1110202023 WEEKEND

Friday, November 10, 2023

Weekend

entertainment interview leisure gardening history music puzzles animals

New Providence in frame Pages 8+9

In tune Tanya Thompson and her band Just Us fulfil musical dreams pg 11

02 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, November 10, 2023

fashion

Major model and acting scouting event comes to the Bahamas

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

T

omorrow marks the start of the largest-ever model and actor scouting event to be held in the Caribbean.

The Cays Conference is being held at Atlantis Paradise Island with the goal of “revolutionising the modelling landscape”.

The two-day event is being touted as the ultimate showcase to give aspiring models and actors an opportunity to be discovered in paradise.

Hosted by Bahamas-based LFD Productions and CMM Agency, it will feature model and talent scouting with activities that showcase talent from the Caribbean region.

The weekend will include a top-tier roster of talent acquisition leaders, including esteemed casting directors and many top modelling and talent agents from The Society, Elite, CMM, Wilhelmina, Karen Lee Group and Ford Models.

The Cays Conference was founded

by Stephanie Nihon, owner/producer of LFD Productions, whose parents

are Bahamian. She was an Elite model for many years known.

Her first job launched her career with Italian Vogue. Her passion since modelling has been to mentor and develop the talent of the underrepresented with a focus on starting with those from her home country. Her most beloved endeavour yet is being the creator of the award-winning Caribbean children’s show, “Goombay Kids” that recently secured a historic US streaming deal for the region.

The conference’s producer is Karen Lee, owner of KLG Agency.

She produced the Elite Model Look Competition and discovered Stephanie K Nihon in the he Bahamas two decades ago.

Nihon has played a pivotal role in several models’ and actors’ careers, including placing Bahamian model Tess Carter with The Society, which led to bookings for brands such as Burberry, Zara, Maybelline and Louis Vuitton, as well as Javien Rankine, who booked a lead role in “Goombay Kids” and landed a

supporting role in the Netflix series “The Mighty Express”.

Nihon and CMM have placed nearly 30 models and actors in the US, Canada and the UK and with the top international agencies working for well-known networks, movie studios, designers, brands and magazines from around the world, as well as fashion weeks in major cities.

“Currently, the largest tourism events held in the Bahamas are for sports, but there’s so much more to showcase here, especially our amazing talent,” said Nihon.

“The Cays Conference is open to everyone from everywhere, but it is special because it gives a shot to an otherwise underserved and marginalised market.”

The Tribune | Weekend | 03

Friday, November 10, 2023

entertainment

Jollification is coming to town!

30th annual festival kicks off Christmas season

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

C

ELEBRATING 30 years of holly, jolly fun, the Bahamas National Trust’s immensely popular and highly anticipated Jollification returns to the Retreat Garden on Village Road on the weekend of November 18 and 19.

Open from 11am to 8pm on both Saturday and Sunday, the Christmas festival will feature over 80 talented artists offering a variety of crafts, jewellery, and gift items.

“It feels wonderful to look back on years 30 of Jollification. The event is loved by so many people and it continues to evolve. The event was created to support the Retreat Garden and it has fulfilled its purpose,” said Lynn Gape, BNT’s special projects consultant.

Lynn said it’s been a joy to see the park evolve over the years. Many Bahamians have celebrated their weddings in the garden and thousands of students have learned about plants, trees and their importance.

“The initial Jollification was a small event; twenty vendors, a book stall, a white elephant stall, a wine bar and a children’s puppet show.

Over the years it grew from 20 vendors to about 30 vendors and food was added. The very popular plant area became part of the Jollification.

BNT volunteer George Kelly had the idea of adding holiday spirits and was initially supported

by Wholesale Wines and Spirits, and Butler and Sands,” said Lynn.

Turnout has also soared over the decades; from approximately 200 patrons at the early Jollifications to now more than 5,000 people.

This year, Jollification will once again feature a variety of food and holiday spirits provided by Bristol Wines and Spirits, who will be serving cocktails and bringing back the Whiskey Pit with samples from Dewar’s Distillery.

Jimmy’s Wines and Spirits will provide cold brews all day long and entertainment in the evening, and Caribbean Wines and Spirits will offer a selection of wines and Besserat de Bellefon champagne.

Patrons can also anticipate the return of one of Jollification’s most popular areas, the Jolly Market, with homemade jams, jellies, cakes, jewellery, chocolates, and straw designs from a number of artisans.

There will also be many new vendors, such as the Exuma Arts Network, IKAN Handmade Designs, Cherez Henfield, Kimberly Roberts, and Bahama Dawn.

The festival’s plant Area will showcase a unique selection of orchids, bromeliads, succulents, annuals, native trees, and other diverse offerings for sale. And the Jolly Raffle promises to be bigger and better than ever with prizes from

JOLLIFICATION over the decades

Commonwealth Bank, Bahamas Wholesale Agencies, Marlin Marine, Comfort Suites, Bon Vivants, Aquapure, and more.

Kids attending with their families can participate in the Children’s Crafts area, sponsored by Asa H Pritchard and Blue Bird Juice, which will feature nature-oriented games, photo opportunities with a Bahamian boa, and a special Junkanoo cut-and-paste craft area coordinated by the Genesis TeenHawks, with support from Woodside Insurance.

