07212023 WEEKEND

Chef Simeon Hall Jr’s Summer SeriesMarinades

Greetings, fellow grilling enthusiasts! Chef Simeon Hall Jr here, and I’m thrilled to kick off the first installment of my sizzling Summer grilling how-to series, guaranteed to ignite your passion for preparing and cooking grilled meals like never before! Together, we’ll embark on a flavour-filled journey where I’ll equip you with the essential tips, tricks, and techniques that will elevate your grill game from novice to master.

But hey, let’s not jump ahead just yet. Before we fire up the grills and get lost in sweet and smoky sauces, let’s take a moment to appreciate the foundation of really good grilling: marinating.

It’s the secret sauce, the transformative step that ensures your cuts of meat, poultry and fish emerge tender, juicy and bursting with flavour!

Marinating is the culinary process of infusing pieces of meat, like beef, pork, chicken, or even fish with a medley of flavour-enhancing ingredients like oils, seasonings, herbs, and even acidic elements like vinegar, wine or citrus juice. The meat is steeped in this flavourful mix of ingredients for a certain period of time, undergoing a flavour-transmitting and tenderisation process, ultimately yielding a succulent and melt-in-yourmouth bite. In the culinary process of grilling, with meat exposed to such high temperatures, it is crucial for cooks to marinate their meats and have a few go-to marinades in their cooking arsenal, especially for summertime.

Marinades, also colloquially referred to as ‘marinates’ or ‘seasonins’, are classified as either acidic, enzymatic, or oil-based, and each marination method serves a unique purpose.

Acidic marinades are the most common types of marinade, frequently used in Caribbean cooking, and incorporate highly-acidic liquids like citrus juices, wine, vinegar, or even tomato juice, along with aromatics and spices. It’s essential to follow the suggested marinating time, as leaving the meat longer than recommended can result in a tough and dry piece.

Chef Tip: Acidic marinades are best for tough cuts of meat like beef roasts, some cuts of steak, and pork chops. It is also suitable for poultry, including chicken and turkey, and ideal for seafood.

Moving along, let’s explore another fascinating type of marinade: the enzymatic marinade. This unique marinade relies on natural enzymes found in certain fruits, such as pineapple, papaya, kiwi and ginger, to tenderise meat and elevate its flavour. These enzymes, which are proteins, have the remarkable ability to break down the tough fibers in meat, resulting in a tender and juicy piece of meat!

Chef Tip: Enzymatic marinades work wonders with tender cuts of meat, such as tenderloin, ribeye, and sirloin. They are also well-suited for poultry, especially chicken breasts and duck, and are an ideal choice for delicate seafood like shellfish and fish filets.

Last, but certainly not least, is the oil-based marinade. Oil-based marinades consist of oil as their base and can include an acidic element, aromatics, and even sweeteners if desired. While the aforementioned marinades are excellent for tenderisation, oil-based marinades shine in their ability to seal in moisture and enhance flavour.

Chef Tip: Oil-based marinades are best for plant-based proteins and beef. They are also suitable for poultry and turkey, and fatty-fish, like salmon. For high-heat cooking, like grilling and barbecuing, be sure to use an oil with a high-smoke point, like avocado oil, sunflower oil, peanut oil etc.

My final tip is simple, yet profound: When it comes to marinades, you get out what you put in. In times like these, when food prices are soaring and inflation is climbing, it may be challenging to prioritise quality ingredients. However, whenever possible, strive to use the best quality ingredients you can afford.

Super-Intense Fish Marinade (acidic marinade)

Ingredients:

All-Around Dry Rub Marinade (enzymatic

marinade)

Ingredients:

All-Purpose Marinade (oil-based

marinade)

Ingredients:

Bahamian consumers in limbo amid popular fast fashion lawsuit

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

Alawsuit against a huge fast fashion online retailer which has clients all around the world and is really popular here in Bahamas has consumers worried.

Local shoppers are wondering, “Whould I checkout my cart or wait?”

China’s Shein is facing a lawsuit that claims the clothing maker’s copyright infringement is so aggressive that it amounts to racketeering, according to The Associated Press.

Three independent designers filed the lawsuit last Tuesday claiming Shein sold “exact copies” of their work, which they say violates the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations Act, better known as RICO, a law which was originally crafted to prosecute organised crime.

“Shein has grown rich by committing individual infringements over and over again, as part of a long and continuous pattern of racketeering, which shows no sign of abating,” the filing said. “It is not an exaggeration to suggest that Shein’s pattern of misconduct involves commission of new copyright and trademark infringements every day.”

Bahamian consumers of the online retailer said they have been in limbo since news of the lawsuit against their “favourite online clothing store” broke.

Some of them said before the filing, they had packages being processed by the retailer. Now, they fear a pending legal battle will cause them to lose money, or at best, delay the arrival of their items.

“I have been checking the status of my package and nothing much has changed yet….it is being processed,” Shein fan Avery told Tribune Weekend.

