun.

After becoming addicted to bath bombs during her student time, Tai said she was very disappointed when she returned home and could not find them available for purchase anywhere in the Bahamas. Her solution? She started making her products inspired by the famous Lush brand bath bombs.

She now has her own company called Butter n’ Bloom, selling bath bombs and other beauty products.

“I experimented for a bit with my family members as testers, then I was ready to begin selling the products.

Butter n’ Bloom will celebrate our first birthday next month,” she told Tribune Weekend.

Tai said said a thrilling experience for her as a new entrepreneur was last year’s Gladstone Road Farmers Market, where Bahamians quickly embraced her bath bombs.

“It was the first ever pop-up I did and I was so nervous.

I wasn’t sure if people would like the products or

if they would be interested. That day turned out to be awesome. I sold out of literally everything I took out there that day. The pretty colours and the fragrances caught everyone’s attention.

It was a reassuring feeling. I was so glad I made it out there that day,” she said, She said Butter n’ Bloom’s top selling product right now is their signature “Cashmere” whipped body butter.

The online based brand also carries a variety of bubble bars and candles.

She said many of her customers have told her that they love the different fragrances of her products and often end up not immediately using the bath bombs, but just leave them as decorations and as a source of pleasant scents in their bathrooms.

For Tai, starting a small business was not as easy as she had initially thought it would be, but it has been a rewarding experience. She said her day job does not allow for artistic expression, so Butter n’ Bloom has become her creative outlet.

“When I’m jotting down my product ideas I am filled with happiness and excitement. My journey as a creative business owner has allowed me to fully express my creative spirit and offer a productive solace to an often stressful world,” she said.

Natural ingredients are also important to Tai.

“The base of most of my products are organic compounds such as shea and mango butter, coconut and almond oil. All of these oils and butters are geared towards two things: moisture and skin protection. I spend long hours researching new products and I’m truly amazed by how many organic ingredients provide so many skin and hair-loving properties. I try to limit the use of synthetic compounds as much as possible to avoid any skin irritations,” she said.

“This year I’m working on releasing my haircare line. It’ll mostly consist of hair butters and detangling spray. I’m also looking forward to releasing a line of face mask designs uniquely for certain skin types.”

For keep up with Tai and her bath bombs, check out the brand’s Facebook page “Butter n’ Bloom”, or shop via https://butter-andbloom.myshopify.com.

Tai Dorsett, bath bomb aficionado and owner of Butter n’ Bloom.

14 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, March 15, 2019

The Tribune | Weekend | 15

Friday, March 15, 2019

entertainment

Living the fantasy ENIGMA LAUNCHES FAIRY TALE COSTUMES FOR CARNIVAL 2019

PHOTOS/RODERICK WELLS FOR ENIGMA

The ‘Mirror, Mirror’ collection

The ‘Wicked’ men’s costume

T

he Enigma carnival group is proving that fairy tales do come true after showcasing its fantasy-like costumes for 2019 which are all themed “Once Upon A Time”.

Hundreds of screaming Enigma fans turned up to the group’s launch party at Mario’s Bowling and Entertainment Palace, eager to get a taste of what’s to come for the 2019 carnival season.

Enigma transformed the grounds into a magical wonderland to give fans the illusion of walking through a fantasy forest.

Some of the hottest musicians, like Grammy Award winner Rik Carey and reggae artist Mdeez, along with several DJs entertained the crowd throughout the night.

The evening’s showstopper came courtesy of the bevy of beauties who strutted down the catwalk showing off vibrant costumes and elaborate headpieces adorned with feathers.

The ‘Wicked Queen’ headpiece

The ‘Spellbound’ men’s costume

Organisers said they were inspired by children’s fairy tales and wanted to bring that theme to life.

“Tonight, it’s all about our amazing theme, ‘Once Upon A Time’, and all of the fairy tales you grew up on,” said Anthony “AC” Coakley, one of the group’s founders. “So it’s going to be a real fairy-tale fantastic experience and all of your fantasies, you’re going to live them.”

Darren Bastian, co-founder of Enigma, said he felt “really good about the ambience, energy and music” during the launch.

“People are really excited about Enigma. Enigma always does things differently. We push the envelope,” he said.

Carnival revellers will have to decide which of the vibrant costumes they want to wear when they hit the road in May. This year’s costumes feature the Wicked, Enchanted, Sorcery, Spellbound, Mirror Mirror, Pocahontas, Mulan, Maleficent and Hanami collections.

Organisers said Enigma packages include more than a costume.

The ‘Hanami’ men’s costume

Revellers will get a continental breakfast, lunch and snacks, unlimited alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages, E-Nation party passes and survival pack, and concierge VIP service.

Former Prime Minister Perry Christie, who attended the launch party, said he was “very pleased” with how Junkanoo Carnival has grown and applauded Enigma for elevating the carnival experience.

“When I decided that I would commit myself to the establishment of carnival in the Bahamas, I (was) on television in Trinidad (and) I told the people of Trinidad that I was going home to launch Junkanoo Carnival and said that in five or 10 years we would be as big and as impactful as Trinidad,” he said.

“They thought I was crazy and today we have a number of major groups, one of which is Enigma.

I’ve always felt that as carnivals exist worldwide, thousands of people would come to the Bahamas to share in this with us and Enigma – through design, through fun, through offerings – must be one of them that has a large following. I’m very pleased as to what I’m seeing.”

Singer Mdeez says he was happy to perform at a carnival launch event and get so much love from an audience which typically favours soca.

“My favourite part was when the crowd interacted with me. It feels good to cross boundaries.

When you push your performance and you put your work out there, to see the feedback from the people is always the best part. So, once I see that I can get them to make a little bit of noise and get them to enjoy themselves a bit, I feel like my work is done,” he said.

“What’s good about the Bahamas is we have our own thing going on, too. Because I’m an artist and producer, I know how to bridge the gap and mix the genres. Everyone was really receptive to the songs I’ve been playing.”

Enigma will celebrate its fifth year on the road in May. For more information, visit www.enigmacarnival.com or the Enigma Experience Store at Mario’s Bowling and Entertainment Palace.

