E voke Magazine

marisa lindsay her life-changing decisions...

DJ Simmons

hal Linton back for the first time

January 2014

Editor’s Note Love, Poetry & Song staged its second show in February 2013 and, given the attendance, it’s fair to say the show has grown from its modest beginning at the Barbados Museum and Historical Society grounds to the beautiful grounds of Ilaro Court, the Prime Minister’s residence.

When we, at e-voke Magazine, learnt about the show and the reason behind it, we immediately thought of getting involved to further assist the HIV Food Bank, and saw it as a great opportunity to focus on the work of the HIV Food Bank for the first issue of e-voke Magazine. A percentage of the revenue from the advertising in this issue will go to the HIV Food Bank to assist with their programme of feeding those who are living with and managing the disease.

The 2013 Love, Poetry & Song, which was staged under the theme “Safe Sex is Sexy” brought together, for one night, many of the talented artistes in Barbados who gave generously of their time to perform for this worthy and necessary cause. This e-voke Magazine is an extension of that generosity and a great way to also document the event for those who were unable to enjoy the love, poetry and songs firsthand at the show.

The show is really about Barbadian musicians, performers, singers, poets and the incredible talent that abounds on this tiny rock. In this issue, you can catch up with Simon Pipe and Marisa Lindsay. Shamkoe Pilé speaks with Hal Linton about all his exciting plans in our cover story. He talks all about his new direction now that he is an independent artiste. Spoken word artiste DJ Simmons shares one of his pieces with us, so be sure to check that out.

We hope you enjoy the magazine and you are inspired to love safely and recognize that “Safe Sex is Sexy”.

PUBLISHING

Contact us today

246 624 0218

brainwave publishing@ gmail.com

4 e-voke magazine Feb 2014

Publisher & Editor: Brainwave Publishing

Amanda Haynes - Cell: (246) 825-6459 Email: Haynes.mandy@yahoo.com

Advertising Executives: Michelle J. Straughn – Cell: (246) 244-7482 Email: mjstraughn@yahoo.com

Nekaelia Hutchingson, BGIS Writer

Lisa Legall-Belgrave Email: lisa_legall@hotmail.com Writers: Shamkoe Pile - Cell: (246) 233-2892 Email: shamkoe@gmail.com

Photographer: Jonathan Forde – Cell: (246) 238-6581 Email: jonathan.forde@gmail.com Design/Layout: Michael Russell – Cell: (246) 230-0093 Email: russon24@yahoo.com

The material and editorial in this magazine was deemed correct at the time of publishing but may be subject to change thereafter.

Brainwave Publishing cannot be held responsible for any consequences that may arise from any errors or omissions. This publication cannot be copied or reproduced in whole or part without the explicit permission of the publisher.

Condom use urged

among women

By Shamkoe Pilé

Alexis Nurse, Behavioural Change Communications Specialist at the National HIV Commission, has advised women to take condom use seriously, discuss sex with their partners and to be involved with only one person at a time.

Nurse delivered this message at the Tek Care of Yourself workshop, organised by the Internal HIV Education Committee of the Barbados Government Information Service, in collaboration with the Urban Development Commission, as an outreach initiative to sensitise single, unemployed and dependent women about HIV and AIDS. According to the Government of Barbados National Strategic Plan for HIV Prevention and Control 20082013, this at-risk group is characterised by uneven power relationships between men and women, hence the need for more tailored prevention approaches.

The communications specialist told participants that negotiating condom use could either be a difficult or an easy task based on the partners involved.

She stressed that the beginning of a relationship was the best time to lay down the rules for sexual intercourse, because usually, it was at this time that both persons were regarded as equals.

“Start the way you intend to continue.

If you give in and have unprotected sex once with your partner, you have closed the door. It then becomes more difficult to negotiate for condom use,”

she said.

Noting that HIV was found in infectious quantities in blood, semen, vaginal secretions and breast milk, Nurse explained that the main route of transmission in Barbados was through unprotected sex with an infected person.

