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Friday, June 18, 2021

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Weekend

Talk host going global Page 04+05

Caribbean vision Exhibition explores our identity

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02 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, June 18, 2021

art

Leading local artists explore Caribbean identity By ALESHA CADET | Tribune Features Writer | acadet@tribunemedia.net

group of the country’s best-known artists has come together to reflect on selfhood and identity within a neocolonial world. Heino Schmid, Tessa Whitehead, Dominique Knowles and Leasho Johnson are currently taking part in the TERN Gallery’s latest exhibit, “Notions of Self”. The works on display reflect on the commonalities of identification markers that exist within the Caribbean, and the constrictions or possibilities for expansion that influence each artists’ creative process. Organisers noted that the exhibit’s title also alludes to the deep and meditative ephemerality asserted in the mixed media works, giving evidence to the highly complex realities of Caribbean identities. Jodi Minnis, TERN Gallery manager and curator of the show, explained that it was inspired by the artists and their practices. “I had a thought about how complex yet succinct it is to explain who we are as Caribbean people. Through my conversations with the artists I was able to expound on that idea. Put simply, the exhibition is about Caribbeans’ right to be who we are and give ourselves space to change and to evolve as time progresses. Furthermore, how we perceive ourselves is most important and we can be confident in that,” Jodi told Tribune Weekend. The name “Notions of Self” can be taken literally as some of the work on display includes self-portraits, but it can also be understood abstractly, relating to concepts and ideals the artists are working through and towards. “I’ve always observed an overlap in Heino Schmid and Tessa Whitehead’s artwork. The pair works together collaboratively and in the same artist studio. The ambition of Schmid’s contour lines in his figure drawings is contrasted by the often idiosyncratic ‘slouchiness’ of his subjects, who are broken down to their most essential beings,” she said.

TESSA Whitehead’s ‘Breadfruit 3’

LEASHO Johnson’s ‘Love in the darkness but never in the day’’

DOMINIQUE Knowles’ ‘Summons’ “Whitehead’s work presents a window onto the wild woman archetype, where figures merge with their surrounding landscape. Dominique Knowles represents the generational evolution of Bahamian abstract art, following the groundwork laid by Schmid and Whitehead, but unlike the latter’s work, where human and landscape are unified, in Knowles’ work it is the human-animal connection that is emphasised. With brushstrokes that replicate the action of grooming a horse, Knowles conjures the presence of the animal in the work, while its often-ambitious

HEINO Schmid’s ‘What’s Your Name’ scale subsumes the viewer into his manifested realm.” Like Dominique Knowles, she said, Leasho Johnson approaches autobiography in his work, which

is comprised of various mediums, tackling the topic of masculinity as depicted in Jamaican pop culture and where the body is also often consumed within the landscape that becomes a safe space for self-expression. “There are about 14 pieces on display in the exhibition...Heino Schmid’s work is mostly charcoal or graphite or graphite and acrylic on paper. “Tessa Whitehead’s work is emulsion (house paint) on paper. They are landscape figurative artworks. Dominique Knowles’ work is an oil painting on canvas. Leasho Johnson’s work is a multimedia work. They are made of charcoal, oil paint, and gold foil to name a few,” she said. The exhibition is set to come to a close on Monday, August 23, and until then, Jodi said she is looking forward to visitors becoming curious about the artists and their work. “All of the artists have exhibited internationally and are making great waves within their respective lanes. I hope that that fact translates to the audience. This is also an opportunity for potential buyers who are interested in abstract art or figurative abstraction to expand their collection,” she said.

The Tribune | Weekend | 03

Friday, June 18, 2021

Weekend Inside

My Perfect Bahamian Weekend Harrice Candy Johnson Real estate agent

to relax on the sofa.” Q. Rum, wine, Kalik or a cocktail? “I love fruity concoctions. My favourite is a nice Sangria blend. And as a mixologist, I have a few personal concoctions, but a dirty lemonade is my summer drink.”

4-5 Interview

Bahamian Regina Whylly is about to take her ‘Whole Woman’ talkshow to the world

6 Puzzles 7-9 Entertainment

All aboard the Captain’s Deck, where old and new Nassau meet, plus enjoy a weekend out in Marina Village

10 Community

Luxury summer series launches at The Cove with local and international brands

11 Music

New artist Nate P says is never too late to pursue your dreams

12-13 Literary Lives

A writer who gave the world a new and unique Black voice

14 Forgotten Facts

The significance of boats and boating

15 Animals

A curious red-legged visitor, plus Pet of the Week

16 Gardening

Sharpen your tools for some much needed maintenance

DRESS LIKE YOU MEAN BUSINESS By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net WHILE many graduates may be up to date when it comes to the latest pop culture and fashion trends, many may need help in attiring themselves professionally for the work force they will soon be entering. This is where the Corporate Girl 242 boutique comes in: to help those who may be seeking job opportunities or internships look their professional best. To assist those in need of advice, the boutique has launched a new initiative under the theme “Your Workplace is Your Runway”.

