The Tribune

More than 200 people gathered in the Crown Ballroom at the Atlantis Resort for the 3rd Annual Story Tellers Convention on December 15.

Held under the theme “Flashback: A Time Capsule of Bahamian Entertainment”, the convention focused on teaching history through music, dance and spoken word.

It focused primarily on highlighting the original pieces of primary school students from New Providence as well as the Family Islands, said Vera Poiter-Chase, president of the Commonwealth Writers of the Bahamas, who called the event a success.

“The event went extremely well. I am very happy for the turn out. What we wanted to was capture and record Bahamian history in a unique way that involves the children and capture their attention and imagination,” said Ms Poitier-Chase.

“We started in 2009 and it has grown throughout the years. While there are some adults who participate most of the presenters are students and a lot of them come in from the Family Islands. We focus on the children because they are the ones that will pass the history on.”

Students read original pieces during the conference as well as poetry and folktales from Freddie Munnings, Tony Seymour and Roxie Roker. There were also several workshops throughout the day focusing on the Women’s Suffrage Movement, how to write a story that sells and how to properly produce a film, a documentary and a screenplay.

Mrs Poitier-Chase said the organisers are already focused on next year’s theme, which will also be centered around Bahamian history.

“We will explore deep into Bahamian history, really sit down and research and really give the theme justice. It will once again be an open event for the public. We are also trying to move into the Family Islands and take the show on the road. Most of our students are from the islands - from Abaco to Ingaua. We want them to have an idea of how to take their writing to another level and to expose the students to their history, from where they came from. This year, we had mostly students from Oaks Field Primary. We have worked with them a lot through the years and they are brilliant students,” she said.

The event also gave artists an opportunity to sell bags, jewelery and other original authentic Bahamian work.