“(Jollification) appears to have become the kickoff for the Christmas holiday and the event always has a Christmas theme. Some patrons say it’s the place to see people that you may have lost touch with and it’s interesting to watch the crowd and see people greet friends that they have not seen for a long time,” said Lynn.

“One of the reasons that Jollification is so special is the loyalty of our sponsors. Many of our sponsors have supported the event for at least 10 years, if not more. We truly think of them as our Jollification family and are grateful for their longterm support. The same is true of our vendors.

Many of our vendors have participated in the Jollification for many years; they are an important part of the event and some of them do not exhibit frequently, which means people come to the event just to see them.”

BNT Council President Geoff Andrews added: “Commonwealth Bank is an amazing sponsor, and while we certainly appreciate this, it’s their staff volunteerism that makes this partnership so special. These keen bankers will once again be at the gates to welcome patrons to this year’s milestone Jollification.”

Admission is $10 for BNT members, $15 for the general public, and $5 for children ages 5 to 17 years.

An exclusive BNT members-only night will take place on Friday, November 17, from 5pm to 9pm. Caribbean Bottling Company is partnering with the BNT to offer a special gift and beverage voucher to those who renew their annual membership or sign up to become a new member on this night.

04 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, November 10, 2023

interview

Ras Jesse Delancy After trading one sports dream for another, this young Bahamian, who comes from a long line of athletes, is fulfilling his destiny and achieving great success in a sometimes overlooked discipline. He tells Cara Hunt how it’s never too late to find your niche.

L

ike many young Bahamian men, Ras Jesse Delancy dreamed of making it big in the NBA. However, fate had something else in store for him and he found success in sports on another court. Today, the 6’6” Nassau native is a rising star on his university’s volleyball team.

In May of this year, while in his sophomore year at Benedict College in South Carolina, Ras Jesse added another feather to his cap when he was selected the 2023 Division II National Player of the Year.

It is a title awarded to the nation’s best player on a NCAA Division II men’s volleyball team during the regular season.

While Division I and Division II schools compete for the same national championship and individual awards, this award is the only National Player of the Year solely for Division II players.

Ras Jesse has also won back-to-back Southern Athletic Conference (SIAC) Player of the Year awards.

He told Tribune Weekend all his successes are still a bit of a shock to him.

“To be honest, I really started playing basketball like a lot of young Bahamian boys and I thought that would be my sport, and I thought maybe I’d make it to the NBA. I used to play volleyball, but it was just as a side and I just never even knew that there were so many opportunities in volleyball,” he said.

“I didn’t know that in the Bahamas you had a night league like you have a basketball night league. I didn’t know that you could play it in college or on a national team, or that it was an Olympic sport. But once I was exposed to that, volleyball became my love.”

Because he came to his passion later in life, Ras Jesse has had much less experience compared to many of his teammates and competitors who have played the sport longer. While that means he may have to work harder, he’s no less talented.

“I am excited for the future that I am continuing to learn and grow, because I would say I got started pretty late. I was around 20 and they had been playing from childhood. But it just goes to show that it is never too late and that you should not look back because you cannot change the future. I am still on par with them and so you have to stay positive,” he said.

He said his Player of the Year award was another surprise.

“I didn’t know that that was a thing, but it was during one of our games and one of the photographers who I am close with…we had a rest period and he called me Player of the Year. I thought he was joking, but then when I checked my phone later I saw that it was an actual award

The Tribune | Weekend | 05

Friday, November 10, 2023

h) PLAN TO WRITE A BOOK SO THAT ) CAN GIVE CHILDREN MY lRST HAND EXPERIENCE ) THINK THAT IT WOULD BE JOURNAL FORM SO THAT ) CAN SHARE MORE ABOUT THE MANY AVENUES OUT THERE "UT MY BIGGEST PIECE OF ADVICE IS TO TELL PEOPLE TO NOT BE ASHAMED OF THEIR INTERESTS TAKE PRIDE IN WHAT YOU LIKE AND WHAT YOU ARE GOOD AT v and that I had won. I was so excited I immediately called my parents and my family, all of who are avid athletes and fans,” he said.

Ras Jesse is the son of Tribune columnist and veteran journalist Felicity Ingraham-Darville and Eugene ‘Paco’ Delancy. His elder brother is Ras Elijah, a golfer who has played on the Bahamas’

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national team. His other siblings are Malia, Emmanuel, Victory and Victorious, and they are his biggest fans. His grandparents were also athletes: golfers Agatha and Eugene Delancy Sr and Agatha Watson, and Allan Ingraham, who is a Bahamas Hall of Fame footballer, and basketball player for the Beck’s Cougars.

In August this year, Ras Jesse transferred to the University of Charleston in West Virginia where he is hoping to continue to dominate in volleyball.

His major is Sports Business and his goal is to become a coach after his own career as a player on the court has ended.

He hopes that his unconventional path will inspire other young people to try their hand at less popular sports, which he said also have tremendous opportunities such as college scholarships and international exposure.

“I know we have a Bahamian female rower at Florida Memorial University and I heard we have a Bahamian race car driver,” he said.

“I plan to write a book so that I can give children my first-hand experience. I think that it would be journal form, so that I can share more about the many avenues out there. But my biggest piece of advice is to tell people to not be ashamed of their interests; take pride in what you like and what you are good at.”