“I am constantly updating and checking though, because I do not want to be stuck. I want my clothes. I am going on vacation very soon.”

Natalie, who is in a similar predicament, said she had just ordered

about 50 items before she found out about the lawsuit.

“I was shocked and was wondering if I am going to lose my money,” she said.

Natalie had racked up a bill of almost $400 with the retailer.

“You know what it is to lose $400? So, you know, I was immediately concerned. Who knows what can happen in these cases. They could put your package on hold and your money indefinitely,” she said.

Shein shopper Ashley said she had a cart with more than 100 items that she was ready to checkout, but now she is hesitating.

“Can they assure that I will get my things? I mean, I love Shein and online shopping, but I found it hard to checkout. I think I will just play the waiting game; allow this news to subside and see what happens,” she said.

Petra, on the other hand, is ready to take the gamble.

“I have a certain amount of ‘risk money’…that’s about $75. Don’t side-eye me about that amount either, because anyone who knows, knows that $75 can purchase so much from Shein. So, I have $75 of loose money or ‘risk money’,” she said.

“And when I think about it, $75 is really not a risk when shopping with Shein, because they are very generous with coupons. When you add the coupons you receive with them, that cuts down your total cost in some instances by $30 and even $20. So, although I am uncertain, I am still going to take the gamble.”

While Shein has not released a statement to address its consumer’s fears, they told AP concerning the lawsuit that it “takes all claims of infringement seriously, and we take swift action when complaints are raised by valid IP rights holders.”

SCREENCAPS from Shein’s website, a popular fast fashion retailer among Bahamians and customers around the world.

Diana Hamilton

This singer is on a mission to preserve an important part of Bahamian musical history: the accordion. She tells Cara Hunt about teaching youngsters how to play the instrument and how she hopes to travel across the islands to record musicians of yesteryear for posterity.

When people think of musical instruments they want their children to learn, the accordion is probably not what comes to mind.

However, the roots of Bahamian music are deeply intertwined with this portable wind instrument, as it is one of the three original instruments used to make rake n’ scrape music, along with the saw and the goat skin drum.

But sadly, accordion playing has become a dying art here in the Bahamas – a fact singer Diana Hamilton is desperate to change.

For the past several years, she has been on a mission to bring back the accordion by making it accessible to the nation’s youth.

In 2013, she partnered with French maestro accordionist Robert Santiago to host the Cat Island Accordion and French Camp which allowed youngsters to take accordion lessons. (Over the years, other musicians have also assisted in lessons.)

“Until our camp came into existence, no youngsters had been given the opportunity to learn the instrument. In fact, they were forbidden to even touch it, and young boys wishing to learn were forced to invent schemes and seize any opportunity to be alone with the instrument. It was in this manner that the accordion was passed on from generation to generation,” she said.

Diana explained that this was the case because the accordion was such an expensive instrument and parents did want to risk it being broken by children.

In 2019, accordionist Frank Williams of Arthur’s Town, Cat Island, took charge of the group to teach them the local tunes he played. Sadly, he passed away this year.

It was the last time the camp was able to be held due to the COVID-19 pandemic which began in March 2020.

“But thanks to him, our last active camp ended with an extraordinary video of them playing for the public which went viral at the time,” said Diana.

She explained the accordion became popular during the time of slavery primarily because its size made it easy to cart around and it provided a full orchestra sound.

“The instrument was a perfect marriage between African and European musical traditions,” she said.

European dances like the waltz, the round dance or heel-and-toe polka were eagerly borrowed and Africanized with additions like “mash-the-roach”.

The accordion was played by renowned artists all over the Bahamas, such as Thomas Cartwright and the Boys from Long Island, and Edmund Moxey from Ragged Island. But it was on Cat Island that this type of music

really took off, producing famous accordionists like Ophie Webb, Frank Williams and Pompey ‘Bo Hog’.

Despite its popularity, and despite the fact that rake n’ scrape is seen as traditional Bahamian music, there are only a handful of accordionists left in the country today.

Diana herself is a singer who has lived in Paris for many years. Her first single, “Nairobi”, was included on her first album, “Bahamian in Paris”. The song is named for her son and she was inspired to write it after he experienced a racist incident in a park.

Diana eventually formed a partnership with a journalist at French National Radio who had fallen in love with the music of Bahamian Joseph Spence. It led her to reconnect with the Bahamas and find a new passion for the music of her homeland

She was instrumental in promoting Bahamian music by bringing journalists and other interested parties to the country and taking Bahamian music to France, such as when the Andros Jubilee Singers and “Bo Hog” and the Rooters attended the Festival de l’imaginaire.

Diana said she became passionate about preserving this style of traditional music when she realised just how few Bahamians can actually still play the accordion.

“I remember the music and it brings tears to my eyes that people are not singing it and are disinterested,” she said.