The ‘Enchanted Queen’

The ‘Sorcery’ men’s costume

The ‘Spellbound’ women’s costumes

16 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, March 15, 2019

celebrity The Weekend Fashion Report

‘Dumbo’ Premiere

With Karin Herig and Cara Hunt

SPLIT

SPLIT

HIT

SPLIT

Helen Mirren ”Catherine the Great”

Eva Green ”Penny Dreadful”

Angelina Jolie ”Maleficent”

Karin says: “I love how Helen is rocking such a youthful look here.

It’s a far a cry from her usual sensual elegance, but it works. I only wish she’d added some sort of pop of colour. The all-grey washes her out a bit.”

Cara says: “I am a huge fan of Ms Mirren’s style, but this outfit gave me pause, I have to admit. It’s a bit more “fun” than her usual movie star glam. I don’t dislike it (maybe the booties), I just don’t think its the best combination.”

Karin says: “Are those sleeves supposed to represent Dumbo’s ears?

Also, is that why almost everyone is in grey, to honour the big-eared baby elephant? I don’t love it, but what’s worse is the red lip – too harsh on her – and the messy bun.”

Cara says: “This looks like a walking doodle from a notepad. First, I have to give kudos for the construction of the dress, ‘cause it’s crazy. It’s so much and so much of a costume rather than a gown. But I am here for her drama.”

Thandie Newton and daughter Nico Parker ”Westworld”

Karin says: “Awe, mom and daughter both in velvet. And both so pretty!

Thandie looks great in the red, I only wish it were an all-around high-low gown, not just the train to one side. I guess it’s a nod to a circus outfit. And Nico looks age-appropriate and really cute.”

Cara says: “Thandie and Nico are sooo pretty and the pair look absolutely adorable together. Nico’s pink bow is cute and I love the little sheen of green. She looks very age-appropriate as well. Thandie’s dress is OK, but I have to say that Nico wins this round.”

Karin says: “More washed out colours.

I did hear that neutrals were big this season. But this really doesn’t suit her.

It makes her look sickly. The cut isn’t bad, but it would have been so much better in a vibrant blue or red.”

Cara says: “This is quite lovely. I have not seen Angelina in a while on the red carpet, but I really like the entire look; the softness of the dress and the pulled-back hair. The look is a big hit for me.”

The Tribune | Weekend | 17

Friday, March 15, 2019

relationships

Men to give “real” answers to women’s questions on love and sex

By CARA HUNT |Tribune Features Writer | cbrennen@tribunemedia.net

I

f you ever wanted answers to the question what men really think about sex, love and relationships, then you definitely need to attend ‘Sex and the Modern Woman’, a special intimate evening where the conversation promises to get “real”.

The event is being hosted by Shana Edgecombe of Engage Weddings and Special Events, and Demetria Cox Moss of Pineapples and Power Tools.

“We really wanted to curate a boutique type of experience for women specifically to talk about love, sex and relationships,” Shana told Tribune Weekend.

“Those are three of the most commonly talked about topics that men and women discuss. We wanted to also create a safe space for women to have fun, to have real open conversation, and to get get actual answers from men who have actual unbiased opinions, and when I say unbiased, there is a difference between when you ask your husband what he means by something and when you ask a man who has no affiliation to you. He is more likely to be honest.”

The event will feature an hour-long panel discussion with an all-male panel, comprised of Nathaniel Butler, Leyvon Miller, ThaBlackSwann and Calvin Duncombe.

Female guests can also enjoy some fun, relaxing experiences such as a fashion stylist

segment with Myrlande Julien and a “no video allowed” segment with Girl on a Pole.

There will be curated eats and a signature drink for guests to enjoy as well.

“We are targeting women who are married, single and divorced, women who are looking for a fun night out, looking to connect with people but also to get answers to their questions,” Shana added.

Shana and Demetria deliberately chose to host the event on the heels of Valentine’s Day.

“...there is a difference between when you ask your husband what he means by something and when you ask a man who has no affiliation to you.”

“Valentine Day is connected with love, sex and relationships, and this is also engagement season and wedding season where people are planning their weddings and so this is a good time to talk about these topics and to

get answers to the questions women are having with honest feed back.”

“Sex and the Modern Woman” is the first event collaboration between the two companies.

Demetria’s friends call her the Bahamian Martha Stewart, as she is all about “making prettiness and producing pretty things such as floral designs, (party) favours and signs... taking a space and making it beautiful,” said Shana.

Her own company, Engage, focuses on micro weddings and intimate special event planning.

“We focus on destination weddings and local smaller weddings with a focus on the intimate details, because not every couple wants that large wedding,” she said Shana and Demetria plan to bring that level of intimacy to all the events they host in future.

“The event industry has turned many people into having larger events and we wanted to bring the intimacy back. At some events, people can feel like just another number. We want to focus on the details and give a unique experience,” said Shana.

She noted that people at smaller events are often more comfortable and relaxed compared to bigger conferences or seminars.

“Sex and the Modern Woman” is a ladies only event and takes place this Saturday at 6.30pm at the Balmoral Club. RSVP at Bit.lyi/ lovesexrelations.

Tickets are $65 including an “adult juice” and curated bites.

18 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, March 15, 2019

culture

Feeling the riddim Artists celebrate

PHOTOS/KOY T MARTIN

‘The Fruit and The Seed’

I

t was dynamic night of music, poetry and art as the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas last Friday celebrated the themes from its ninth annual national exhibition (NE9), “The Fruit and The Seed”.

The event, “Riddim n’ Tingum”, was hosted at A Season at Fiona’s Theatre and was presented

by Saucy Expressions.

The masterminds behind the event, Christine Wilson and Princess Pratt, choreographed a night of spirit, freedom and energetic healing through art and communal gathering.

Guests heard words from artists Martysta Turnquest, Ivanna Gaitor, Yasmin Glinton, Ian Taylor, Tanicia Pratt, Pryia Russell-Ellis, Bey Chaino, Kacey Ferguson, Cherese Pratt featuring Jason Evans, and Colene Clarke. They were also treated to dynamic chants by Qpid and Bodine, and the drumming of Ubuntu.

The artists all found inspiration in spirituality, sexuality, psychology and from current social issues, culture, politics and the environment.