Ras Jesse said people initially mocked him for choosing volleyball, with some even saying that it was a “girls’ sport”, but as he said: “Look at where it has taken me!”

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06 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, November 10, 2023

TARGET

SR E NGO DS E

● 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 16; very good 24; excellent 31 (or more). Solution tomorrow

LAST SATURDAY’S SOLUTION alike aloe kale kill kilo kola lake leak like look LOOKALIKE oleo olio olla

The Tribune | Weekend | 07

Friday, November 10, 2023

leisure

Jump into adventure

New excursion company to offer skydiving and tours for thrill seekers

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

O

NE Bahamian thrill seeker is looking to give people who have ab appetite for adventure a new way to get their blood racing with the launch of an exhilarating excursion.

Vans Johnson, an entrepreneur with a diverse range of experience, is getting set to launch Skydive Bahamas Adventures after he fell in love with flying through the sky.

Giving others the same high he experiences whenever he is skydiving is something he is thrilled to be bringing to the Bahamas.

The company is expected to launch later in the month, the entrepreneur shared with Tribune Weekend.

Vans has founded and operated businesses across various industries.

His journey began at a young age, driven by the need to financially

support himself while attending St Augustine’s College. This led him to start selling T-shirts in the Straw Market and later conch salad on Bay Street during the Goombay festival.

Vans’ entrepreneurial spirit continued to flourish as he took on management roles at Tony Roma’s and Coco’s Café. He then ventured into manufacturing with Island Water Depot and Island Water Manufacturers. His subsequent ventures included pest control, pressure cleaning, and general contracting.

Vans’ diverse experiences have shaped him into a resilient and resourceful entrepreneur. He has demonstrated his ability to adapt and thrive in various industries, taking on new challenges with determination and enthusiasm.

And with this background and experience, he is now turning a hobby into a business.

“Skydiving is a hobby and from a child all of my hobbies I said I would turn into businesses; skydiving is one of them,” he said.

As a thrill seeker himself, Vans has undertaken of adventures, including deep sea fishing, zip lining and “anything extreme.”

Weather permitting, Skydive Bahamas will be able to launch very soon, he said.

Skydive Bahamas Adventures will offer daily skydiving excursions from Nassau, Exuma, Abaco, Bimini, Cat Island, Long Island, Inagua, San Salvador Acklins, Crooked Island.

They will offer extreme tours and adventures such as swimming with the pigs, swimming with sharks and hunting.

“Each island has it’s own unique adventure experience along with skydiving. We also offer classes for parachute enthusiasts as well as sky banner advertising,” he said.

The way Skydive Bahamas works, Vans explained, is that said clients will be picked up from Nassau and then taken to skydiving centre where they will have an orientation session and instructions on skydiving. Following the skydiving, they can then choose if they wish to continue with the excursion or go on an adventurous tour.

“Skydiving is safer than driving a car. On average there is one fatality per 500,000. Once you jump, you will always want to jump again. Best place to take your first jump is in the Bahamas,” said Vans.

10 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, November 10, 2023

gardening

It’s all connected:

Soil science and business

G

ood day, gardeners. I recently tested some soil samples from someone’s yard that showed quite surprising results to me.

I’m always quite happy to be surprised. What was it that was different?

For me, it was finding a very low soil pH in a Nassau garden. Also surprising to me was that the fertility levels were very low, while the pH was right on spot for successful gardening, at levels between 5.8 and 6.7.

This pH range is good for maximum nutrient absorption by plants, whether herbs, vegetables, fruit trees or aesthetic landscape plants. Ideally, the range will be less broad and more in line with each other.

I tested a total of six garden beds, and the numbers that I’ve indicated represent the low and high range of all the samples tested. To balance the range so that the numbers are all a bit closer, adding additional applications onto those garden beds that are a higher pH, and less applications on those that are lower pH levels, is the best place to start. Applications of what? Why have these folks attained such a low pH? The owners of this particular yard regularly use aged chicken manure from their coop. This is an excellent way to gradually lower the pH of the soil in a garden. Remember, this is not possible to achieve overnight.

The use of aged chicken manure is both renewable and sustainable, which makes for responsible gardening. As mentioned though, the nutrient levels were very low. The method used, aged chicken manure, is effective in lowering the pH, but it does not do all that much in the way of providing any means of long lasting or useable nutrients, all those which are essential to successful plant growth.

The nutrients just aren’t there, or they are in such a quick release and soluble form that they really are negligible in their amounts.

Supplemental fertilizing is still required to raise the nutrient levels for a successful vegetable garden, which is the aim of the garden

in question. In the short term, in order to prepare for planting of this season’s crops, it is best done by an application of a complete fertilizer that has ample supplies of both macro and minor nutrients.

The minor nutrients are key to success, and often nonexistent in our native soils, and this is the particular reason that I often suggest using high quality nutrients/fertilizers as compared to saving a few dollars on fertilizer products that are less effective.

As with most things, you get what you pay for when it comes to fertilizer. Using abundant, renewable, sustainable forms of nutrients on our gardens helps to negate external events that directly affect the global pricing of commodities. Fertilizer prices are directly related to global events due to both source, production means, and the transportation of both base components and finished products.

Nitrogen is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere and makes up approximately 78 percent of the atmosphere.