She said that her mission is two-fold. One, she wants more young people to take up the instrument, but she also wants to travel to all the islands and locate the older generation who still

weekend in history

July 21

July 22

remember the songs from back in the day and to locate musicians who may still play so that they can be recorded for posterity.

“I am hoping I can find a videographer to help me with that project and then I hope to set up a website to showcase everyone and play the music for everyone to hear. Because a light has not been shone on it before, who knows, we may discover extraordinary things,” she said.

For now, she is happy with the fact that a few more young people have taken an interest learning to play the accordion.

“I started this project with very high ambition and what I realised is to keep anything in society alive, you have to enlist amateurs,” she said.

Diana has partnered with two French schools who have offered to train Bahamian students.

She explained that there are opportunities for two students to learn to construct and repair an accordion

“On the completion of their apprenticeship, they will be fully qualified to open their own businesses, thereby creating a whole new job sector in our country. The ITEMM International Music School and the factory (Manufacture Accordion Maugein) have agreed to continue to accompany the project,” she said.

Diana is hopeful that more accordion camps can be set up around the country. She is also helping to provide the instruments to interested musicians.

Accordions can run upwards of $1,000, making them expensive to purchase and maintain.

Diana said she is extremely proud of her latest protégées.

Notably, there are three young people in New Providence who are learning the accordion – Esther Davis, 15; Lebron Minnis, 17, and Valentino Ingraham, 18.

“I told Esther that if she stops playing the accordion it will die out, and her response was to teach herself how to play our national anthem, which is a difficult piece to learn alone,” she said.

Diana was able to record the performance and release a single of it just in time for the 50th anniversary of Independence celebrations. Diana is planning a second CD with all three musicians to be released in the near future.

July 23

VANESSA Williams wins the Miss America title in 1984

DIANA with Frank Williams and young musicians

A tote says it all

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

Forget diamonds; it’s actually a good tote bag that is a girl’s best friend. It can be casual or elegant, carry all of your necessities and then some, and thanks to local designers like Charez Keoisha Henfield, it can also be a statement piece and a form of self-expression.

The wife, mom and fashionista has launched her brand ‘Styled by CK’ with the aim of providing stylish yet fun tote bags for the modern Bahamian woman on-the-go.

Charez has always had a knack for knowing how to dress and accessorise. It’s something she gets from grandmother, the late Diana Thompson, whom Charez described as a successful businesswoman who was always fashionably attired.

“Her style was impeccable. Her motto was, ‘Whenever you step out, make sure give them your shoe heel and gown tail.’ And that’s something that always stuck with me. In other words, if you’re going to do it, do it well and make it worth the watch,” said Charez.

Initially, her label concentrated on just accessories, however, she soon recognised that bags were the way to go. Now, her speciality are tote bags featuring clever, inspirational and funny sayings; they can also be customised.

“We can print whatever you like on your totes,” she said.

A popular tote for “travelistas”, for example, is the “Ms Always on Vacation” bag.

“Then we have our ‘Here’s to Living a Soft, Beautiful, Luxurious, Full Life’ tote, which speaks for itself…We also have ‘Yesterday’s Price is Not Today’s Price!’ That tote is for our ladies that have just upgraded themselves, whether personally or professionally; that’s their mantra,” said Charez.

Another popular tote, she added, is the “Life Without Coffee is Ghetto” one, as is the more inspirational “Happy Girl, Blessed Girl” bag.

One of her best-selling totes, “The Blueprint – The Best to Ever Do it”, is inspired by and describes her mother, Wendy Lightbourn.

Charez said being a fashion entrepreneur is almost effortless for her.

She grew up around the Downtown Straw Market where her grandmother and her mother, as well as her aunts, taught her the ins and outs of what is required to build a brand and achieve longevity.

And Bahamian women, she said, are loving her brand of tote bags.

“The totes are so versatile; they can be styled with just about anything and for any occasion. Most of our totes are neutral coloured and made out of 100 percent burlap, so they are pretty sturdy. I purposely decided to go with the neutral colour because it’s easy to build a look around a colour that goes with everything,” she explained.

“My customers love my totes and have travelled all around the world and taken Styled by CK with them.”

One particularly supportive customer, she said, is Kathy Smith, president of the Rotary Club of South Ocean and immediate past president of the Achievers of Excellence Toastmasters Club.

“Kathy has been so supportive of my brand; gifting customised CK totes to her fellow Rotarians and also by her kind and encouraging words. We appreciate you and all of our CK tribe,” said Charez.

Styled by CK currently operates as a mobile business that offers delivery and pick-up services. They also ship to the Family Islands.

The beautiful things

Good day, gardeners. Can we have beautiful things? How well secured must a thing be to not only have it, but to keep it?

Welcome to Barbed Wire Acres; it doesn’t always work but, hey, it’s what we can do.

How deep must its roots be? The root zone is the water fountain and the cafeteria for plants.

What if its energy production facilities are healthy, can we keep beautiful things then?