Upcoming events at the NAGB

• NE9 Artists Talk and Walkthrough: Mass and Movement Friday, March 15; 6.30pm - 8pm Participating artists include Saskia D’Aguilar, Rashad Leamount- Davis, Eric Rose, Heino Schmid, and Averia Wright

• ‘I Speak in Tongues of Many’ – Workshop with Farmer + Ramlochan Thursday, March 21; 2pm - 5pm, and Friday, March 22; 10am - 2pm A collaborative workshop and bookmaking with Sonia Farmer and Trinidadian poet Shivanee Ramlochan

• NAGB Film Series presents the Kenyan LGBT film “Rafiki”

Thursday, March 21; 8pm “Rafiki” is an awardwinning 2018 Kenyan drama directed by Wanuri Kahiu. Inspired by Ugandan Monica Arac de Nyeko’s 2007 Caine Prize-winning short story “Jambula Tree”, “Rafiki” is the story of friendship and tender love that grows between two young women, amidst family and political pressures.

“Good Kenyan girls become good Kenyan wives,” but Kena and Ziki long for something more.

Despite the political rivalry between their families, the girls resist, and remain close friends, supporting each other to pursue their dreams in a conservative society. When love blossoms between them, the two girls will be forced to choose between happiness and safety.

The Tribune | Weekend | 19

Friday, March 15, 2019

gardening

Going, going, We’re at the start of Earth’s sixth mass extinction, warns Jack Hardy, as plummeting insect numbers threaten a catastrophic collapse of nature

A

most important news item was issued last month; I wonder if you heard or read it. The results of studies made over the past few decades were collated, analysed and published, and the conclusions drawn were that insect life could die out within 100 years.

Insects are well on the way to extinction and when they go their absence will dramatically affect plant life, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians and vertebrates. This is the way the world as we know it ends, not with a bang, but a whimper.

We are all familiar with some of the names of various periods of our planet’s existence: Jurassic, Cretaceous, Devonian, and such. We are now in the beginning of what is known as the Anthropocene, a geological age defined by human activity being the dominant influence on climate

and the environment. In other words, we are in a geological age where the fox is in charge of Earth’s chicken coop.

The study was conducted by the University of Sydney and the report written by Sydney’s Dr Francisco Sanchez-Bayo and Kris Wyckhuys of the China Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Beijing.

Normally, scientific pronouncements of this order are written in dry prose, but the authors in this case were almost evangelical in their attempt to impress readers about the seriousness of the situation.

The human population is growing at an exponential rate, heading towards eight billion; most other species are diminishing. Insect numbers are being reduced by 2.5 percent a year, eight times faster than mammals, birds and reptiles. Insects are essential to all ecosystems and 41 percent of all insect species are in decline. Some 53 percent of all butterfly species were reduced in the past 10 years and in that time 46 percent of bee species, 49 percent of beetle species, and 37 percent of dragonfly species were in decline.

Insects are responsible for pollinating about 75 percent of all plant species. Bees are the best known pollinators, but they have been heavily affected by the use of neonicotinoids, neuro-active chemicals sprayed by large scale farmers to protect crops. Insects are also food for other creatures, particularly birds, and play a significant role in the breaking down of waste products into an eco-friendly state. Without insects the world’s ecosystems would malfunction. When they go, we go too.

Agriculture has been the main culprit leading to insect decline. To feed the human race we must increase the

gone

range of our agricultural production and protect against insect predation. Since Silent Spring, the use of insecticides has been circumspect but it appears we have not learned the basic lesson. We allow the world’s biggest air conditioner – the Amazon rain forest – to be slashed, burned, and turned into cropland at an alarming rate. We use kinder, gentler insect controls but they are still killers.

The conclusion of the report indicated that we were headed towards the sixth mass extinction in Earth’s history. Homo sapiens, of course, were not around for the others. We were not responsible for the other mass extinctions but we are certainly responsible for the next one.

If you are like me, you get frustrated and feel helpless when you hear such dire predictions. What can individuals do to help ameliorate the situation?

It has been suggested that consumers avoid buying fruits and vegetables that are not registered as organic, meaning they have been raised with the use of natural fertilizers and no insecticides have been used. Unfortunately, only middle class and rich people can afford to do this. The large mounds of produce in your supermarket are traditionally raised; the organic fare is usually attractively packaged but disgustingly expensive. As a retired schoolteacher I cannot take that route regularly. Can you?

If you are reading this article it is likely you are a gardener to some extent. We gardeners can make a significant impact by growing as much of our produce as possible when the seasons are right.

We do not have to use organic fertilizer but we should not use any insecticides.

All insecticide sprays are indiscriminate. While trying to control mosquitoes we could be residually killing bees. Think hard about using any form of insecticide spray.

Think about deterring insects rather than killing them.

Mosquito coils and other deterrents keep mosquitoes at bay without poisoning them. Repellents that can be applied to the skin are effective. Not all of them smell like chemicals.

Insects that attack our vegetable plants can be deterred by spraying with a soap solution.

Soap is harmless to insects but they avoid contact with it. The strength of the soap solution is not critical because a little soap goes a long way.

It sounds too easy to be true but it works. You have to respray after heavy rain but the cost is negligible compared to insecticides. Chase your insects away, don’t kill them indiscriminately.

The big problem is insects are not lovable creatures by and large and we all have to kill them now and then when they get antisocial and invade our homes. You can still do your part in keeping insect life a healthy component of nature’s symphony. By all means bug your most accessible politician. But I am only one, you may think. Have you ever tried to sleep at night in a room with only one mosquito?

• For queries and comments e-mail jacktribune242@gmail. com

20 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, March 15, 2019

pop culture

Long live the Bat: DC commemorates 80 years of Batman with worldwide fan celebration BURBANK, California – (BUSINESS WIRE) – To mark the 80th anniversary of Batman, DC last week unveiled plans for a global commemoration of the world’s greatest detective.

Kicking off this March at SXSW, the multifaceted campaign for DC’s Caped Crusader will feature exclusive celebrations, special theatrical engagements, the milestone release of Detective Comics #1000, live events and first-ever Batman brand partnerships. As fans join together under the campaign’s tagline of #LongLiveTheBat, DC’s timeless character will be honoured through Batman Day in September when the Bat-Signal lights up in major cities worldwide.

First appearing as socialite turned crime-fighter Bruce Wayne in Detective Comics #27 on March 30, 1939, the Dark Knight has stood as a symbol of determination, bravery and justice to generations of fans for 80 years.

He has influenced every area of modern entertainment, appearing in countless comic books, Saturday morning cartoons, multiple television series, video games, theme parks and experiences, toys, collectibles, apparel and lifestyle products, as well as, blockbuster animated and live-action films. There have been Batman trading cards, board games and newspaper cartoon strips, and the US Postal Service has even

honored Batman with his own postage stamps. Batman is a multi-billion dollar icon who continues to reign as the most popular single superhero ever created.