The small business that specialises in professional attire and accessories has made it its goal to “inspire women to make a positive statement through fashion in the workplace.” For the remainder of the month, the boutique will be celebrating its one-year anniversary with a giveaway under the theme “She Did It” – a salute to the graduates entering the workforce this year. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted families throughout the Bahamians and has left many graduates searching for jobs without the resources necessary to prepare them for employment. This was the driving force behind the boutique’s new promotion. According to operations manager Decorda Darville, the initiative is geared towards providing the prospective graduates with the necessary tools, skills and knowledge to excel in the workplace. “At a young age, I entered the corporate world with limited work wear, professional attire. Our goal is to bring

Q. What will you be binge watching this weekend? “‘CoComelon’ or ‘Elmo’ with my little munchkin Athena.” Q. Beach or sofa? “I love the beach, but I am a homebody, so I’d prefer

about positive change by providing a female with graduate a starter kit, inclusive of professional attire courtesy of Corporate Girl 242, interview coaching, along QuickBooks training with the Inspired HR, a gift certificate for makeup application by Icon Cosmetics by Lisa Wallace, and professional footwear by For The Working Lady,” she said. Decorda said they hope to make this an annual event. “It is our wish to be bigger and better in 2022,” she said. “In June 2022, it is our plan to promote workshops and seminars geared toward providing the necessary coaching and training for future graduates,” she said. Those interested in being a part of the “She Did It” initiative can contact corporategirl242@hotmail.com.

Q. If you could be quarantined with a celebrity who would it be and why? “One of my favourite celebrities is a Harlem Renaissance author Zora Neale Hurston. I would love a vivid glimpse of life for a struggling Black artist at that time, or maybe Dick McGregor.” Q. If you take a COVIDfree trip, where would you go? “Mars!...I wanted to take my daughter to Jamaica pre-COVID; it would have been nice to keep to those plans.”

| The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, June 18, 2021

interview

Regina Whylly After paying her dues and finally finding peace within herself, this local media expert and grandmother is about to embark on a journey which could see her touch the lives of millions of women around the world. She tells Cara Hunt about the purpose and focus of her TV show which will now go into worldwide syndication. REGINA Whylly can confidently say that she is a woman who is happy in her own skin. It’s a feeling she has worked hard to achieve throughout her 20 plus years in media. During that time, she also went through a divorce and experienced the devastating loss of her mother. Her positive outlook when it comes to life and her own person is a something she hopes to share with other women through her Whole Woman Network. She first launched the network as a way to help her cope with her mom’s death. Currently, she is the CEO of the Whole Woman Network, which includes the whowoman.tv website, and she is also the executive producer off the TV show “The Whole Woman.” When her mother died, Regina wanted to find a way to honour her, as well as a start a project to help her through the grieving process. She said she had a vision of herself speaking to a full room of women and God explaining that her purpose was to help women understand that God, not man, is the source of all things. “I wanted to help women discover how they could be their best, so I started the Whole Woman Network,” she

“(Syndication) means that we also have the opportunity to take the stories of Bahamians to a global stage. The exposure is phenomenal and groundbreaking, and being able to achieve this goal means everything to me.”

The Tribune | Weekend | 05

Friday, June 18, 2021 told Tribune Weekend. “Our motto is ‘Helping to improve the lives of women emotionally, spiritually, physically, financially and mentally’.” The network has provided a series of events and activities to help empower women. And now Regina is excited that her TV show will be going into worldwide syndication, where it could reach up half a billion people. The show will be available for streaming on several platforms, including Tempo, Roku, Apple TV and Hulu, to name a few. “This is definitely a dream come true and manifestation that the hard work was well worth it,” she said. Regina explained that she started exploring the option of global syndication last fall when she reached out to several of her international connections. “This means that we also have the opportunity to take the stories of Bahamians to a global stage. The exposure is phenomenal and groundbreaking, and being able to achieve this goal means everything to me,” she said. Regina said her expanded audience can expect to see a continuation of what’s been at the heart of the show since its inception. One of her main goals, she noted, will be to focus on featuring guests who can help women navigate the “new normal”. “I think for a lot of women one of the challenges is finding ways to supplement their income. And so, we will have other women on who can help them maximise their potential. For example, we have a guest who will be showing us how to maximise your exposure on LinkedIn. That is a great way to connect with millions of people all over the world,” she said. Regina explained she has tried to select women who do not have only the professional experience but have also have the personal experience to speak to their fellow women. “These women live what they teach. They are women with their own businesses, and they have a vision and a purpose to make a difference,” she said. Her aim, she added, is to help women to focus on themselves first, before they try to be everything else to everyone. “You have to know who you are before you can help others, and if you don’t know who you are then someone else may tell you,” she said. “Women try to be everything to everyone, but you cannot be the best wife, lover, sister, friend daughter, employee etcetera, unless you are fulfilled as a whole woman.”

“Women try to be everything to everyone, but you cannot be the best wife, lover, sister, friend daughter, employee etcetera, unless you are fulfilled as a whole woman.”