The foliage is the BPL power generation part of the plant, palm or tree. Sometimes it works, but, hey, when it doesn’t, then parts of the entire organism, in this case a plant, palm or tree, are prone to be negatively affected by the latest group of pests, spores of fungus, or pathogen of viruses or diseases that can cause necrosis (dieback) of the power plant (leaves), or when left unmaintained, or if it’s not managed quite as efficiently as it could be, it can cause death and the depopulation of leaves (defoliation).

As this progresses, the plant is not able to produce enough energy for the plant to fight the pests and diseases.

The whole plant, palm or tree then suffers.

Can we have beautiful things without clear and clean transportation systems that prevent congestion, blockages, or backed-up lines for the water and cafeteria snacks to get to the generators so that they can produce clean and efficient fuel for growth?

In the case of plants, palms and trees, there is a vascular system that is the road; it is the wiring, it is the plumbing, and if any part of that vascular system reaches a state of decline, then the entire system (plant, palm, or tree) from root to flower or fruit, enters a stage of decline in result and direct reaction to the declining health of the system that connects the roots to the fruit. It is all one. If any part suffers, the whole thing suffers.

Can we have beautiful things if our vegetables and fruits are stolen by the rodents overnight? Sometimes the birds get to some produce; they’re small-timers compared to the

main offenders, all of whom most often walk on either four, and far too often, two legs. The rats and the raccoons will learn very quickly and keep trying to get at the results of the organism, the fruits and vegetables, undermining all of efforts spent in keeping a healthy system, in this example, a plant, a palm, or a tree.

Preventative action is the most effective for any pest, fungus, virus or bacteria,. In this text we’re focused on plants, palms and trees.

One of the finer points is to learn the threats and learn them well. Once patterns are established, then action can be taken to treat the issue

before it gets unmanageable. Horticulture

101. Entomology

101. Pest and Disease Control 101.

Managing an ever-changing, evergrowing organism is a challenge at times when any part of it fails.

I recently discussed the health of citrus plants, and their high demand for nutrients, and a specific pH of the soil. It must

have the right conditions in order to thrive. Yet its only purpose is to thrive and reproduce.

When it is healthy, the gardener will reap the rewards in the form of fruits and vegetables. This is why we grow things, to eat, or to be beautiful.

Understanding the cycles that occur and taking action when needed is key in growing healthy produce or aesthetic plants, palms, or trees.

Some pests are not that bad, aphids for example. Aphids are typically managed by naturally occurring lady bugs or lacewing bugs. Mealy bug and whitefly are typically apt to cause more damage and will most often need to be treated or managed.

Fungus on some plants, Ruellia for example, is no big deal, but fungus on a mango tree can cause death to the tree. Knowing the difference of what to treat and what to ignore is part of gardening.

Knowing when to fertilize, and with what, is essential to healthy plant growth.

Knowing when water is needed, or when it is not, is important too; too much water can cause decline, just as not enough water can do the same. Time in the garden, and asking questions are the two things that help us learn when to take action, or when to not be bothered.

I always urge folks to use the gentlest approach first, and cultural adjustments go a long way too.

Knowing when to prune for light penetration and for air flow helps greatly. Especially when it comes to trees. Pruning can strengthen a tree when done correctly, or it can weaken a tree when done incorrectly. I’ll get back to some specifics next week! As always, I wish you happy gardening.

Original Old Skool Reggae Party to celebrate

20 years

Summer edition takes place at new Amphitheatre with luxury lounge

By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemeida.net

It’s one of the longest running social parties on the local calendar, and this time around the One Blood: Old Skool Reggae Party is celebrating 20 years of good vibes, clean fun and timeless sounds.

Presented by Concepts, this Summer edition of the original old school reggae party will be held at one of Nassau’s newest entertainment venues, making it an even more “must-experience” event.

The party will go down at Nassau Cruise Port’s Amphitheatre on Saturday, July 29, beginning at 9pm, and will feature Selector Ty and Selector 3D.

One of the things that has contributed to the event’s success over the past two decades is the fact that it delivers a new experience every year.

“The Amphitheatre is a brand-new amazing space in the heart of Downtown Nassau at the new Nassau Cruise Port. So, in addition to its central location, the spacious layout allows for a larger crowd, giving more people the chance to come together and celebrate the love of reggae,” said Leah Davis of Concepts.

“With its open-air design, the Amphitheatre provides the perfect setting for a reggae-themed event. Furthermore, the state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems ensure that every note and beat resonate with crystal clarity, amplifying the reggae experience to a whole new level.”

Leah is a lover of music, a planner at heart and is passionate about bringing people together for good, clean fun. All of that has proven to be a winning combination, helping her to see the event through to its 20th year.

“I am truly an event planner at heart, whether it’s a corporate event, game night, family potluck or reggae event; this is what I enjoy doing. It takes a lot – passion, attention to detail, a commitment to excellence but mostly a team – from the deejays, to the behind-the-scenes team, to amazing service providers who are also committed to ensuring the experience is unforgettable and to bring the magic of reggae to life,” she said.