According to Farmdoc Daily, “One of the most important scientific discoveries of the 20th century is the Haber-Bosch process, which transforms atmospheric nitrogen into synthetic nitrogen for crop fertilization. The discovery of the Haber-Bosch process allowed for the widespread fertilization of crops, and together with other agricultural technology advancements, helped revolutionise food production for a growing world population.”

Natural gas is needed for the Haber-Bosch process to occur. When natural gas prices fluctuate, fertilizer prices very quickly reflect such fluctuations.

Also, in regard to sources and fluctuations of fertilizer nutrients, pricing and availability, the United States Department of Agriculture said:

“In 2020, the most recent year for which fertilizer trade data are available, Russia and its neighbour Belarus were the world’s top fertilizer exporters, accounting for nearly 20 percent of the three major types traded globally: nitrogen, phosphate, and potash. China had the second largest export share with 12.2 percent, followed by Canada, the United States, and Morocco. According to the World Bank, Russia accounted for 16 percent of urea (a source of nitrogen) exports and 12 percent of phosphate exports. Russia and Belarus combined provided 40 percent of global potash exports.

“In 2020, the United States was one of the main destinations for Russian and Belarusian fertilizer, along with Brazil, China, and India. While the United States was a top producer of nitrogen and phosphate, it also imported significant amounts of Russian potash.”

Ukraine is important as the products produced in Russia and Belarus, before the war began, were transported via pipeline across the Ukraine. That has since ceased, adding another disruption to the global supply and in turn the local pricing of fertilizer.

Thinking of tending to a chicken coop yet? I am. I hope this all gives you food for thought, at the least. As always, I wish you happy gardening.

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The Tribune | Weekend | 11

Friday, November 10, 2023

music

Local songstress soars

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

W

HEN it comes to her style of music, Tanya Thompson said she doesn’t stick to just one genre, but if she had to choose the one she enjoys most, it would be the golden oldies.

She has been pursuing a career in music for the last seven years and has performed at several venues, including, the Warwick, Sandals Royal Bahamian, the Holiday Inn Express, the Balmoral Club, Avery’s, Lukka Kairi, and the Southwest Diner, where she also hosts karaoke.

In addition to performing in New Providence, she has also travelled throughout the Family Islands for homecomings, weddings, funerals and parties.

Currently employed at Atlantis Paradise Island as a vendor in the Entertainment Department, Tanya said she is thankful for the opportunities she has been recently blessed with.

Most recently, I performed at the International Jazz Festival. And soon in November, the Nassau Music Society has invited me to be a part of their annual Cultural Show. I am also at the Spotlight Lounge every Thursday. I am the lead singer of my band which is called Just Us alongside Mr Nasson Pople and Donald Brown Jr,” she told Tribune Weekend.

Tanya has been singing for as long as she can remember. She started singing in church and for a time joined the National Mass Choir. She has also sung at numerous funerals and weddings.

“I’ve never had any formal training, but I intend to,” she added.

Tanya said her inspiration is simply the love she has for music. It amazes her that she gets to do the thing she enjoys most on a daily basis.

“Never in a million years would I think that my God-given talent would make room for me this way, I’m proud to say this gift has made me more independent and self-sufficient,” she said.

“I’m always humbled by the positive feedback I get. I wish the support would be better, but I understand the struggles of an upand-coming artist. It’s hard work just like any other job, and so I intend to

TANYA Thompson and her band Just Us

put myself out there as much as I can and hopefully my hard work will pay off.”

When it comes to musical influences in her life, Tanya said Tyrone Thurston gave her a first taste of the professional entertainment scene in Nassau – the good, bad and the ugly, while Nasson Pople has been there for her since the beginning.

Local jazz artist Naomi Crawford has also given her invaluable advice and has steered her in the right direction.

“I’m so happy to have met people like her, as well as people like Sweet Emily, Novie Pierre, Shervin Ferguson, Frankie Victory and Rufus Emmanuel, who are just a few of the persons that I’ve come across that have influenced me in one way or another in music; showing me that this industry is not for the faint of heart,” she said.

“I am staying around the right type of people and learning as much as I can from as many in the music industry as I can. I started working with Tyrone Thurston and Falcon Entertainment shortly after I decided to

start my own company, One Voice

by Browneyez, and then my band Just Us, both of which were hit hard because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but I didn’t give up and I’m now seeing the fruits of my labour.”

For remainder of the year, Tanya said in addition to performing gigs, she’d love to invest more time into writing music and expanding her brand.

“I’d like to encourage young artists to follow the path that you love, even if you can’t see the end or beginning.

I’ve found that doing just that has given me fulfilment, independence and freedom from the 9 to 5. It has given me time for my family and time for myself. This was the best thing I could have done for myself,” she said.

People can follow her on Facebook and Instagram @ onevoicebybrowneyez.

“I also perform and book private events regularly; events like wakes, weddings, parties, you name it. If you follow my social media, I usually post what I’m doing,” she said.

12 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, November 10, 2023

literary lives

The Quixotic and Querulous Life of Robert de Niro | PART TWO Sir Christopher Ondaatje looks at the brilliant and breathtaking career of the American actor, known for his collaborations with Martin Scorsese, and considered to be one of the most influential actors of his generation. He is the recipient of numerous awards including two Academy Awards - and is once again in the cinemas at present alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in the lauded ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’.