She believes women will only feel comfortable in their own skin when every area of their lives, including their careers, their finances, their spirituality, has been secured. “And once you are a whole woman, then the spirit of excellence inside you can help you achieve what you need to and what you want to be for others. For example, I am a much better mother and grandmother to my family because I am in a good place in my life. If I were broken, I wouldn’t be able to be that grandmother who takes her grandson to the park and makes those precious memories with him,” she said. Since her show started, Regina has taped a total 40 one-hour shows reaching thousands of women. “The response I have gotten from viewers show that women are hungry for inspirational and motivational content,” she said. And Regina is excited to be the voice to bring that content to the world.

case (4) 26 Finished free study, being superseded (10) 27 New arts supremo (4)

| The Tribune | Weekend

piece (5) down: 1 Procrastinate; D O O M 26 Water; Ruby; 4 Deride; Y F L K 22 Repeat in 2the choir3 (4) 5 Surround; 6 Vetting; Friday, 23 Summer extended around June 18,P2021 A L W lake (4) 7 Worthlessness; X M I W 12 Transmit; 13 Deflate; P X H P 15 Stored; 18 Obese; 19 Club. B K C I

V P P B R T R N H E L

r t u DG t i A e

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

● The Target uses words in the main body of Chambers 21st Century Dictionary (1999 edition)

HOW many words of four letters or more can you make from the letters shown here? in making a word, each letter may be used once only. each must contain the centre letter and there must be at least one nine-letter word. no plurals. Verb forms ending in s permitted. TODAY’S TARGET Good 22; very good 34; excellent 45 (or more). Solution tomorrow

Yesterday’s call 0907 181 2585 Sudoku forAnswer today’s target solution *Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge.

BATTLESHIPS CRYPTIC PUZZLE Across 1 Game for an old school get-together (5,5) 6 Items given for storage in a bank (4) 10 Lie about showing true grit (5) 11 They work with a will (9) 12 Instrument puts old man in confusion (8) 13 Unusual Roman dwelling house (5) 15 It’s near breaking up and showing distress (2,5) 17 Hide at one time found in California (7) 19 They’re told to go to blazes (7) 21 Wine forced on some Irishmen (7) 22 One who gets up part of the stairs (5) 24 Determined to give poor Rose an instrument (8) 27 After work, quiet or music is timely (9) 28 Got an order to dance (5) 29 How Beethoven finished a set of four notes (4) 30 Prettiness in a constantly recurring form (10)

Down 1 Bird making harsh sound (4) 2 Tribal rag turns out to be rock (9) 3 Return and surrender (5) 4 With one point each, one more becomes redundant (7) 5 Cocaine distilled from the sea (7) 7 Lend beauty to part of a head ornament (5) 8 Pacific islander (10) 9 Asked to appear at court? (8) 14 Seek earthly riches? (3,3,4) 16 Errs amid wayward lovers (8) 18 Being in the wrong scene, exit (9) 20 Foster may run true to form (7) 21 Gets better of teachers (7) 23 Brown monkeys climb all around one (5) 25 A deal with America for plant (5) 26 Place appointed for a picket (4)

9 10

14 15

25 26

Yesterday’s Easy Solution Across: 1 Smother, 5 Het up, 8 Underhand, 9 Kin, 10 Pisa, 12 Colossal, 14 Phoney, 15 Felony, 17 Et cetera, 18 Skit, 21 Eye, 22 At an angle, 24 Token, 25 Ellipse. Down: 1 Slump, 2 Odd, 3 Harp, 4 Reason, 5 Hydrogen, 6 Take stock, 7 Penalty, 11 Spot check, 13 Restrain, 14 Pretext, 16 Create, 19 Theme, 20 Fall, 23 Gap.

Yesterday’s Cryptic Solution Across: 1 Tanning, 5 Which, 8 Stringent, 9 Car, 10 Each, 12 Unchaste, 14 Callow, 15 Harass, 17 Nominate, 18 Stir, 21 Out, 22 Reeled off, 24 Mused, 25 Melange. Down: 1 Taste, 2 Nor, 3 Inns, 4 Greens, 5 Watchman, 6 Incessant, 7 Harness, 11 Cellmates, 13 Cornered, 14 Conform, 16 Stream, 19 Rifle, 20 Seal, 23 Own.

EASY PUZZLE

Across 1 An easy task (6,4) 6 Girl (4) 10 Punctually (5) 11 Equanimity (9) 12 Stick out (8) 13 Inexperienced (5) 15 Instance (7) 17 Outdo (7) 19 Detach from moorings (4,3) 21 A seedless raisin (7) 22 Absurd proceedings (5) 24 Cotton velvety ribbed fabric (8) 27 Disgusting (9) 28 Unanimous (5) 29 Animal’s skin (4) 30 Laughing uncontrollably (2,8)

Down 1 Matter under investigation (4) 2 Behindhand with payment (2,7) 3 Storehouse (5) 4 Mental image (7) 5 Devoid of purpose (7) 7 Maltreat (5) 8 Feel able (3,4,3) 9 Poor verse (8) 14 From this point on (10) 16 In a suitable manner (8) 18 Iranian religious leader (9) 20 Small dissenting clique (7) 21 Glut (7) 23 Swift (5) 25 Overturn (5) 26 The chances (4)

FIND where the fleet of ships shown is hidden in the grid. The numbers to the right of and below the grid indicate how many of the squares in that row are filled in with ships or parts of ships. The ships do not touch each other, even diagonally. Some squares have been filled in to start you off. Solution tomorrow 1

9 10

2 0

V A T O R O E

P O L F C G R

THE ALPHABEATE

TARGET 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.