“We think the one of thing people love about One Blood is consistency; we say it’s the original

old school reggae party because we have been doing this for 20 years now and have stayed true to the brand. It’s an event for real old school reggae lovers and that what we deliver. Our followers have grown to expect a nostalgic reggae experience with only good vibes and good people in a safe environment. Think of it like your high school dance with only your favourite dub and dancehall.”

The event partners are Johnnie Walker, Sign Island and the team at the Nassau Cruise Port.

Timothy White, portfolio manager with Commonwealth Brewery, said he is excited to partner with Concepts “to create an elevated experience at this event.”

“With the addition of the Johnnie Walker Irie Lounge, we are both committed to providing entertainment and satisfaction that will resonate with every guest. With our shared passion for excellence and dedication to delivering an unforgettable event, we aim to set the bar even

higher for the reggae enthusiasts, making this summer edition of the One Blood reggae party a truly remarkable celebration of music, culture, and togetherness and luxury drinking experience,” he said.

“(With the Johnnie Walker Irie Lounge) will be creating a space in the event that will provide a premium and immersive atmosphere. This lounge will be a sanctuary of laid-back luxury, offering an exclusive selection crafted cocktails in an exclusive space where you can unwind and enjoy the true essence of reggae.”

For more information, visit onebloodreggae. eventbrite.com.

literary lives

The Incredible Bert Williams | Part two

Sir Christopher Ondaatje continues to write about the Bahamian-born American entertainer – a preeminent entertainer of the Vaudeville era, and one of the most popular comedians of his time. He was the best-selling Black recording artist before 1920 –and a key figure in the development of African-American entertainment.

“In fact, I have never been able to discover that there was anything disgraceful in being a coloured man. But I have found it inconvenient … in America.”

– Bert Williams

After his stage partner George Walker collapsed on stage and died in 1909 with incurable syphilis, Williams was aimless.

He had relied on Walker who handled the business side of the relationship and was spokesman for the duo.

After sixteen years as half of the entertainment team, Williams had to establish himself as a solo act. It wasn’t easy. However, he returned to Hammerstein’s Victoria Theatre and the high-class vaudeville circuit.

His new act consisted of several songs, comic monologues in dialect, and a concluding dance. He received top billing and a high salary. However, the White Rats of America, an organisation of vaudevillians opposed to encroachment from Blacks and women, intimidated theatre managers into reducing Williams’ billing. The soft-spoken Williams, unlike his brash former partner, did not protest. He had few allies, and vaudeville managers were fearful of attracting a disproportionate number of Black audience members, and only allowed one Black act per performance.

Williams, without Walker, was forced to travel, eat and lodge separately from the rest of his fellow performers, spending most of his time in isolation.

Williams next appeared in Mr Lode of Koal, a farce about a kidnapped king. Although it did not have a good storyline it had good critical reviews as a star vehicle for Williams. Many

white reviewers praised Williams’ spontaneous unpremeditated humour, as if he were a guileless simpleton in no control of his performance. His act verged on automatic genius.

“They are racial, those hands and feet. When we succumb to the surreptitious desire for ‘Black’ humour, we want no disturbing atom of intelligence busy-bodying about.”

– Chicago Theatre Critic

Black reviewers praised Williams’ continued persistence and prominence more than his actual performances in what amounted to an act in a string of secondary theatres.

Williams returned to the vaudeville circuit and the White Rats renewed their opposition to his featured status.

The Victoria Theatre responded by giving Williams second billing but putting his name on the marquee in lettering twice the size as that of the

headliner. The press commented on the way the White Rats’ demands had been met, as well as the way rival performers would rush to the front of the theatre when Williams’ turn to perform arrived.

After Mr Lode of Koal, Williams received an unusually good offer to join Florenz Ziegfeld’s Follies, breaking every unwritten rule to prevent a Black-featured performer in an all-white show.

Reception was cold and immediate, resulting in several cast members presenting an ultimatum to Ziegfeld that Williams be dismissed. Ziegfeld promptly replied: “I can replace every one of you, except Williams.”

Writers for Ziegfeld were slow to contribute material for Williams, forcing him to repeat much of his vaudeville act, but when the show debuted in June 1910 Williams was a sensation.

He appeared in a boxing sketch playing off the racially charged “Great White Hope” heavyweight bout between Jack Johnson and James J Jeffries. Reviews for Williams, and for the comedian Fanny Brice, who was making her Broadway debut, were positive.

Williams also signed an exclusive recording contract with Columbia Records featuring four of the Ziegfeld show’s songs.

He became a star who transcended race. All four songs sold well, one of which “Play That Barbershop Chord” became a substantial hit.

Williams performed again in the 1911 edition of Ziegfeld Follies, teaming up with the white Leon Errol.

They wrote a popular sketch where Errol featured as a tourist and Williams used a mountaineering rope to lead him across high girders of the then unfinished Grand Central Station.