“Listen to me very carefully. There are three ways of doing things around here: the right way, the wrong way, and the way I do it. You understand?”

– Robert de Niro In 1992, Robert De Niro appeared in two films.

The first, Mistress, was a comedy-drama in which he played ruthless businessman Evan Wright.

Irwin Winkler’s Night and the City was his second release, a crime drama remake of the 1950 film noir of the same name. He was cast as New York lawyer, Harry Fabian.

He next made his producer debut for the mystery thriller Thunderheart (1992).

In 1993, he played crime scene photographer Wayne Dobie in the comedy drama Mad Dog and Glory with co-stars Uma Thurman and Bill Murray. The film got reasonable reviews, and was lauded for the chemistry between De Niro and Murray.

Next, De Niro starred in This Boy’s Life (1993), based on the memoir by Tobias Wolff. It featured Ellen Barkin and Leonardo DiCaprio. Playing stepfather Dwight Hansen of Wolff, played

by DiCaprio, the film was mostly well received.

Although, according to Timeout Magazine, “DiCaprio steals the show.”

De Niro starred in his directorial debut A Bronx Tale – a coming of age story about an Italian-American boy torn between the temptations of organised crime, racism, and the values of his decent father. The film, which has autobiographical overtones, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival to a positive response.

There was always a dark side to his films.

DE Niro in 2023’s Killers of the Flower Moon, which is now receiving Oscar buzz A year later De Niro was cast in the lead role of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, an adaptation of Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel Frankenstein. The film earned $112 million despite its frantic pace.

Casino (1995) marked De Niro’s return to the crime genre, again with Martin Scorsese in their eighth collaboration. It is a brilliant but nasty film about two mobsters, Sam “Ace” Rothstein (De Niro) and Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci), and a trophy wife (Sharon Stone) fighting over a gambling empire. It was captivating to see how comfortable De Niro, Pesci, and Stone were in their uncomfortable roles. Shortly afterwards he starred in 1995’s crime thriller Heat about a group of professional bank robbers.

Michael Wilmington of the Chicago Tribune wrote: “De Niro and Pacino redeem everything … they have a keener slant on machismo. They easily explore its darker strata.”

In 1995, De Niro had minor roles in One Hundred and One Nights and Panther. Then in 1996 he starred in the sports thriller The Fan, Sleepers, and Marvin’s Room, and co-produced the crimecomedy Faithful.

Cop Land (1997) was another crime-drama starring Sylvester Stallone, and then he co-produced Wag the Dog (1997), a film satire about a biased publicist (De Niro) and a Hollywood producer (Dustin Hoffman), who fabricate a war in Albania

to cover up a US president’s sex scandal. In January 1998, a month after its release, the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal dominated the headlines which helped generate publicity for the film.

De Niro began 1998 with an appearance in Great Expectations – a modern adaptation of Charles Dickens 1861 novel. A strange choice.

Later that year he played a major role in Ronin, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival that year. He returned to crime-comedy as an insecure mob boss opposite Billy Crystal and Lisa Kudrow in Analyze This – a box office hit which earned $176 million worldwide and earned him a Best Actor nomination at the Golden Globes. In Flawless (1999), De Niro appeared as a homophobic police officer, who suffers a stroke and is assigned to a rehabilitive programme with a gay singer. It was a low-key performance compared to his other work. One wonders why he spread himself so thin.

Perhaps he was returning a kindness.

In 2000, De Niro produced and starred in his first live-action animation comedy The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle – a film that was critically panned; and then followed it with the biographical drama Men of Honor (2000) based on the life of Carl Brashear, a US navy masterdiver, who rose to this position in 1970 despite having his left leg amputated. That same year he starred in the comedy Meet the Parents opposite Ben Stiller, playing a former CIA operative who takes a dislike to Stiller’s character. The film earned an enormous $330 million at the box office

The Tribune | Weekend | 13

Friday, November 10, 2023

DE Niro in 2019’s Joker with Joaquin Phoenix

and film critics welcomed De Niro’s transition to a comic actor.

After several attempted comedies De Niro got the lead role in the crime thriller 15 Minutes (2001),which generally received an unfavourable reception, and followed this up with a heist, in Frank Oz’s The Score (2001), starring Edward Norton, Angela Bassett and Marlon Brando. He plays a retiring thief persuaded to do one last heist with a younger man (Norton). He appeared in Analyze That (2002) – a sequel to 1999’s Analyze This. The filming began in New York City seven months after the September 11 attacks. De Niro insisted on the film being made there although most critics thought the sequel was weak. Despite the failure De Niro served as a producer for the critically acclaimed romantic comedy About a Boy (2002), and appeared in 9/11 (2002), a CBS documentary about the September 11 attacks told from the point of view of the New York fire department.

Several critics considered De Niro’s career to have slumped in the early 2000s, with De Niro starring in less dramatic roles. He returned to the screen in 2004 playing a doctor in the fantasy drama Godsend. It is his poorest performing role.

Voicing a character in DreamWorks’ animation Shark Tale (2004), critics were again unimpressed.

But it did well at the box office. He co-produced Stage Beauty (2004) and then reprised his role of Jack Byrnes in 2004’s Meet the Fockers. In a scathing review Slant Magazine wrote: “In self-parody mode for the umpteenth time, De Niro mugs for the camera with a series of overblown grimaces and faux-menacing glares.”