N T E R E S T

1 x Battleship

3 x Destroyer

2 x cruiser

4 x submarine

cAn you crack the Alphabeater? eachthE grid alph targEt ex number represents a letter – or black square. 09 dEVilMENt across: As in Alphapuzzle, every letter of the alphabet Lobby (De deem But denim dime thePeninsula, each is used. youDEVILMENT have to complete grid too! Fig, elemi emend emit item lime Hiatus, Damson uselimed the given and melted black squares below meet letters meld melt Barb, Ivy, Touch themend grid to start. the grid ‘rotationally 09 mete meted mienismild Flapjack. symmetrical’ – in other it looksdown: the Lupus, *CallsH mile milt mind mine words, mined mint yo same if you turn the page upside down. minted mite teem time timed Syrup, Yank, Su n Solution tomorrow Unfurl, Samura A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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28 33 37 24 Yesterday’s

16 Kakuro 20 39 Answer 4 1

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● Alternatively, for six Extra Letter clues to yo text DXBEAT to 84901. Texts cost £1 plus your usu

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The Tribune | Weekend | 07

Friday, June 18, 2021

entertainment

Bringing Bahamian culture back with a weekend in Marina Village

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

Photo credit: Donavan McIntosh

n an effort to help both its international and local guests make the most out of an evening or weekend out during the ongoing pandemic, Atlantis has sought to liven up its Marina Village experience. Once guests can provide either an up-to-date negative COVID rapid test or a certificate that shows they are fully vaccinated, they can join in all the fun – dining at restaurants like Carmine’s, Café Martinique, Seafire Steakhouse, or grabbing a casual bite at the Burger Shack, Pirate’s Republic or Frankie Gone Bananas. They can also fill the void last year’s Junkanoo cancellations left by taking part in the Junkanoo Fest which takes place tonight and next Friday night for the final time this season. On Saturdays, guests can enjoy the Art Walk from 2pm to 10 pm. It features arts, crafts and music by Bahamian artists. Tribune Weekend spoke with Angelo Hart, Atlantis’ executive director of Guest Activities, who shared that the team is happy to accommodate locals and visitors in a safe space. “People have been in their homes for more than a year now because of the pandemic. So as a country, gradually getting more people who are vaccinated, we more than welcome (the chance) to be able to allow guests and our local community into a setting where they can enjoy themselves safely,” he said. “We have invited a lot of local artisans to come to the Village. We have also partnered with the local food truck vendors to provide authentic Bahamian treats for guests. The guests are able to participate in the Junkanoo (rush-out) and really get to know about Bahamian culture. People are able to buy authentic Bahamian crafts at the Art Walk, so we are really trying to bring Bahamian culture back.” Mr Hart said they are taking all the necessary safety precautions and people are encouraged to wear their masks within the Marina Village. “All of our employees are wearing their masks; they also get tested daily or would have been fully vaccinated as well. I think that we are doing as best as we can to provide a very safe environment for families to enjoy and get back to some sort of normalcy,” he said. Douglas Martin, general manager at the Seafire Steakhouse, said his team has been re-energised by the return of guests. “Everyone is just so excited and so thrilled to welcome guests back after a long time away. We have seen this not only from our (international) guests, but also our guests that are coming from the island as well,” he said. Their head chef, Lisa Rolle, he said, has listened to what the guests want and adapted the

menu accordingly so they can remain a trendsetting restaurant. “We are lucky to have Chef Lisa Rolle at the helm. Lisa brings a tremendous wealth of culinary prowess and leadership to Seafire,” said Mr Martin. Seafire, he added, is a classic steakhouse with an extensive menu that is perfect for celebrations with family and friends. “There are very classic and traditional signature selections. One of chef’s specialties is a 32-ounce prime ribeye Tomahawk chopped, it is just packed with flavour. There are some excellent steaks that can be done for a hearty appetite or shared for the table...Obviously, we have some of the best lobster in the world here in the Bahamian waters and we want to make sure that it’s front and centre here, for not only our residents, but also for our guests to enjoy,” he said.

10 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, June 18, 2021

fashion

Luxury summer series launches at The Cove with local and international brands were transported into the ultimate Champagne reverie, welcomed with glasses of Perrier-Jouët, followed by a day-long event at The Cove pool, culminating with branded departure gifts, and a saxophonist to round out the entertainment weekend. “Perrier-Jouet & Pernod Ricard were delighted to partner with such an amazing team at Atlantis to create an unforgettable experience for their guests,” said Victoria Esposito, Pernod Ricard Bahamas brand manager. “We look forward to the continued partnership and creating incredible moments together.” For the Saturday event, The Cove pool was transformed into an aquatic