“It doesn’t matter if it is vaginal intercourse, anal intercourse or oral sex, because as long as you are exposed to infected bodily fluids you stand a chance of contracting the disease. That is why it is important to practise safe sex,” she maintained.

She added that having unprotected sex with multiple partners was one of the most dangerous things anyone could do, since this practice increased the chances of contracting the disease.

“A person is most infectious during the first three weeks of him or her contracting the disease. The body has a very high viral load in the system and during this time, that person will not test positive. So, there is a one to

25 per cent chance of contracting HIV if you sleep with an infected person during this stage, and if you are having sex with multiple persons, imagine how many people will be infected,” she said.

Nurse advised participants not to be open to risky sexual relations, especially “if you can’t open your mouth and discuss sex with that person”. She also urged women to have this discussion when “heads are rational”.

Moreover, Nurse warned that STIs such as Chlamydia, Gonorrhea and Syphilis were severe, with some leading to blindness, mental illness and death.

Nurse urged: “Use a condom! You have to be able to protect yourself at all times.”

Feb 2014 e-voke magazine 5

love poetry & song 6 e-voke magazine Feb 2014

6 love, poetry & song... 2013.02.22

contents

8 an unforgettable extravaganza

ilaro court 02.22.2013

5 Editor’s note

10 Behind the Show: Curating Love, Poetry and Song

12 marisa lindsay - beautiful songstress 13 a great cause

14 back for the first time - hal linton 16 simon says 17 a great cause continued 18 love, poetry & song... beautiful people 20 dj simmons “hard” 22 HIV 101: Artistes get schooled 24 female artistes for safe sex 25 Items you can donate

Feb 2014 e-voke magazine 7

Love, Poetry and Song 2013: An Unforgettable Extravaganza

By Amanda Haynes

Love, Poetry and Song 2013 eclipsed its debut.

Last year, this fundraising concert was introduced to Barbados with overwhelming response. Patrons flooded the historic grounds of the Barbados Museum and Historical Society, engaged by the message to “Love Safely”, delivered through the creative arts.

Saturday, February 22, 2013 marked the second installment of the show.

Again, there was a remarkable turn-out, a potpourri of Barbadian artistes offering services for honorarium. The event grew, massively. In light of an advertising campaign and a Facebook following that continues to grow, the turnout rose from 1,500 to 5,000 patrons. An exhaustive list of public and private sector sponsors joined the cause. Artistes became Love, Poetry and Song ambassadors, attending an HIV and AIDS sensitization programme weeks before the fundraiser.

Raising over $35, 000 and 18 barrels of non-perishable food items for the HIV Food Bank, the fundraising event held at Ilaro Court, the residence of the Prime Minister of Barbados, is a success on paper. Judging by the steady influx of donations to the Food Bank since the event, there is reason to believe the event has raised the profile and work of 8 e-voke magazine Feb 2014

the Bank.

The brainchild of the Barbados Government Information Service’s HIV and AIDS Internal Committee, the fundraising show continued its aim to creatively educate Barbadians about the importance of sexual responsibility and the elimination of stigma and discrimination against those living with HIV and AIDS , while raising funds for the island’s HIV and AIDS Food Bank.

With the bold slogan “Safe Sex is Sexy”, this year’s Love, Poetry and Song was an unforgettable extravaganza.

“It’s a fantastic event, man,” says veteran Bajan entertainer, Biggie Irie, “and the venue is awesome, I think we should have more events like this, in this kind of

setting.”

Colourful lighting, decorative globes and a dynamic stage transformed the Prime Minister’s residence into an intimate festival arena. Fanciful hearts dangled above the seating in VIP tents.

Young to old, patrons were comfy; mats, folding chairs, blankets, and umbrellas coloured the grounds. Even if you were at a concession kiosk during intermission, or visiting the sponsored stalls set up in or around the gazebo, or standing – the dynamic centre stage with twin screens allowed a bird’s eye view of the stage. Always!

“It’s the epitome of Barbadian shows,” says local spoken word artist, Adeaze, “the organisation, the stage, the artists,

the message . . . it’s just brilliant.”