The Bridge of San Luis Rey was his last release of 2004. In 2005, De Niro starred in Hide and Seek – a financial success although miscast. He turned down a role in The Departed to direct his second film The Good Shepherd, reuniting him with Joe Pesci – but it got a mixed reception about the growth of the CIA. His sole project in 2007 was Matthew Vaughan’s Stardust – a fantasy adventure. Although well received, one critic from New York Magazine thought De Niro’s performance was: “God awful – yet his gung-ho spirit wins him Brownie points.”

Nevertheless, the film grossed $78 million from a budget of $60 million.

What Just Happened (2008) was his next satirical comedy; and in 2009 he was cast as Frank Goode in the drama Everybody’s Fine. Although it had a mixed response, the Guardian’s critic praised De Niro for his first decent “watchable performance in quite a while”.

In 2010, he had a minor part in Machete and starred in Stone – a crime drama opposite Milla Jovovich and Edward Norton, receiving a divided reception. However, Little Fockers (2010), the third sequel, grossed an incredible $310 million worldwide – despite the farcical script.

In 2011, De Niro starred in the Italian comedy Manuale d’amore 3, and then in three other films: Killer Elite, Limitless, and New Year’s Eve. All except Limitless received mixed reviews.

This was followed by the drama Being Flynn, which also received a mixed response. Silver Linings Playbook (2012) grossed $236 million, but in 2013 The Big Wedding, Killing Season, and The Family met with negative response. Las Vegas (2013) with Michael Douglas fared better, and he teamed with Sylvester Stallone in 2013 about ageing boxers who step into the ring for one last match.

The Bag Man followed, and he appeared in a documentary about his father, the artist Robert de Niro, Sr. In 2015, he made two short Scorsese films The Audition and Ellis. He starred in Heist, playing “The Pope” Silva, and Joy (2015) opposite Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper. Dirty Grandpa (2016) was severely criticised, and Hands of Stone (2016) featured the Panamanian boxer Roberto Durán.

De Niro, after 2017, had plenty of work: The Wizard of Lies (2017), Saturday Night Live (2019), and When They See Us. In 2019, Joker was a commercial success and earned eleven nominations at the Academy Awards.

That year he reunited with Scorsese for the ninth time in The Irishman – another commercial success with Al Pacino and Joe Pesci.

Father of the Bride Part 3(ish) co-starring Diane Keaton was made in September 2020, and The Comeback Trail was made in the same year.

Amsterdam was released in October 2022, as was Savage Salvation.

This year, De Niro played cattleman William Hale in the acclaimed Killers of the Flower Moon with Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone.

Directed by Martin Scorsese, the film’s $200 million budget was financed by Apple TV and distributed by Paramount. It was also announced on March 1, 2023, that De Niro will produce and star in a six-episode series Zero Day for Netflix.

Several journalists consider De Niro to be among the best actors of his generation. Many of his films have become classics of American cinema. He was honoured as one of the Kennedy Centre Honorees in 2009, and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2016. He and his partner Jane Rosenthal co-founded the film production company TriBeCa Productions which also organises the Tribeca Film Festival. He is the owner of the Greenwich Hotel with partners. He is a long-term resident of New York.

De Niro married actress Diane Abbott in 1976.

They have a son Raphael, and adopted Abbott’s daughter from a previous relationship. He and Abbott divorced in 1988. He has twin sons in a relationship with model Toukie Smith (1988-1996).

In 1997, De Niro married actress Grace Hightower. Their son Elliott was born in 1998, and the couple split in 1999. The divorce was never finalised and in 2004 they renewed their marriage vows.

In December 2011, their daughter Helen was born.

In 2014, he and Hightower moved into a 6000-square-foot, five-bedroom apartment at 15 Central Park West. Four years later De Niro and Hightower separated after twenty years of marriage. On April 19, 2021, De Niro’s lawyer argued in a virtual divorce hearing presided by a Manhattan judge that: “He is working at an unsustainable pace in order to support Hightower and pay off all his back taxes.”

De Niro, 80, welcomed his seventh child on April 6, 2023, with new girlfriend Tiffany Chen, a martial arts instructor.

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14 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, November 10, 2023

history

A long history of culture

P

ublished on January 9, 2015, “Mathew not Matthew” was the title of the first article of this ‘Forgotten Facts’ series in The Tribune’s Weekend magazine.

The story focused on the fact that Mathew Town, ‘the capital’ of Inagua, is named after Governor George B Mathew (1844-1849) and therefore should have only one ‘t’.

Bahamian history started on October 12, 1492, when Christopher Columbus and his crews are believed to have set foot on San Salvador, but the 1648 arrival of the Eleutherian Adventurers from Bermuda is, in many ways, a more significant date, for it marks the establishment of the first successful settlement of the Bahama Islands.

The new colony grew slowly, and today’s oldest man-made structure is Fort Montagu (1741), about which I wrote on March 13, 2015.

During the War of Jenkins’ Ear (1739-1748), between Britain and Spain, John Montagu, the second Duke of Montagu, who was Britain’s Master General of the Ordnance (what a splendid title!), realising that New Providence was inadequately defended, sent a team to Nassau to remedy that situation, by building Fort Montagu.