To commemorate this milestone, custom artwork was created that pays homage to Batman’s legacy in all forms of media. The Batman profile pencil design is by beloved longtime DC artist José Luis García-López, and digital paint design is by Admira Wijaya. This graphic will be

featured throughout the celebration.

DC will honour #LongLiveTheBat throughout 2019, including Batman’s 80th anniversary on March 30 and Batman Day on September 21. As part of this year-long celebration, there are many ways fans can participate.

Read Batman Paying homage to the Super Hero’s 80-year publishing history, DC will present two commemorative books: including the landmark

collector’s issue of Detective Comics #1000, on sale at comics shops March 27, and a special hardcover release, Detective Comic: 80 Years of Batman – The Deluxe Edition, available March 19.

Experience Batman SXSW in Austin, Texas, will kick off the global celebration with multiple fan experiences, photo opportunities, limited-edition merchandise and Instagrammable mural by a local artist. SXSW will also set the stage for an incredible moment when more than 1.5 million bats fly into the night over Austin’s famous Congress Bridge on March 15.

DC will celebrate Batman’s 80th anniversary with panels at major conventions, including a dedicated “Happy Birthday, Batman!” panel at WonderCon in Anaheim on the actual anniversary, March 30.

Families can celebrate #LongLiveTheBat at multiple Six Flags locations across North America in August with extended hours, exclusive Batman-themed experiences and special merchandise. Warner Bros theme parks across the globe will host Batman anniversary events.

Madame Tussauds locations in Orlando and Sydney will unveil interactive fan-friendly experiences, photo opportunities and special merchandise in September.

In May, collectible art boutique Mondo will host a curated anniversary exhibit

at its Austin gallery celebrating iconic Batman cover art throughout the years. The global touring exhibition The Art of the Brick: DC Super Heroes will celebrate the Dark Knight with a special Batman edition, beginning this September in São Paulo, Brazil.

Watch Batman Television broadcast partners worldwide will host Batman programming marathons in March and September. Cartoon Network in the US and key territories will host exclusive Batman themed programming and stunts for kids in March and September.

DC Universe—DC’s digital subscription service—will be celebrating in a big way with the promotion of Batman content in March and September.

Join Batman Boys & Girls Clubs of America will join Batman in a first-ever partnership to celebrate kids, teens and youth development professionals who stand up for positive change in their communities.

Fans in the UK can join in raising awareness of Genetic Disorders UK by wearing an exclusively designed Batman T-shirt on Jeans for Genes Day in September.

Shop Batman WB and DC are also joining forces with an extensive list of retail partners, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target, iTunes, Walmart, GameStop and Google Play, among others.Global partners such as LEGO, Mattel and Funko will release exclusive Batman 80th anniversary products throughout the year.

Conceived by artist Bob Kane with writer Bill Finger, Batman is humanity’s timeless hero. And he’s just getting started. More details on the global celebration will be released in the coming months. Fans can join in on social media using the hashtag #Batman80 and #LongLiveTheBat. Visit www.

Batman80.com for the latest news and updates.

The Tribune | Weekend | 21

Friday, March 15, 2019

literary lives - maria callas

Opera’s divine diva – Part II Sir Christopher Ondaatje continues the story about the American-born Greek soprano whose dramatic operatic fame hit extraordinary heights before she suffered scandals and a deteriorating career.

D

uring the late 1940s and 1950s, Callas and her husband Meneghini lived mostly in Verona. She learned and performed Cherubini’s Medea, Giordano’s Andrea Chénier, and Rossini’s Armida. She sang in recitals featuring the “Mad Scene” from Lucia di Lammermoor, and Abigaillés treacherous aria from Nabucco ending with the “Bell Song” from Lakmé with its ringing high E in alt (E6).

Callas and Meneghini toured Argentina, Mexico and Brazil; and Callas worked with Maestro Tullio Serafin, and famous directors Franco Zefferelli, Francesco Siciliani and Luchino Visconti. Although by 1951 Callas had sung in all the major theatres in Italy she had still not made her official debut at Italy’s most prestigious opera house, the Teatro alla Scala in Milan.

Callas had substituted for Renata Tebaldi in Aida in 1950 but La Scala’s general manager, Antonio Ghiringhelli, disliked her. He refused to allow her to sing in Gian Carlo Menotti’s “The Consul” – even though the composer had wanted her to perform in the premiere. He said openly that he would never allow Callas to perform in La Scala except as a guest artist. However, as Callas’s fame grew he had to yield and she made her official debut there in Verdi’s I vespri siciliani in December

1951. La Scala thus became Callas’s spiritual operatic home in the 1950s, the theatre producing many operas under the direction of Herbert von Karajan, Margherita Wallman, Franco Zefferelli and Luchino Visconti.

Callas used her increasing influence in arranging the tenor Franco Corelli’s debut at La Scala in 1954 and both she and Corelli collaborated several more times opposite each other in “Fedora” (1956), “Il pirata” (1958), and “Poliuto” (1960). Their partnership continued throughout her career, and Callas went on to perform at La Scala for the next ten years for a total of two hundred performances including that of Norma – her most famous role – in which she had made her debut in the United States in 1954 when the Lyric Opera of Chicago was born.

Callas’s New York Metropolitan Opera debut on October 29, 1956 was also with Norma. Unfortunately, her performance was preceded with an unflattering cover story in Time Magazine reporting her temper, rivalry with Renata Tebaldi, and her fractious relationship with her mother. At about this time Callas’s career had exploded into greatness. By the mid 1950s she had shed 65 pounds and was no longer the portly and highly emotional diva.

She gave a concert to inaugurate the Dallas Civic Opera and the following year gave a towering performance as

Callas as Floria Tosca in Puccini’s opera “Tosca” at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, 1964.

Violetta in La Traviata for the same company. She added new operas to her repertoire, including “Madame Butterfly”, and resurrected Cherubini’s Medea, Verdi’s Macbeth and Donizetti’s Anna Bolena. Will Crutchfield in the New Yorker magazine commented:

“Callas presented to the ... public a phenomenon of sheer capacity ... she revived a repertory based on capacity.