PHOTO CREDIT: Kovah Duncombe Photography

two-centuries old Champagne brand that is beloved by royals and the Instagram trendsetters joined a famous violin prodigy as well as local and international luxury brands like Bahari and Breitling in their takeover of The Cove on Paradise Island for its Memorial Day ‘Spritz’ event. The weekend-long event served to launch The Cove’s summer series of monthly themed experiences, created to welcome back international travellers to the Bahamas. From the moment guests arrived at The Cove, they

VIOLIN prodigy Ezinma

THE COVE’s Escape fashions

garden and featured branded poolside Perrier-Jouët cabanas, and a local retail garden, with luxury brands including Bahari, Breitling, David Yurman, Escape at The Cove, Carlo Milano, Kering and Maro Bicego. “The Spritz event was brilliantly executed and provided a memorable, fun-filled experience to guests of The Cove,” said Inga Bowleg, director of Business Development at John Bull. “It was indeed the perfect fusion of sun, sand, sea, shopping and sizzling entertainment. The John Bull team remains very grateful for the opportunity extended to join other Bahamian retailers in showcasing some of the fabulous local and international brands available on island.” Stealing the show was internationally acclaimed violinist Ezinma, who has performed with artists such as Stevie Wonder, Beyonce and Kendrick Lamar. Ezinma set the mood for the day by starting her performance during the fashion show on the pool deck, sporting a two-piece ensemble, and serenading guests and local models who showcased Bahari’s summer swimsuit collection as well as The Cove’s Escape summer wear. Keeping guests entertained between performances was Bahamian DJ Nyuszi. The Cove summer series continues through July and August, and like the Spritz event, will highlight local retailers, art and entertainment. “We strive to create interactive and meaningful events for our guests. Our local retailers added a unique and exclusive element to Spritz, and Perrier-Jouët was a wonderful addition to the beautiful atmosphere of our pool and beaches. We are very excited to be welcoming local and international guests to The Cove,” added Kapil Sharma, general manager of The Cove.

The Tribune | Weekend | 11

Friday, June 18, 2021

music

Nate P creates his own perfect moment to launch new rake n’ scrape anthem By CARA HUNT | Tribune Features Writer | cbrennen@tribunemedia.net IT IS never too late to pursue your dreams – it’s a lesson Nathaniel Pierre grasped as was he driving down a deserted street in Nassau during one of last year’s lockdowns. It was in that moment that he decided to stop dithering and finally make his dream of launching a music career a reality. “I had always dreamed of being a musician. To be honest, I never thought I had a singing voice to be belting out notes. So, in my mind I was going to be a rapper. But music has always played a major role in my life,” he told Tribune Weekend. However, like many people, the 46-year-old found his life forever changed by COVID-19 last year. “I am an essential worker and so for the first time in my life I found myself driving on the streets and there were no other cars around me. “And I just had a change in my perception, it was like the world shifted and I realised that all this time I had been waiting for what I thought

would be the perfect time to start my music career, but the perfect time had never come, so I realised that it was up to me to make the time perfect.” Once he made the decision, the idea for his first single sounded loud and clear in his mind. “It was not a rap song, but I saw me singing it and hitting the notes,” he said. Nate P, as he now goes by, wrote the lyrics to his new song, “Jump in Jesus’ Name” and partnered with Dillon “DMac” McKenzie and Ray R Ewing The song features both for Common‘All this time I had been waiting rake n’ scrape and Junwealth Recording for what I thought would be the kanoo elements, as well Studios to get the perfect time to start my music career, as Afro-beats and sounds single out on a from Haiti. limited budget. but the perfect time had never “The song is naturally “The provicome, so I realised that it was up a part of me. Rap is really sions for this outside of my culture and to me to make the time perfect.’ project didn’t so I would have been borcome in an rowing that for my music. avalanche, but But rake n’ scrape is in my heart,” he said. they did come, and I am just so happy to be Nate recently just finished recording the video able to share this with the entire world. I am to accompany the song, which is now in rotation hoping to get a million downloads at least,” on local radio stations. said the new artist. He is excited that he has finally launched his He describes “Jump in Jesus’ Name” as a dream career and says he has hundreds of songs in praise song that is part testimony and part his head, he can’t wait to share. invitation for listeners to come to know “This is just the beginning.” Jesus for themselves. “It is an anthem to my “Jump in Jesus Name” is available for download spirit… that after all I know and all I have on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon and all music experienced, Jesus has still turned out to be platforms. my everything,” he said.

12 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, June 18, 2021

literary lives – Toni Morrison (1931 – 2019)