American readers might find it interesting to know that “on a blustery February morning in 1776…Commodore Ezek Hopkins (1718-1802) led a squadron of eight extemporised warships out of the ice-clogged Delaware River, below Philadelphia…on the first deployment of America’s Continental Navy.

Included in that force were 136 newly-recruited Continental Marines, commanded by Captain Samuel Nicholas (1744-1790) …and, on March 3, 1776, in the company of 50 sailors, Captain Nicholas and his men conducted the first amphibious landing in Marine Corps history – against undefended Fort Montagu.

Primitive and obscure, the seizure of New Providence served as the progenitor of epic amphibious landings, yet to come. With tongue in cheek, might I wonder why the opening words of the lyrics of the Marines’ Hymn are not “From the beaches of Fort Montagu to the shores of Tripoli?”

JOHN MONTAGU, the second Duke of Montagu

After the American War of Independence/the American Revolution, thousands of Loyalist refugees fled to the Bahamas, and, in 1787, Fort Charlotte, which includes Fort Stanley and Fort D’Arcy, was built, to defend Nassau from American,

or other, invaders.

I know of two existing homes that were built around 1790: Balcony House on Market Street and Buena PAUL C Vista on ARANHA Delancy FORGOTTEN FACTS Street.

Then it was back to securing the safety of the Bahama Islands, by building Fort Fincastle (atop Bennet Hill, the highest elevation in the City of Nassau.

The Queen’s Staircase (the 66 Steps) was built around 1793 and the Gaol (jail) in 1798, in the closing years of the 18th century.

The 19th century started with the construction of St Matthew’s Church in 1802, our oldest church building.

It might be worth mentioning that the official name of the portion of East Bay Street that runs along the Eastern Parade is Mathew Avenue.

A 1884 sketch of the Bahamas

While writing this article, I finished reading Errol “Duke” Strachan’s excellent book “This is My Life – A Bahamian Rhapsody”, in which he paints a picture of the Bahamas as it used to be.

Errol and I both know that it’s flogging an old horse to complain about how uttering the word ‘culture’ brings the immediate response ‘Junkanoo’. Bahamians love Junkanoo, but it is only one aspect of our culture.

Just as I do, he bemoans the fate of the Water Tower (1928) atop Bennet’s Hill. It used to be open to the public. Residents and visitors used to climb the spiral staircase to see the majestic, panoramic view from the top. Sadly, it is now closed to the public.

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The Tribune | Weekend | 15

Friday, November 10, 2023

animals

A tribute to a beautiful lady

By KIM ARANHA Animal Matters

I

n so many ways Marina D’Aguilar was one of a kind.

She was the brightest gem in a vast display of precious stones.

Her wit, foresight and courage to speak her mind made her stand out wherever she found herself.

Famous for her intense interest in art, her husband of many years, Vincent D’Aguilar (who merits an article all on his own) and Marina built up a stunning personal collection. They also established the D’Aguilar Foundation which houses a substantial and important collection.

Over the years they helped many an artist going through a rough patch, offered advice to young artists and encouragement to the more established ones. There were many situations where the purchase of a piece of art made all the difference for a particular artist.

This past week, on Tuesday, there was an incredible event organised by her family. After her passing in 2022, when the family went through her belongings and saw the volume and quality of her possessions left behind, they decided to do an estate sale for Marina’s other love: the Bahamas Humane Society.

We expected it to be wellattended, but the success of the event was well above and beyond all possible expectations.

It started at 10am. I got there at 10.15am and there was already a queue out the door of the who’s who of Nassau society.

So many of the ladies in line were friends of Marina’s who remembered her with love and affection. The stories and memories were joyfully shared as they patiently awaited their turn to purchase some of the elegant and fashionable pieces of jewellery, handbags and shawls on display.

The event was to run from 10am to 6pm in the evening. The only

THE LATE Marina D’Aguilar problem was that by 2pm everything was sold out. Thousands of individual items had been lovingly displayed and they had all gone to new homes with satisfied owners.

What an amazing idea Marina’s family had! The sale was tremendous fun. I think that we all greatly enjoyed it. I know I proudly

displayed my jazzy paw print shopping bag full of goodies.

I was amazed at how many beautiful items there were to choose from, all beautifully displayed in colour groups. Marina would have undoubtedly approved greatly of the decision her devoted family made to sell these gorgeous personal effects and raise money for a charity Marina had a most sincere affection for.

The Bahamas Humane Society is very fortunate to have generous friends and supporters who literally keep us afloat.

This jewellery sale was a gift from God. A few months ago, we held a couple of furniture estate sales.

People purchase fully furnished apartments or houses and do not want the furniture. Their main objective is to get the furniture gone, so we sell it at an attractive price.

Over the years, I have done a considerable amount of these sales and I am getting better at the pricing. The real secret is pricing the merchandise to sell. A successful sale is when everything is gone and the buyers leave wanting more.

Another wonderful thing about last Tuesday was how everybody came together. Everyone wanted to help the Bahamas Humane Society, and everybody loved (and missed) Marina. It almost felt like one of her spectacular birthday parties, which I had been blessed to be invited to.

Apart from Marina smiling down at us, and heaping approval upon her family, this event has also taught us something that hopefully we can follow up on more frequently: people

love estate sales; we love getting good deals and we love the fellowship of one another.

The meeting and the greeting that took place on Tuesday was priceless.