High notes and low, power in full cry and delicacy in pianissimo, fast passagework and sustained legato had not been completely present in one soprano for generations.”

Callas had already made her London debut at the Royal Opera House in Norma starting what she herself called a “love affair”. She returned to the Royal Opera House in 1953, 1957, 1958, 1959, and 1964/1965. It was at the Royal Opera House that she ended her stage career in the role of Tosca in a production by Franco Zefferelli and featuring Tito Gobbi in July 1965.

In 1958, a feud with Rudolf Bing at the Metropolitan Opera led to her contract being cancelled, presenting an opportunity for impresario Allen Oxenburg to start his own company, the American Opera Society. Callas

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Friday, March 15, 2019

Before and after: By 1953, Callas had lost 80 lbs and had turned into a fashion icon. performed Imogene in “Il pirata” and sang the role in a January 1959 performance that quickly became legendary. Rudolf Bing and Callas later reconciled their differences and she returned to the Metropolitan Opera in 1965 to sing the title role of Tosca in two performances opposite Franco Corelli on March 11, 1965, and Richard Tucker and Tito Gobbi on March 25, 1965, in her final performance at the Metropolitan Opera.

Callas performed 47 roles during her brief career: Tosca, La Traviata, Abduction from the Seraglio, Parsifal, Aida, Nabucco, Il Trovatore, and many more – some of which have already been mentioned. In the end she lost almost 80 pounds and turned herself into a dramatically beautiful lady of the stage.

Sir Rudolf Bing who remembered her as being monstrously fat stated that Callas turned herself into an “astonishing, svelte, striking woman”.

However, during the late 1950s, Callas’s personal life began to deteriorate and this tragically affected her career.

It is also possible that the loss of body mass made it more difficult for her to support her voice, triggering the vocal strain that became much more apparent later in the decade. Tito Gobbi, her friend and fellow performer, said:

Callas with Aristotle Onassis in Paris in 1960. The millionaire shipping magnate left her to marry former First Lady Jackie Kennedy in 1968, but later resumed the relationship with the opera singer, creating an emotionally fraught love triangle.

“Now she was not only supremely gifted both musically and dramatically – she was a beauty too. And her awareness of this invested with fresh magic every role she undertook. What it did to her vocal and nervous stamina I am not

prepared to say. I only assert that she blossomed into an artist unique in her generation and outstanding in the whole range of vocal history.”

In 1957, Callas, following a performance of Donizetti’s Anna Bolena,

attended a party given in her honour

by Elsa Maxwell. It was at that party that she was introduced to the Greek shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis.

She had by then become increasingly linked to the international jet-set, and it was not the first time that she had been associated with an illicit liaison.

She was still married to her husband Giovanni Battista Meneghini. Her subsequent affair with Aristotle Onassis made headline news, and in November 1959 Callas left her husband. They did not divorce until 1971 after Callas had renounced her US citizenship in order to facilitate her divorce.

The pressures of jet-setting and the intrigues of Callas’s personal life took a toll on her professional life. In addition to this the strain she had put on her voice during her exhausting career also began to take effect. There were other professional problems for Callas too.

She cancelled a performance of Amina in La Sonnambula at the Edinburgh Festival in 1957, and in 1958 she had to deal with a breach of contract charge from the American Guild of Music Artists. Her former manager Richard Bagarozy sued her for back commissions. In 1958 Callas cancelled a performance of Norma after the first act in the Rome Opera House, with the Italian President Giovanni Gronchi in attendance. She had bronchitis and tracheitis but was accused of snubbing the President. To make matters worse her relationship with La Scala soured after the Edinburgh cancellation. Later in 1958 Callas and Rudolf Bing were in discussions about her scheduled performances in Verdi’s La Traviata and in Macbeth. They did not reach an agreement and before her opening of Medea in Dallas Bing sent her a telegram terminating her contract. Callas did eventually reconcile her differences with Bing, returning to the Metropolitan Opera in 1964 and 1965 for two performances of Tosca with Tito Gobbi – but she was not the same singer.

Many people who knew what had happened to Maria Callas agreed that Aristotle Onassis was not the reason why she abandoned her operatic career, but that he provided her with an excuse to leave a career that was beginning to be plagued by scandal and a loss of confidence in a voice that was obviously weakening with every performance. Her stamina was also diminishing.

Even during her declining years Callas’s talents and timing as an actress were remarkable, and she kept her extraordinary vocal range.

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Friday, March 15, 2019

Callas shouts angrily at US Marshal Stanley Pringle after a performance of Madame Butterfly at the Civic Opera House in Chicago. Pringle was one of eight process servers who delivered two summonses to Callas for a breach of contract in 1955. (Photo

by Associated Press)

Callas in 1977, shortly before her death at the age of 53.

Callas, singing the title role in Bellini’s “Norma”, in Paris, 1964.

“I never lost my voice, but I lost strength in my diaphragm ... Because of those organic complaints, I lost my courage and boldness. My vocal chords were still and are in excellent condition, but my sound boxes have not been working well even though I have been to all the doctors.

The result was that I overstrained my voice and that caused it to wobble.”

Maria Callas lived her final years in Paris in isolation. She died of a heart attack when she was 53 years old on September 16, 1977. It is possible that Callas’s death was due to heart failure brought on by the overuse of Mandrax (Methaqualone) – a sleeping aid. Her body was cremated at the Père Lachaise Cemetery, without an autopsy causing her death to be shrouded in mystery. Her ashes were placed in the Columbarium there. They were stolen and later recovered after which they were scattered according to her wishes over the Aegean Sea off the coast of Greece.

During a 1978 interview, music critic and friend John Ardoin, when asked, “Was it worth it to be Maria Callas?” replied: “She was a lonely, unhappy, often difficult woman.”

“There are times, you know, when there are people – certain people who are blessed, and cursed, with an extraordinary gift, in which the gift is almost greater than the human being. And Callas was one of those people. It was almost as if her wishes, her life, her own happiness were all subservient to this incredible, incredible gift that she was given, this gift that ... taught us things about music ... things we never thought about, new possibilities. I think that’s why singers admire her so ... why conductors admire her so ...

And she paid a tremendously difficult and expensive price for this career. I don’t think she always understood what she did or why she did. She knew she had a tremendous effect on audiences and on people. But it was not something that she could always live with gracefully or happily.”