The Nobel laureate who gave a unique voice to the Black experience Part I Sir Christopher Ondaatje writes about the American novelist, essayist and college professor who gained worldwide recognition when she won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993. “I never asked Tolstoy to write for me, a little coloured girl in Lorain, Ohio. I never asked Joyce not to mention Catholicism or the world of Dublin. Never. And I don’t know why I should be asked to explain your life to you. We have splendid writers to do that, but I am not one of them. It is that business of being universal, a world hopelessly stripped of meaning for me. Faulkner wrote what I suppose could be called regional literature and had it published all over the world. That’s what I wish to do.” – Toni Morrison Toni Morrison was born Chloe Wofford in Lorain, Ohio, to Ramah and George Wofford – the second of four children from a working class, Black family. Her mother was born in Greenville, Alabama, and moved north as a child. Her father grew up in Cartersville, Georgia. When he was 15 a group of white people lynched two Black businessmen who lived on his street. “He never told us that he’d seen the bodies. But he had seen them. And that was too traumatic, I think, for him.” – Toni Morrison Soon after the lynching Wofford moved to the racially integrated town of Lorain, Ohio, hoping to escape racism and secure meaningful employment in Ohio’s industrial economy. He got odd jobs and worked as a welder for US Steel. His wife was a homemaker and devout member of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. When Morrison was two years old, her family’s landlord set fire to the house in which they lived – while they were at home – because her parents could not afford to pay the rent. Morrison recalls her parents laughing at their landlord’s actions rather than falling into despair. Morrison also recalls her parents telling African-American folk stories, ghost stories, and singing songs to instil a sense of heritage and language in the family. She was encouraged to read, and discovered Jane Austen and Leo Tolstoy who became her favourite authors. When she was 12 she became a Catholic and took the baptismal name “Anthony” after Anthony of Padua – which led to her nickname “Toni”. She attended Lorain

High School, was on the debating team, the yearbook staff, and the school drama club. In her early teens she served as a housemaid for local white families. “I started around thirteen. That was the work that was available: to go to a woman’s house after school and clean for three or four hours. The normal teenage jobs were not available. Housework always was. It wasn’t uninteresting. You got to work these gadgets that I never had at home: vacuum cleaners. Some of the people were nice. Some were terrible. Years later I used some of what I observed in my fiction.” – Toni Morrison When she was 18 she enrolled at Howard University, in Washington, DC, searching out fellow black intellectuals. There for the first time she encountered racially segregated restaurants and buses. She graduated in 1953 with a BA in English and went on to earn a Master of Arts from Cornell University in 1955. Her thesis was titled “Virginia Woolf’s and William Faulkner’s treatment of the alienated.” For the next nine years she taught English at Texas Southern University in Houston, and Howard University – where she met and married Harold Morrison, a Jamaican architect. Their first son was born in 1961, and she was pregnant with their second son when she divorced Morrison in 1964. Her son Slade was born in 1965. She kept her name Morrison. That year she began working as an editor for LW Singer, a textbook division of publisher Random House in Syracuse, New York. Two years later she transferred to Random House in New York City, where she became their first black woman senior editor in the fiction department. “Freeing yourself was one thing, claiming ownership of that freed self was another.” – Toni Morrison In her capacity as a senior editor at Random House, Morrison was instrumental in publishing African-American writers such as Angela Davis,

Toni Cade Bambara, Huey Newton (the Black Panther) and novelist Gayle Jones. One of the first books she worked on was the groundbreaking Contemporary African Literature (1972), and later the autobiography of world heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali, The Greatest: My Own Story (1975). She also published the work of Henry Dumas, a novelist and poet who had been shot and killed in 1968 by a transit officer in the New York City subway. The Black Book (1974) – an anthology of photographs and essays of black life in the United States from slavery to the 1940s – was also published. Morrison had been writing fiction herself when she was 18 at Howard University. One idea with which she was obsessed was about a black girl who longed to have blue eyes. It became her first novel

The Tribune | Weekend | 13

Friday, June 18, 2021

MORRISON with her two sons, Slade and Ford, in 1978 (Photo_Jack Mitchell) The Bluest Eye, published by Holt, Rinehart and Winston in 1970, when she was 39. It is her most autobiographical novel. “... a prose so precise, so faithful to speech and so charged with pain and wonder that the novel becomes poetry ... But ‘The Bluest Eye’ is also history, sociology, folklore, nightmare and music.” – John Leonard The New York Times, 1970 The book also got the attention of Robert Gottlieb, the acclaimed editor of Knopf – an imprint of Random House. Gottlieb went on to edit most of Morrison’s novels. The Bluest Eye was followed by Sula (1973), and Song of Solomon (1977) about a black protagonist, Macon “Milkman” Dead III, who searches for his heritage through the magic of black experience in the old South. The novel brought Morrison national acclaim, was a Book of the Month Club Selection, and went on to win the National Book Critics Circle Award. Morrison’s fiction was gaining traction by the end of the 1970s – particularly among AfricanAmerican readers. In 1979, Barnard College awarded her its highest honour – the Barnard Medal of Distinction. Tar Baby (1981), her next novel, is in a contemporary setting about a narcissistic fashion model who falls for a penniless drifter who feels well at ease with being black. MORRISON, then an editor at Random House, enjoys the disco years (Photo_Waring Abbott, 1974)

She then left publishing to devote more time to writing, and lived in a boathouse on the Hudson River in Nyack, New York. She taught English at

MORRISON’s first novel, published in 1970, tells the story of a beleaguered young Black girl who longs for blue eyes the State University of New York and at Rutgers University’s New Brunswick Campus. In 1984, she was appointed to an Albert Schweitzer chair at the University of Albany. Her first play Dreaming Emmett was performed in 1986 at the State University of New York at Albany, and is about the 1955 murder by white men of black teenager Emmett Till. From 1986 to 1988 she was a visiting professor at Bard College in Avondaleon-Hudson, New York. “Anger ... it’s a paralysing emotion ... you can’t get anything done. People sort of think it’s an interesting, passionate, and igniting feeling – I don’t think it’s any of that – it’s helpless ... it’s absence of control – and I need all of my skills, all of the control, all of my powers ... and anger doesn’t provide any of that – I have no use for it whatsoever.” – Toni Morrison To be continued… • Sir Christopher Ondaatje is the author of The Last Colonial. He acknowledges that he has quoted liberally from Wikipedia; Toni Morrison: A Biography of a Nobel Prize-Winning Author (1996) by Barbara Kramer; and Toni Morrison: A Biography (2009) by Stephanie Li.