It became a twenty-minute centrepiece of the show. He followed it with his “poker” routine, and sang another song “Woodman, Spare That Tree” which became another hit.

The black and white pairing of Williams and Errol was a groundbreaking pairing never seen on Broadway before. The finale of the Grand Central Station routine where Errol gave Williams a fivecent tip, to which the aggrieved Williams loosened his grip on the rope, sending Errol plunging from the high girder, was a dramatic breath-taking scene where Williams described his fate. After Williams’ death a decade later, Errol was the only white pallbearer at his funeral.

Williams continued as a featured star of Ziegfeld Follies, signing a three-year contract with an annual salary of $62,400 (or $1.5 million in today’s money). By the end of his third year, he appeared on-stage together with white women – a major

BAHAMIAN-born Vaudeville sensations Bert Williams

concession – and freely interacted with the show’s principals.

He continued to record more songs for Columbia Records, including a new version of “Nobody”. His releases remained in Columbia’s catalogues for many years.

More recording dates were made, although he stopped writing his own songs by 1915. He also began making film appearances. One of them, “A Natural Born Gambler”, was a parody of his pantomime poker sketch. It is the best-known footage of Williams still available today, although most of his earlier film appearances have been lost. Part of an abandoned Williams’ comedy film, “Lime Kiln Field Day”, was found in the Museum of Modern Art and restored for its first screening in October 2014. The film featured an all-Black cast, and the recovered footage included cast and crew interactions between scenes.

Instead of appearing in Ziegfeld Follies of 1913, Williams took part in an all-Black revue of The Frogs, a Negro theatrical organisation formed by his former partner George Walker in 1908. This was the first time Black fans were able to see Williams since he joined the Follies in 1910. He then went on tour in the vaudeville circuit where he was the highest-paid Black performer in history.

He returned to the Follies in 1914 and was reunited with Leon Errol for a more absurd Grand Central station girder sketch – set on the 1,313th floor of a skyscraper. However, with the advent of the popular Ziegfeld girls and their lavish productions, Williams and other performers were given less stage time. The trend continued in 1915 and writers shortened his scene even further. In one extraordinary scene Williams was left alone on the stage with a pool table. Forever the creative genius, Williams responded with his famous “pool shark” routine. Another show-stopping success.

However, his parody of the Shakespearean Othello was crudely written and not up to his usual standard. It was soon abandoned.

The 1917 Ziegfeld Follies produced a rich array of talent including Williams, WC Fields, Fanny Brice, Will Rogers, and Eddie Cantor – who did scenes with Williams. They became immediate friends and were hilarious together, feeding off each other’s songs and humour.

Williams left the Follies in 1918, but joined a secondary Ziegfeld production Midnight Frolic that same year. He was given more time for his routines, which were performed in more popular smaller settings. He returned to the Follies in 1919 but struggled again with poor material and had only a supporting part in a minstrel show segment.

Between 1918 and 1921, Williams recorded several songs in the guise of “Elder Eatmore”, an unscrupulous preacher, as well as songs dealing with Prohibition: “Everybody Wants a Key to my

Cellar”, “Save a Little Dram for Me”, “Ten Little Bottles”, and the popular hit “The Moon Shines on the Moonshine”.

He was the most popular of Columbia Records’ singers, selling between 180,000 and 250,000 copies in 1920 alone. Along with Al Jolson and Nora Bayes, he was one of the three highest paid recording artists in the world.

However, Williams still had to deal with racial bigotry. When Actors Equity went on strike in August 1919, the entire Follies cast walked out, except for Williams, who showed up to work to find an empty theatre. He had not been told about the strike. He told WC Fields: “I don’t belong to either side. Nobody wants me.”

Increasingly popular and well paid, Williams was able to deal better with racism. On one occasion, when he was trying to buy a drink at the bar of the popular New York Hotel Astor, the white bartender tried to refuse him by charging him $50. He produced a roll of $100 dollar bills and ordered drinks for everyone in the room.

“They say it’s a matter of race prejudice … but I have noticed that this ‘race prejudice’ is not to be found in people who are sure enough of their position to defy it.”

– Bert Williams

Williams’ career on stage slowed considerably after his last appearance in Ziegfeld Follies in 1919. They had shorter and less profitable runs. He appeared in Under the Bamboo Tree in December 1921, and got good reviews but the show did not last. He contracted pneumonia but continued to perform – knowing that he was the only attraction that would keep the musical alive. In his later years he suffered from depression, together with alcoholism and insomnia.

On February 27, 1922 he collapsed during a performance in Detroit, Michigan – the audience thinking it was part of his comic routine.

“That’s a nice way to die. They was laughing when I made my last exit.”

– Bert Williams

He returned to New York but his health deteriorated. He died at his home, 2309 Seventh Avenue in Manhattan, on March 4, 1922 at the age of forty-seven.

News of his death came as a public shock. Over 5,000 fans filed past his casket. Thousands were turned away.