John Ardoin once asked her, “It must be very enviable to be Maria Callas?” And she replied: “No, it’s a very terrible thing to be Maria Callas, because it’s a question of trying to understand something you can never really understand.”

Maria Callas could never explain what she did, because what she did, after all the hard work and learning, was done by instinct. It was something incredible, embedded deep within her.

NEXT WEEK: 1,000 books to read before you die

• Sir Christopher Ondaatje is the author of “The Last Colonial”. He acknowledges that he has quoted liberally from Wikipedia; from “My Wife Maria Callas” by Giovanni Batista Meneghini (1982), and from “Maria Callas, the Woman behind the Legend” by Arianna Stassinopoulos (1981)

24 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, March 15, 2019

history

Archeologists find hidden tunnels below Alcatraz prison SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Archaeologists confirmed a long-time suspicion of historians and say that famed Alcatraz prison was built over a Civil War-era military fortification.

Researchers found a series of buildings and tunnels under the prison yard of Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, which once held Al Capone, SFGate reported Tuesday.

A study published last week in “Near Surface Geophysics” said archaeologists used ground-penetrating radar and terrestrial laser scans and historical maps and photographs. They found fully buried structures, ammuniAlcatraz Island (AP Photos/Eric Risberg) tion magazines and tunnels.

“This really changes the picture of things,” study author Timothy de Smet, Bay made it attractive for military fortification purposes. an archaeologist at Binghampton During the Civil War, Fort Alcatraz University, told PBS. “They weren’t erased from the island — they are right was the official military prison for the West Coast. beneath your feet.”

In the 1930s, the first federal prisonArchaeologists are now planning ers — deemed by the media to be the more study to discover what else lies worst of the worst — began arriving. just below the surface.

Historians believe workers built over The last inmate left in 1963.

existing structures when the prison was built in the 20th century.

People walk through the citadel, Alcatraz first came to the attention also known as the the dungeon, durof the U.S. government after it took ing a tour of newly restored areas on control of California from Mexico in Alcatraz Island in San Francisco. the 1840s. Its location in San Francisco

Pompeii dig uncovers Narcissus fresco in ancient atrium MILAN (AP) — Archaeologists have discovered a fresco in an ancient Pompeii residence that portrays the mythological hunter Narcissus, who fell in love with his own reflection.

The discovery announced Thursday is in the atrium of a house where a fresco was found late last year depicting a sensual scene between the Roman god Jupiter disguised as a swan and Leda, a queen of Sparta from Greek mythology.

Pompeii director Alfonsina Russo said that the “beauty of these rooms” has prompted officials to continue to uncover more treasures so that one day the house can be at least partially opened to the public.

Officials noted archaeologists also found inside the ancient atrium a dozen glass containers, eight terracotta vases and a bronze funnel in a space underneath a staircase.

A fresco uncovered during new excavations at Pompeii depicts Narcissus looking at himself in the mirror. It was uncovered in the atrium of the same dwelling where archaeologists discovered the fresco of ‘Leda e il cigno’ (Leda and the swan). (Photo/Parco Archeologico di Pompei)

The Tribune | Weekend | 25

Friday, March 15, 2019

history

Are you a true-true Bahamian?

Forgotten facts | Paul C Aranha

T

he British did not come to the islands of the Bahamas as invaders, nor did they forcibly take these islands from the people who had always lived here.

The early inhabitants of the Bahamas were the so-called ‘Indians’ that Christopher Columbus first met at San Salvador, on October 12, 1492 – the only time he visited the Bahamas. And, don’t blame Columbus for forcibly carrying those inhabitants away and forcing them into slavery. By the time the Spanish committed this inhuman crime, Columbus had long been dead.

In 1513, Juan Ponce de Léon claimed that the population had been reduced to one, so for more than 100 years the Bahama Islands were,

presumably, uninhabited, until the British sailed from Bermuda to the Bahamas in 1648. They came as settlers, not as conquerors.

Effectively they were the first Bahamians and they did not steal the islands from anyone. Instead, they invested their blood, sweat and tears to start a new British colony that, eventually, developed into the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.

By 1783, the population of the Bahamas had grown to 4,143 people, living on only six islands: Cat Island, Eleuthera, Exuma, Harbour Island, New Providence and Spanish Wells.

Little is known about how this growth took place, but we do know that the Loyalist period started in 1783, after Britain had lost the American War of

Independence and in doing so lost their 13 North American colonies. Thousands of supporters of King George III did not feel safe in the new United States of America, so they fled to territories that were still British, including the Bahamas, bringing with them even more thousands of slaves.

The Loyalist settlers were granted land all over the Bahamas. On Long Island alone, 64,082 acres were granted,to 283 “new Bahamians”. I looked at a 1792 map of Long Island and found family names like Anderson, Bow, Culmer, Duncan, Eve, Fox, Glenton, Hunt, Johnson, Knowles, Lightbourn, McQueen, Millar, Pratt, Roach, Stevens, Tatnall, Wells, and Young – almost every letter in the alphabet.

In settling on previously uninhabited islands, these new Bahamians had to be able to sustain life, feed themselves and each other, so agriculture was essential to their ways of life, as were fishing and salt-raking. But the Loyalist period of Bahamian history did not last long. Plantations soon failed and the halcyon days of Out Island living came to an end, replaced by smaller farms, supplying the local demand and shipping produce to the capital, Nassau.

So often we hear of “true-true” Bahamians. This must apply to each and every citizen of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. If we need to define it more precisely, any Bahamians whose ancestors were Eleutherian

Adventurers must be the “true-truest” Bahamians. Bahamians who can trace their ancestor(s) back to the Loyalists must be “true-truer” Bahamians. But to me the important things is being able to say “I am a Bahamian”.

When Out Island families started to move to greener fields, many moved to Florida, and by 1920 many others had moved to Nassau, some bringing their houses with them. After this, there were more people on New Providence than on all the Out Islands put together.

In my youth, New Providence was an underpopulated island. Today, it is the only overpopulated island in the Bahamas. The island is only 18.7 (Not 21) miles long and is now home to some 200,000 people. The small Out Island farmers can no longer satisfy the demand for fruit and vegetables, as they had done for generations.

Overpopulation has caused so many of the trees and forests to be cut down to make room for houses, schools, churches (we seem to have about the same number of liquor stores and bars), shops, offices and all the other amenities that go with modern living.