14 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, June 18, 2021

history

The significance of boats and boating

PAUL C ARANHA

FORGOTTEN FACTS

ome time ago, I wrote about William R Johnson, Jr and his 1973 book “Bahamian Sailing Craft”. Today, I will expand on that article and throw in a few facts from elsewhere. In 1973, there was still a large fleet of sailing vessels plying their trade between Nassau and the many Out Islands, carrying cargo and passengers. Many of these boats were built in places like Mangrove Cay, Andros. Some might be owned and operated by a single family, others by the entire settlement. A nearby supply of wood and a skilled carpenter with an eye for choosing the right trees to cut, were the first essentials of successful boatbuilding. Boats connected Out Islands settlements to each other and to Nassau. To be sure of regular trade, a settlement needed boats. Those that that did not have their own boats were dependent upon others and it was not uncommon for weeks to go by, without any connection to the outside world. Out Island life was, to a great extent, one of self-sufficiency, and a fleet of boats often made all the difference. In the 1920s, except for Nassau, more people lived on Mangrove Cay than on any other island. Andros islanders thrived on sponge-fishing, using their schooners and manpower to gather wool sponge from the sponge-beds west of Andros Island, known as ‘The Mud’.

A schooner carried a crew of 10 to 20 men and six to eight dinghies. When they reached The Mud, the schooner captain would anchor his vessel, while the dinghies were put overboard, each with a crew of two. One man would scull and the other would be the spotter, who looked through a waterglass until he saw sponges then, using a special hook on a long pole, rip the sponges from the seabed. Life on a spongeschooner was harsh. Work started at dawn and ‘hooking’ sponges continued until noon. After lunch, it was back to ‘hooking’, until the sun went down. It was ‘man’s work’ and the women were left behind to keep the home-fires burning, without seeing their men for many, many weeks.

At day’s end the sponges were stored aboard the schooner until there was no more storage space. At this point, the sponges were taken ashore and put into shallow kraals, where they would rot. A few weeks later, the sponges would be washed, pounded, washed again, then strung in the ship’s rigging to dry. The schooner would then set sail for the Sponge Exchange in Nassau, a huge shed at the foot of Frederick Street, where they were sold to the highest bidder. Once graded and packed, the sponges were shipped abroad. • For questions and comments, please send an e-mail to islandairman@ gmail.com

The Tribune | Weekend | 15

Friday, June 18, 2021

animals

The story of Mummy Red Legs - the red-legged thrush By KIM ARANHA Animal Matters The first few days: I noticed this very busy and engaging bird fly in and out of the garage countless times. So often that I began to wonder what she was up to. Every time I would drive into the garage she would fly out. A few days later: I noticed that she would have some twigs or fluff with her. I realised that she was building a nest. Looking up I saw that she had chosen a very secure spot about 10 feet above on the top of a cupboard against the wall, totally safe and secure. As time goes by: I found out that my enchanting and busy Mama is a red-legged thrush, indigenous to many islands in the Caribbean and the Bahamas. It is at this point that I assumed that the eggs have been laid because she is frequently sitting in her nest perched up high and watching me with her red ringed eye. Every morning she would fly out for a short spell, probably to fetch some breakfast. Sitting on those eggs is tiring work. I wonder what she thinks about. I would have loved to see how many eggs she had in her nest but I didn’t want to upset her. More days go by: I was in the garage and I suddenly heard the distance chirping of very tiny birds. A big smile breaks out over my face and I realised that ‘Mummy Red Legs’ has had her babies crack out of their eggs. Their sounds ere low and a little muffled as she flies back and forth like a busy housewife buying groceries at the market. Her role of provider had her on high alert! Finally: Three little heads poking up over the nest. They are chirping their little heads off lustily and loudly; good thing that they are in a safe spot on the highest shelf in my garage because they are alerting the neighbourhood that easy pray is here. Mummy Red Legs

pops back and forth feeding their demanding little (or should I say big in comparison with their tiny bodies) mouths. She works tirelessly. No father in sight, this is most definitely a single family and a deadbeat Dad! There is no effort to exit the nest yet but their little voices get stronger by the day. A while ago: They are standing up in their nest yelling as loudly as possible for their poor over-worked Mama. I see her out pecking at the soil to find some delicious bug or worm to serve up for her demanding babies; She swoops down on the unsuspecting candidate

