The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

After reading the full page spread on The Bahamas Carnival Plans, I have to say I am very disappointed. It does not sound like anything more than Junkanoo in June. There is little that is innovative or new really.

I do not know who the organisational committee is but maybe they need some younger minds on board to help develop a festival that can actually rival other “carnival” festivals around the region and world. Obviously we will not compete with Trinidad or Brazil but there are several other carnivals in the region that we can compete with. Any limitation on creativity (music costumes or other) is ridiculous. This is what makes other carnivals so successful. There are no limits.

Why insist that the costumes incorporate indigenous material? This gives designers the choice of about three drab materials. Why need there be these restrictions? They claim to want to showcase Junkanoo and our indigenous music. What is that exactly? We already have a Junkanoo festival.

Why not have a festival where local talent is encouraged to express itself however the artist sees fit and allow something new to evolve.

There are not limitations on Trinidad or Brazil carnival. Artists are allowed to create the music and costumes they wish. Forty years ago, there was no such thing as soca. Soca came about as  natural evolution of Trinidadian calypso with influences from soul and funk music. Over the years, it has been further influenced by different cultures and musical styles from all over the world.

As a result, there are now about eight different soca genres and it continues to change. Likewise, Trinidad carnival was not always the spectacle it is today it evolved to the scale that it is today again with influences from all over the world. Despite these influences, no one can argue that soca or Trini Carnival are not indigenous to Trinidad and Tobago.  Trinidadian artists have complete freedom to create what they wish. Their creativity applauded locally internationally.

Why do we continue to stifle our culture and try to prevent it’s evolution and expansion? This is a form of xenophobia.

This country is so hell bent on maintaining “Bahamian Culture” that it stops local culture from changing, evolving, growing and expanding as it should naturally. This has happened everywhere else in the world, expanding and enriching the lives of billions.

Invite young Bahamian designers and musicians to create as they wish and we are sure to create a festival the likes of which has never before been seen in Nassau.

Of course, there has to be a plan, there has to be criteria, but don’t limit artistic freedom - it should be the opposite. Artistic freedom should be encouraged. It is time we started thinking outside of our little cultural box.

This is a tiny little country with a tiny little population and hence a tiny little culture. It is time to stop the xenophobia and open our minds and country to influences from outside. This Bahamas Carnival is the perfect forum.

Allow artists to use whatever materials they want, whatever musical influences or styles they want and lets see what we can create.

The fundamental difference between humans and all other species and what propelled us (as a species) to where we are now is our ability to imagine and create. Why continue to stunt our growth as a nation and people by continuing to stifle Bahamian creativity?

This Junkanoo theme can only go so far and the notion that Bahamas Carnival should have a Junkanoo theme is a clear indication  of our need for cultural growth and diversity.

ANDREW HARRIS

Nassau,

May 26, 2014.