Not all that long ago, bicycles outnumbered motor vehicles and were the main mode of transport. Today, bicycling is more a sport and our stillinadequate roads are crowded with too many cars. It seems that everybody owns one, maybe several. Unlike Bermuda, no attempt has been made to control the size of the vehicles on our roads and parking spaces are hard to find; so many of them taken up as employee parking.

The streets of Nassau used to be lined with houses like the one in the photo, but because of the price of the limited amount of real estate we have moved toward multi-storey apartment buildings and the age-old neighbourhood character has suffered.

Crime is rampant, the birth rate is out of control, and too many mothers are teenagers. Even our once empty beaches are, regularly, crowded. The churches are full, but so is the jail.

Surely, we can do better.

CORRECTION: Oops! In my January 4 article, ‘The Bay Street that was’, I made a glaring mistake. I reversed the directions of the 1947 new, oneway flow of traffic. Bay Street became westbound. Shirley became eastbound.

Sorry!

• For questions and comments, e-mail islandairman@gmail.com

Excellent: 10 mins Yesterday’s solution: aLarM, CLoCK (across or down)

26 | The Tribune | Weekend

Best described as a number crossword, the task in Kakuro is to fill all of the empty squares, using numbers 1 to 9, so the sum of each horizontal block equals the number to its left, and the sum of each vertical block equals the number on its top. No number may be used in the same block more than once. The difficulty level of the Conceptis Kakuro increases from Monday to Sunday.

Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so the each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the Conceptis Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday

CRYPTIC PUZZLE Across 1 An occasion for displaying one’s bloomers (6,4) 6 Stud manager (4) 10 It’s usual to leave things in them (5) 11 It’s up to a cafe to provide hot drink (1,3,2,3) 12 He’d put in a variety of clues in the timetable (8) 13 Want, we hear, to work as a masseur (5) 15 Girls and men said to be different (7) 17 He swears he’s a soldier (7) 19 Not pictured as sheathed (7) 21 New role man organised as a charity worker (7) 22 Goodbye to a Frenchman (5) 24 Dog raves after fruit (8) 27 Sid cheats perhaps and is punished (9) 28 Victor loses his head going round the bull (5) 29 Dispose of an outbuilding (4) 30 Stream of notes composed

by Handel? (5,5)

Down 1 Bird with a notably loud hooter (4) 2 He won’t grow into an uncle (4,5) 3 Follow directions and prosecute (5) 4 Figures in U.S. taste, perhaps (7) 5 Being wealthy put Noel in an awkward position (7) 7 Way-out version of true love (5) 8 They’re not good reporters (10) 9 Devourer of knowledge (8) 14 They call for patient driving (10) 16 It’s clear the girl has a cute wiggle (8) 18 They are a sorry lot (9) 20 A coin is newly minted in Cyprus (7) 21 Shorten a river crossing? (7) 23 Silly Annie gets confused (5) 25 It’s self-evident a team gets the doctor back (5) 26 If there’s a man around, he’s from the U.S. (4)

Yesterday’s Easy Solution Across: 1 Shallow, 5 Clasp, 8 Bamboozle, 9 Pen, 10 Elbe, 12 Free will, 14 Tragic, 15 Occupy, 17 Detached, 18 Feat, 21 Off, 22 Practical, 24 Salve, 25 Rightly.

Down: 1 Sabre, 2 Aim, 3 Look, 4 Wizard, 5 Clemency, 6 Amplitude, 7 Penalty, 11 Beautiful, 13 Disciple, 14 Tedious, 16 Repair, 19 Tally, 20 Stag, 23 Cut.

Yesterday’s Cryptic Solution Across: 1 Diagram, 5 Simon, 8 Incubator, 9 Rid, 10 Draw, 12 Log books, 14 Hard up, 15 Defers, 17 Claptrap, 18 Isle, 21 Oft, 22 Instances, 24 Steps, 25 Tapered.

Down: 1 Dried, 2 Arc, 3 Ribs, 4 Motion, 5 Scrubbed, 6 Marmosets, 7 Nudists, 11 Air battle, 13 Sustains, 14 Hectors, 16 Basset, 19 Eased, 20 Wasp, 23 Car.

EASY PUZZLE

Across 1 Carefully selected (4-6) 6 Adjoin (4) 10 Sum offered as a prize (5) 11 Heedful (9) 12 Source of salvation in a crisis (8) 13 Third planet from the sun (5) 15 Intense delight (7) 17 Agitation (7) 19 Throw into confusion (7) 21 Room for cooking (7) 22 Fatigued (5) 24 Cram into a tight space (8) 27 French operetta composer (9) 28 A woman at her wedding (5) 29 Microorganism (4) 30 Observer of an event (10)

Down 1 Chance of success (4) 2 A bulbous flowering plant (9) 3 Vex (5) 4 Lucidity (7) 5 Implore (7) 7 Tangled mass of prickly plants (5) 8 Conform to expected standards (3,3,4) 9 Behind closed doors (2,6) 14 Obstinately selfwilled (10) 16 Existing in plentiful supply (8) 18 Or else (9) 20 Region of central Italy (7) 21 Expertise (4-3) 23 Pass on for consideration (5) 25 Usual practice (5) 26 An optical device (4)

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The Tribune | Weekend | 27

Friday, March 15, 2019

animals Freeport... dear, delightful, friendly Freeport Animal matters | KIM ARANHA

A

(l-r) BHS President and judge Kim Aranha; Tip Burrows, executive director of the Humane Society of Grand Bahama; Derek Mills with his dog Shrek, and Joe Darville, president of the HSGB.

‘Best in Show’ Shrek, a Dogue de Bordeaux, with owner Derek Miller

At age 17, Lucy won ‘Best Senior’. Her owner is Brad Bethel.

friends parade around the Freeport ring. I certainly saw a fair share of kids interacting with dogs amongst the spectators, so only one step more and they will be exhibiting.

My challenge to you Freeport, bring out your beautiful children who love their fur family and let’s see who wins that prize!

There were 12 categories and some of them were really difficult to judge, but they were all a real pleasure to judge. The handlers, invariably the owners, were all so nice and the obvious intention was for the dogs to have fun and the Society to raise money to help the less fortunate dogs find new homes.

I was absolutely amazed at how beautiful some of the shelter dogs were. A couple of then actually won their category and many of them won ribbons. One shelter dog in particular totally won my heart, a giant of a dog, with a goofy smile called Hunter.