A private service was held at the Masonic Lodge in Manhattan – the first Black American to be honoured by the all-white Grand Lodge. Over two thousand mourners of both races were admitted to the service. He was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, New York City.

LEON Errol and Bert Williams in the _Cab Scene_ in 1912; Ziegfeld Follies

Towards a democratic franchise – Part I

The question of universal suffrage for the Bahamas was discussed within the Colonial Office as early as 1946. However, at the same time, Whitehall in London also noted that Governor William L Murphy had reported that “he had seen no sign of agitation for an extension of the suffrage.”

In 1946, the secret ballot had been won, after a long and hard fight. While Bahamians had been active in this struggle, neither the cause itself nor the obdurate opposition, by the powers that were against it, had provided a catalyst to give birth to a lasting political movement yet. Thus, when Murphy’s days as Governor in the Bahamas wound down in 1949, the Colonial Office noted that there was:

“No coherent movement toward reform in the Bahamas. Many intelligent coloured people resent white predominance, deplore the state of the poorer classes and dislike ‘Bay Street’, but very few expect a sudden improvement, or desire a sweeping change.

“Even within the present constitution more could perhaps be done in the way of development & social services, if there were a better spirit among the politicians. Some Bahamians hope this will prove to be so.

“There is something invidious in forcing a more liberal constitution upon a colony, against the will of its legislature, unless the measure is supported by a clear expression of the wishes of a substantial part of the Community.

“Unless the electorate and Bay Street change their attitude and unless the general public becomes more interested in political principles a wider constitution could do no more than change the form, but not the nature, of present abuses and might lead to even worse abuse.”

As had been the case in the fight for the secret ballot, the Colonial Office understood that it had a crucial role to play in any further democratisation of the Bahamas, and it was willing to play its part too, provided that the local circumstances

were right. However, this role was about to take on an additional dimension.

Thus far, the Colonial Office’s focus had primarily been on the question of electoral reform. When broader constitutional questions were discussed, they had typically been either of the nature of Governors, who expressed their

frustrations with the limited real powers they had in their executive roles, under the old representative system, or they had been (ultimately idle) threats to replace the old representative system with government as a “Crown” Colony, in attempts to pressure the House of Assembly to pass legislation desired by London.

Now, parallel to global developments, we see first signs of a willingness on the part of the Colonial Office to, possibly, remodel the Bahamas’ Constitution, from representative toward responsible government.

At the same time, however, the Colonial Office realised the risk inherent in such a move, and thus concluded that Murphy’s eventual successor ought to “be fully briefed in the history of this matter and should be asked to press for legislation to improve the electoral arrangements and to consider . . . how local opinion may best be drawn towards a more liberal view of government and a more serious desire for good administration.”

Murphy was succeeded as governor by George R Sandford, whose term lasted less than a year, after which Robert A R Neville served as governor, for approximately three years.

Both Sandford and Neville had comparatively little impact. Nonetheless, there were local developments that the Colonial Office would not only have to take notice of, but which would once again force it to play its part, in wresting further reform from the Bahamian oligarchy.

GOVERNOR Robert A R Neville exits the General Post Office on Parliament Square in Nassau (Photo_Freddie Maura)jpeg

SIR William Lindsay Murphy, KCMG, (1888–1965) was the British Governor of the Bahamas from 1945 to 1950

Animal matters

Kim Aranha

A tribute to Roger, the face of OP24

We all have our moments where we meet somebody and our lives change irrevocably; it can go either way, for the better or not.

Such was the night 10 years ago during Operation Potcake 2013 and some volunteers were out looking for dogs to bring in for surgery the next day.

Two volunteers had just finished picking up some “owned” dogs to get fixed. As they were about to leave, they noticed out of the corner of their eyes a small dog.

The volunteer bent down and picked up the little dog; he was too weak to protest.

“Oh,” said the so-called owners, “You can have him too, if you want”.

He was very frail and looked so very scared.

When they got him back to the clinic, they we able to better access his condition.

His face was so badly swollen that he was unable to see anything. He was blind at the time. They settled him into a dry, clean cage with fresh water and some food. The little guy must have thought he was in heaven. They decided that he was about nine months old, and had probably never heard a kind voice or word before in his painful little life. They bathed him to help alleviate the discomfort from his serious skin condition and he received a name: Roger.

This was the start of a wonderful life full of medical struggles, but also amazing love and kindness.

Roger had serious leg problems and could not walk properly. At first, he loved his cage best, his safest place ever, but it did not take long for him to learn that not all people were going to hurt him, and he greeted them with licks and a very waggy tail. He had sorted it out very quickly indeed. The swelling on his face went down and he

PET OF THE WEEK

Bright and bold Brandy

By The Bahamas Humane Society

Not that kind of brandy... but the potcake mix type! Brandy is an 11-month-old female potcake mix currently available for adoption at the Bahamas Humane Society. She’s included in the Summer Adoption Special (adult dogs $20 and puppies $25) and hopes you’ll come to the BHS to meet her. Brandy is young and smart, and good with other dogs.