Nothing can replace being together, united in a mutual cause, and reconnecting.

COVID put us all away in a box for far too long and now we are taking baby steps towards returning to the way we were; some of us are more cautious than others. I have pretty much gone back to doing things as we used to, but some of my friends are taking it a little bit more slowly.

Unfortunately, all over the world, animal shelters are overcrowded post-COVID. People who adopted during the pandemic have been returning their pets and this is a cause of tremendous sadness. This is also making the airlifts we depend on very complicated because the usual shelters in North America are full.

The money raised from Marina’s sale will go a good distance. We can work on mini airlifts with two and three pets at a time. If you would like to help fund a mini airlift, please contact us.

Meanwhile, thank you to the D’Aguilar’s for their generosity. I know Marina would be very proud of her two boys, Dayne and Dionisio, and their lovely wives Linda and Saskia. So am I!

pet of the week

Intrepid Inga

By THE BAHAMAS HUMANE SOCIETY

Five-month-old Inga is a labrador-looking mixed breed who has plenty of puppy energy to spare. She’s learning about collars and leads and thinks walks are a great idea.

Inga is looking for a home that will work with her puppy energy and her potcake smarts.

Is yours that home? If so, come into the Bahamas

Humane Society to meet her or call 323-5138 for more information. Inga looks forward to meeting you.

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16 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, November 10, 2023

music

Burna Boy to set Nassau ablaze with holiday spectacle

A

s the holiday season approaches, the night sky over Nassau is poised to sparkle with “Spilligate ‘23,” headlined by Afro-fusion sensation Burna Boy. The concert, slated for December 16, will showcase the dynamic beats of Burna Boy’s international hits such as “Last Last,” “Ye,” and “It’s Plenty.”

The event is expected to weave together the infectious charm of Bahamian hospitality with the thrilling energy of global music, positioning Nassau as a focal point for world-class entertainment and cultural exchange.

The festivities will take place at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium, Carnival Grounds, a venue celebrated for hosting a wide array of sporting, cultural, and entertainment events and contributing to the Bahamas’ sports tourism.

Burna Boy, born Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and record producer, who rose to stardom in 2012 after releasing “Like to Party”, the lead single from his debut studio album “L.I.F.E” (2013). In 2019, he won Best International Act at the 2019 BET Awards, and

was announced as Apple Music Up Next artist that year.

Burna Boy expressed his anticipation for the performance, stating, “The Bahamas resonates with me as a symbol of stunning beauty and rich culture. Performing here allows me to honour the rich tapestry of my musical journey, influenced

by Afrobeat pioneers like Kuti and the vibrant beats of ragga, dub, and grime I experienced in the UK. This festival transcends a mere performance; it represents a cultural collage that brings together the rich musical heritage of Africa and the Caribbean.”

Mr Foreign Currency, the event organiser, said: ”We are excited to host music fans from across the world as we present the incomparable Burna Boy. His performance is set to illuminate Nassau, highlighting our beautiful island as a hub of international entertainment. This will be the best party of the season.”

For ticket details, visit www.foreigncurrencypromotions.com or buy in person at the Kendal G L Isaacs National Gymnasium Box Office, or contact WhatsApp at (242) 805-0390, (242) 809-1242, or email info@signatureproduction.net.

Rising Bahamian star Rello Ranzano captivates global audiences Bahamian recording artist and lyricist Rello Ranzano is making his mark on the music industry with his unique sound and passion to create heartfelt songs that resonate with his audience.

Guided by his mantra of bridging culture through music, Rello Ranzano has created hit songs inspired by personal experiences. His music is a blend of mostly rap, reggae and African pop. But he is not boxed in by those genres. Ever evolving, Ranzano continues to show his musical prowess with the recent release of his Reggaeton single, “No Puedo”.

This dynamic single, he said, demonstrates his versatility and capacity to connect with a variety of audiences. The song is listed as his top single on Apple Music.

Ranzano has hinted that he would like to delve deeper into this genre even morem but adds, “I have to learn a bit more Spanish.”

Hot on the heels of “No Puedo”, Ranzano is gearing up to launch his ucoming EP, “Can’t Escape the Allure: The Prequel”.

This EP is a mixtape compilation of songs about the artist’s experiences.

“I like to keep it real, and this EP is no different. The songs reveal real thoughts and feelings I battle and everything else that everyone else is too proud to admit,” he said.

Ranzano was exposed to music from an early age. His mother and stepfather, who were both singers,

helped create in him a deep understanding and appreciation for the power of music. Like most Caribbean youth, he grew up listening to rap, reggae and dancehall music.

Artists like Lil Wayne, 50 Cent and Drake have greatly influenced the type of music he produces.

Ranzano’s dedication to authenticity is reflected in the lyrical content of his songs. Unlike the typical songwriter, Ranzano does not physically pen his lyrics. Instead, he said “the melodies and lyrics just come to mind, and then I record it.”

Rello Ranzano’s passion for bridging culture through music has helped him to build a dedicated following in the Caribbean communities. He boasts an Instagram fanbase of over 127k followers and an even more significant monthly listenership on Spotify.

With a string of successful singles to his name and a solid following to boot, Ranzano is definitely an artist to watch.

For further information about Rello Ranzano, follow him on Instagram and TikTok. Listen to his music on Spotify and Apple Music.