What a beauty this Rottie/ Great Dane cross is! I could not understand how he could possibly still be looking for a home. If he had been in

Nassau he would have been scooped up in a matter of days.

A shelter resident won the Best Potcake class as well, and what a pretty pup she is! I would like to imagine that these “ribboned” dogs all looking for homes will be rewarded the ultimate prize any dog wants: a home of his own and humans to love.

The shining star of the show, in my opinion, was a very special lady. Her name is Candy and her owners are Brad and Carol Bethel. She was a gentle Potcake, of reasonable size, she walked into the ring calmly, was very polite and had a strong gate. I asked her owner how old she was, and to my utter amazement, he replied, seventeen years old ! I tell you I didn’t believe it, but it can be confirmed because she was a Humane Society adoptions dog, and (drum Roll here please) she turns 18 in June. I will let you guess who won the best senior dog! I don’t think I have ever met a dog of good size of that age.

The Best in Show was a mammoth challenge. I looked, felt, stroked, and watched.

has a wonderful relationship with his massive dog, and it was a pleasure to see the bond between the two of them.

As always, I loved my visit to Freeport, the people, the wonderful restaurants and the hospitality. When did you say the HSGB dog show is in 2020?

I weeded out a couple here and a couple there, and finally settled on a splendid Dogue de Bordeaux called Shrek. He is far more handsome than his name suggests and a sweet boy to boot. I told him that kissing the judge was bribery but he paid no attention and gave me another wet lick. His owner, Derek Miller, clearly

NOTHING SWEETER THAN SUGAR

By THE BAHAMAS HUMANE SOCIETY

H

i, there! I’m Sugar!

Don’t mind Thyme there in the background; it’s me you’ve come to see. I’m about five months old and I’m looking for the right person to go home with. Are you that person? Do you love kittens, and also cats, because we do grow up! I enjoy a long snooze on the sofa as much as a playful romp across the room. I don’t mind having a companion or two at our home, but I really want you to be mine. If you’re my person, please come in during adoption hours to see me, or call 323-5138 for more information. Adoption hours are 11am to 4pm, Monday to Friday. and

PHOTO/PATRICIA VAZQUEZ

couple of weeks ago I was invited up to Freeport by the Humane Society of Grand Bahama to judge their dog show. This is always a privilege and an honour. The Humane Society of Grand Bahama is a large, spacious, airy complex situated quite close to the airport with countless pine barrens around it.

You reach it on a seemingly endless and straight road. The roads in Freeport leave me constantly amazed. They are wide enough to accommodate five times the population of the Freeport city limits, with enormous roundabouts every few miles. They even have signs telling people that slower vehicles should stay left on a dual carriageway highway.

Now why don’t we have those same signs here in Nassau, one might ask oneself. Everything in Freeport seams larger than they need, but one thing for sure, there is lots of room for growth.

They made their dog show a little shorter this year, it was a total of four hours, and there were lots of fun (and serious) categories to choose from. The only unfortunate thing was that there were no entrants for the child and dog category. I was very disappointed about that because there are few things I like better in life than to watch a child interact with his or her best fur buddy.

I wonder if people really understood the meaning of that class. Perhaps next year if they explain a little more carefully we can see some best

10 am to 4pm on Saturday.

Come and see me soon!

Oh, and before I go... come see the BHS at the BKC Dog Show this weekend. From 9am to 2pm on Saturday and Sunday at Collins House.

Bring your dog along so you can join the fun dog events.

Contests on Saturday will include Waggiest Tale, Best Trick, Fastest Recall, Best Costume. On Sunday, enjoy Best Kisser, Fastest Retrieve, Grand Prix (highest jump), and Best St Patrick’s Day Costume. It’s $5 per class to enter your dog.

Then check out the Quiz Night at Compass Point on March 26, an art sale at Captain’s Table on March 30, and a jewellery sale in Lyford Cay on April 4.

28 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, March 15, 2019

pageants

Five queens to be crowned at this year’s Bahamas Galaxy Pageant

T

he Bahamas Galaxy Pageant will not crown just one queen later this month, but a total of five.

The grand finale of the pageant, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, is set for Saturday, March 23, at the University of the Bahamas Performing Arts Centre on Saturday, March 23.

Prior to the big night, the contestants and reigning queens participated in a float

parade through New Providence last weekend.

The girls’ platforms in this year range from “People Helping People from All Around the World” to “Empowering Young Ladies to Have Higher Self-esteem”, “The Protection of Animal Rights”, and “Body Positivity: Love You For You”.

For Andrea Knott, director of the Bahamas Galaxy Pageant, it is a wonderful feeling being able to reach this milestone. Looking back, she can admit to feeling a sense of pride for our far the

organisation has come. She hopes to carry on for another 10 years.

“Being passionate about providing personal development opportunities to women and young girls caused me to seek an (additional) avenue to offer through pageantry and social networking. We also offer seminars and workshops, and Bahamas Galaxy Pageants supports and carries out the same mission and vision of Galaxy International Pageants. For this reason, the event was brought here in 2009,” she said.

Jr Miss Bahamas Galaxy Maleah Gabrielle Miller

Jr Miss Starburst Kishanna Bowe is a 2019 contestant in the Jr Miss Division.

Miss Quasar Galaxy Raquel Clarke

This year’s theme is “It’s Your Time To Shine”, which Ms Knott said captures the essence of a Bahamas Galaxy queen – “displaying to the young girls and women that they are beautiful, that they are queens inside and out, worth more than gold, and that they should always hold their heads up high.”

Bahamas Galaxy Pageant has different age divisions.

During the finale, two contestants will be crowned in the junior divisions, and three in the senior divisions.

Miss Pre-Teen Starfish Galaxy Aaliyah Ferguson is a 2019 contestant in the Miss Pre-Teen Division.

PHOTOS/SHAWN HANNA

By ALESHA CADET | Tribune Features Reporter | acadet@tribunemedia.net “When opportunities are offered and available for various ages, the impact is greater to reach many young girls and women in the community. By conducting seminars, covering social skills, grooming and etiquette, interview training skills, educational encouragement, cultural appreciation, and many other topics, this pageant is beneficial. I am sure the knowledge gained by any young lady will be beneficial for her personal and career goals, while (making her) a role model in her community,” said Ms Knott.

Miss Teen Leo Galaxy Shavantae Bastian