The Tribune

TEN hopefuls go head-to-head tonight in Da Bahamian Ting song competition finale at Fort Montagu Park, with the winner receiving $25,000.

Rik Carey, co-ordinator in the department of Heritage and Culture in the Ministry of Tourism, promises true Bahamian flavour at the event. “It’s about goatskin drums, cowbells, saws, whistles, you name it. This is our Bahamian thing and this is what we put on record,” he said.

He said that although it has been an exciting experience for the artists, it has also been a learning experience. “It’s been a really exciting time for a lot of the artists, some more seasoned than others. They get it when it comes to promotion for themselves and all of them understand the importance of promoting their product and their music at the same time.

“This is also a learning process for them as well so we’re only providing the avenues. Tourism is providing the different ports of entry for the music to be heard all around the world and that’s promotion, they don’t have to worry about.”

Contest rules require songs to be Bahamian style, such as Rake ‘N’ Scrape, Goombay or Junkanoo, and no more than three minutes long. Second place will take $20,000, third place $15,000, fourth place $10,000 and the remaining contestants $1,000 each.

Director of Culture Arlene Nash-Ferguson said she was inspired by that fact that Bahamians are exploring local musical genres, and continuing to innovate and promised a night to remember.

“Friday evening, we’re going to be at Fort Montagu Park and it’s a beautiful setting for a beautiful event. The ten finalists of Da Bahamian Ting Song Competition will be on stage and the voting would have been calculated before that because the voting, of course, is online. It is going to be a first-class evening of entertainment and good wholesome family fun,” she said.

The show is expected to begin at 7pm. with a performance by the Royal Bahamas Police Force Band followed by various cultural performances including conch shell fanfare, a performance from St John’s College’s band, aerial hoop dance, choreograph fire dance, a special performance by a comedian and the performance of the 10 finalists. The event will end in true Bahamian form with an energetic Junkanoo performance.

The 10 finalists, who were chosen by the public last month, are:

“The Bahamian Music Festival Anthem” by Dwayne Deveaux

“Who You Rushing For” by Lemuel Stephone Smith

“Junkanoo Move” by Warrenique Munnings

“Gimmie Dat Dilly” by Nathaniel Bailey and Dale Knowles

“Let’s Go To The Islands” by Kenneth Sweeting and The Bahamian Spice Band

“Das Da Bahamian Ting” by Da Family

“Welcome To Bahamas” by Sharmond Smith

“We Bahamian Ting” by Troy Gray

“Down Home” by Lady E

“You and I” by Bodine Johnson