She enjoys the Wednesday and Saturday walks and hopes to fnd a home that will continue walking with her, and maybe

curling up together at the end of the day. If you’d like to fnd out more about Brandy, Come to the BHS or call 325-6742. Brandy looks forward to meeting you!

• Operation Potcake is back! Well, it will be, in January 2024. Volunteers are needed at four spay and neuter clinics across the island between January 18 and 27. Please contact operationpotcake242@gmail.com if you’d like to assist. Clinic locations are also needed!

could see those nice people who were caring for him.

I met Roger when he could just see through the swelling and he was already a portrait of courage; struggling to stand up and receive friends and visitors, tail wagging. He was rapidly becoming a celebrity. When he was well enough, he went home, a forever home.

Like so many mistreated and neglected dogs in the Bahamas, Roger did not know how to play; he had to be taught. He wore T-shirts to protect his skin whilst waiting for him to heal and for his beautiful white fur with spots to grow in. Roger was a “spot-cake”.

When he was strong enough, his owners looked into fixing his leg so he could walk around, run, swim and

play like a normal dog. It was a long procedure and involved wearing casts and staying quiet, which did not sit well with Roger. But eventually he was restored back to normal… a beautiful, big, joyful dog with years of happiness and love ahead of him.

He and his owner were brave and determined. He loved his friends, canine and human. He would go on vacations to the islands in “his” boat, enjoying swimming up a storm and floating in his mum’s arms. Life was just wonderful for Roger and he gave back all the love and devotion he received. This boy was one of a kind.

Roger is the poster child of how we can help the potcake who is neglected and abused; what remarkable dogs they become, with keen minds, a sense

of loyalty like none other and so much love to give.

Recently, Roger suddenly displayed serious symptoms and was rushed to Caves Village Veterinary Hospital where he underwent several emergency surgeries.

Everything that could possibly be done was done, but alas, sometimes cancer has the loudest voice in the room.

His devoted family had to let him go. He crossed over to the rainbow bridge. His passing left many of his friends in tears, and his family devastated, but you cannot hold on to them forever.

This very brave little man inspired so many people to help make things better in the Bahamas for dogs and other animals. We still have a long way to go, but I feel Roger nudging us forward.

In honour of Roger, the Operation Potcake ’24 team decided that a fitting tribute to his life would be to change our logo and put Roger’s face there instead of the previous dog.

The OP24 logo will feature everywhere over the next few months, on banners and T-shirts, in advertisements, and more. Roger will be looking out to us, and down on us from above.

I like to think that my Chiefie, Buddy and Boss met him at the gates; Gabby will be showing him around and he will be young and healthy again.

Condolences to his family for losing the best of the best, but what a great life he had, thanks to that chance meeting over ten years ago.

( PHOTO/STEPH HICKMAN )

Roger enjoyed a full and happy life.

Dundas continues to celebrate ‘A Year of Bahamian Theatre’

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

As the country continues to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Independence, Ringplay Productions, the parent company of Shakespeare In Paradise, along with the Dundas Centre for the Performing Arts, joined in the golden jubilee activities and did what they do best: Bahamian theatre.

Since last October, the team’s efforts to showcase local theatre has included the staging of different plays every month; 13 productions by 15 playwrights altogether for “A Year of Bahamian Theatre”.

July’s play is “Better The Devil You Know” by the late P Anthony White.

The cast includes Kayleaser Moss Deveaux-Isaacs, Gregory Deane, Shanae Amber Sweeting and Jamell Dawkins.

The story follows divorced couple Paul Christie and Virginia Matthews, who are visiting New York for their daughter’s wedding and are forced to stay together at her apartment. Old hurts and intimaticies are addressed and are reexamined in a play that is both witty, but also emotional and contemplative.

Director Anthony “Skeebo” Roberts, said it was joy to celebrate the country’s 50th anniversary of Independence at the Dundas Theatre.

“It’s a beautiful Bahamian love story that takes place in New York that shows the heart having its own way of recognising goodness or badness,” he said.

“The feedback was wonderful. We had about four to five full shows. The audience…loved it. When you add the dialogue of the play and the set, which was beautiful even though it was reduced in size, it was just a wonderful experience.”

Long before the government announced its schedule of activities for the golden jubilee year, he said, they decided they would celebrate by producing one play a month for 12 months.

“We did that and brought back all of the most popular plays over the last 50 years,” he said.

Anthony said the first time he directed “Better The Devil You Know” was 32 years ago, also at the Dundas.

“P Anthony had just written it in the early ‘80s and I performed in it 1992. It was a huge success then and

now we did it again. I have been the actor in the show twice, as well as the director twice,” he said.

“A Year of Bahamian Theatre” continues in August with “Miss Ethel’s Kitchen” and “Thessalonicus” by Patrick Rahming.