for dinner and wham the deed is done. She gathers her self and flies back with tremendous purpose to perch on the side of her nest to feed her unruly bunch of demanding babies. Not long after: You would see them perched on the side of their nest on the shelf where she had so carefully placed her family home, they were delightful balls of soft downy feathers, squawking impatiently for their mother’s attention It’s a good thing she only had three or she would have been exhausted trying to keep up with all their demands. Back and forth she

pet of the week

would fly, seemingly tirelessly! One morning I had to go out early and I saw the old adage “the early bird get the worm “ in action. There she was standing patiently in the dew-wet grass, waiting to catch breakfast for her bunch, a quick stab at the ground and she lifted her prey high into the air triumphantly with two flaps of her strong wings. When she landed on her nest the ruckus would have been silenced as I drove away. As the days went by I would see and her the babies learning their flying skills, landing and taking off… crashing awkwardly on the lawn whilst the concerned mother hopped from branch to branch with words of encouragement, The property was a safe haven for them, no cats with my dogs here, no rates or vermin, just four dogs who don’t care and a bunch of humans who do. Flying lessons didn’t last long before they mastered the technique and Mummy Red Legs could sit in a tree, basking in the rest of the summer sun chirping away. Now: They have gone, the babies have flown away, no more ruckus in the garage. I think Mummy Red Legs is still here, there is a bird just like her who comes to feed from the bread put out every morning for them. She doesn’t appear to have a mate. Winging it on her own, she hops around surrounded by the smaller sparrows and the big pigeons, they all feed together in harmony. The little birds are a bit bossy. Maybe Mummy Red Legs enjoys her freedom as a single woman again.

Don’t dodge this little one

Eager? You bet! To be yours! Right... now call the BHS at 3235138 for more information. See you soon!”

By THE BAHAMAS HUMANE SOCIETY

• The BHS Thrift Shop is open. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 11am to 3pm and Saturday from 10am to 2pm. We sell gently used items to raise funds for the shelter. If you’d like to donate, we’d be grateful to accept your donation. If the shop is closed, please leave them in the main shelter. Thank you!

“Don’t overlook me! I’m very chatty. Only one year old, we think. Do be sure to come into the Bahamas Humane Society to meet me! Get ready to fall in love.

PHOTO/Linda Gill-Aranha

16 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, June 18, 2021

gardening

Time for some garden maintenance WELL, a week ago I was wondering where the rains were, and then there they were! Finally, the rain is falling again. With the temperatures gradually increasing, and a little bit of rain, plants in the garden are about to jump up again. It is once again that time of year to chase weeds and get to trimming and pruning. If you haven’t fertilized those plants that are showing deficiencies (yellowing et al), the months of June and July are the perfect times to get that done. Shrubs, palms, and even trees can all use a boost of nutrients to help with the growth push that is beginning to take place. If you have a lawn that is patchy due to drought, or issues over the last few months, it is a great time of year to top dress with peat moss, compost, or even sand if nothing else is available. This helps the soil base and gives nutrients and water a medium to hold on to so that they can be made available to the grass. Our sand is flat, generally, and made up of shell fragments and the likes, and it really does not serve to hold moisture or nutrients, but it will suffice, although it’s by far the least desirable option. It’s also the perfect time to put down an application of a weed and feed (post emergent) if you have weed issues in the lawn, or if there are no existing weed issues, then an application of a pre-emergent herbicide with fertilizer will prevent weed seed from germinating and taking hold. Be sure that the grass is not being mowed too low, if you’re seeking a nice thick lawn. Back to the garden shrubs. With the much faster growth rate that is beginning (things grow much faster in June – October than from November to May), it is a good time to check on garden tools, sharpen blades used for pruning and trimming to save time and labour when the trimming is done. Pruning helps

to create a bushier shrub, but a common mistake it to prune only the tops and edges of a shrub, creating a mass of wood inside a layer of foliage. Proper pruning methods include cutting branches to two or three different heights to allow foliage to grow through the entirety of the shrub and in turn creating a much healthier and fuller shrub. With the rain, we also know that the storm season is approaching, and that means that it is important to thin trees to allow increase airflow. If a tree is fruiting or flowering, it is best to wait until afterwards, but if you’ve got trees that are more ornamental and not fruiting, removing the branches inside the canopy, in the middle of the tree can allow more light penetration and when the winds come, it will be able to move through the tree and there will be less broken branches to clean up! Pests will become much more active now with the increased heat and humidity. Continue to watch for and treat as necessary things like leaf miner, mealybug, whitefly, and scale. Aphids are not generally an issue for most plants and will serve as a buffet for beneficial insects that will help keep pest levels in balance. Fungus or powdery mildew can be a slight issue if there is not enough airflow, or if there is not enough light in or around a plant or tree. Pruning can help this as well. So, break out the garden tools! If your garden is healthy, then it is about to go bonkers, and will most likely need some tending to keep it under control. A balanced and healthy garden is all about nutrients, water, airflow, and light penetration. When things are in balance, issues resolve themselves, or are not created in the first place. Good luck, it is the busy season for garden maintenance. As always, I wish you happy gardening. • Adam Boorman is the nursery manager at the Fox Hill Nursery. You can contact him with any questions you may have, or topics you would like to see discussed, at gardening242@gmail.com.