The national anthem, sung by 2012 Honey Jam finalist Niki Nicole, got the Love Poetry & Song show off to a riveting start around 6 p.m. Lisa Bayley of the GIS and entertainer Patrick “Salt” Bellamy were the hosts.

Twenty-four artistes offered their perspective on “Safe Sex is Sexy”.

Through song, poetry, dance and drama, they highlighted the need to practise healthy sexual behaviour and the pleasure of sexuality, empathy and love.

Divided into two segments, the first half included a mix of spoken word, rap, drama and vocal performances. The drama performances noticeably drew chuckles and sighs from the lively crowd.

Dance group New Motion’s energetic, graphic depiction of How Good Girls Go Bad in response to verbal, physical and sexual abuse was gripping. Her Majesty’s Prison Drama Group was also a crowd favourite. The male cast’s witty performance of Chek Yuhself reminded the crowd to avoid being “young, fast and foolish”.

After the laughs, iconic spoken word artist Adrian Greene delivered Hard Work and relative newcomer Fantom Dundeal’s melodic chant of Girl I’m Feeling You and Bajan Man was a light-hearted close to the poignant messages of the first-half.

By now the crowd was restless and very familiar with “Safe Sex”. The second half was set under the stars and with the occasional drizzle, it was definitely one for the lovers.

“It’s a wonderful and incredible night,” gushed world-renowned Barbadian saxophonist Arturo Tappin, smiling.

“Barbados has so many incredible singers.”

Performances were dynamic, spanning alternative, jazz, soul, soca and rhythm and blues genres.

Vocalists Nikki Nicole, Lynelle aka Larix, Fiona, Wesu, Rochelle and Rhesa Garnes introduced soulful voices and love notes to an appreciative Bajan crowd. The stage’s twin screens showed glimpses of a charmed audience. Female patrons were especially swaying to soul artist Wesu’s silky acoustic covers of popular songs Natural Mystic and There Goes My Baby.

But it was veteran Biggie Irie who got the crowd standing and singing along with Woman and Ten Tonnes of Love. By This Thing Cyan Be Over and Nah Going Home, the crowd was amped.

Seasoned performers Philip 7, Simon Pipe, Marisa Lindsay, and headliner Hal

Linton brought the house down - literally.

By now the rain was pouring when the ‘Soul Prince of the Caribbean’ graced the stage.

“Safe sex is what?” asked the Bajan recording artiste. “SEXY!” screamed the crowd. As if happy with the answer, the rain dulled to a drizzle as Linton serenaded the audience with his 2006 debut single, Cardiac Arrest.

After soulful deliveries of Southern Hospitality and Bob Marley’s Redemption Song, the charismatic Linton brought the show to a close.

“Love, Poetry and Song,” he bellowed, “Safe Sex is Sexy!”

A bold message with even bolder delivery – it was a fitting end to Love, Poetry and Song 2013.

Feb 2014 e-voke magazine 9

Behind the Show government department has an Esther Jones gives the Behind the disease.

Since the first case of HIV and AIDS internal committee, which aims to the Show to Amanda Haynes.

The Caribbean is second only to sub-Saharan Africa in terms of the percentage of adult population affected by HIV and AIDS . At its core, initiatives such as food banks are vital to fulfilling the strict dietary demands of impoverished persons coping with

was detected in Barbados in 1984, the Government of Barbados has been proactive in raising awareness about the disease. One of the first Caribbean governments to partner with the HIV and AIDS World Bank Multi-Country HIV and AIDS Prevention and Control Programme Project, each Barbadian

fulfil the mandate of the programme.

A ‘satisfactory’ increase in awareness has been noted but more needs to be done to effect behavioural change.

“Popular figures, particularly those admired by adolescents, need to be engaged in speaking openly about the risk of HIV and AIDS , how to protect

BGIS Internal HIV and AIDS Committee, (from left) Nekaelia Hutchinson, Ronny Yearwood, Aisha Reid, Lisa Bayley, Shamkoe Pilé, Esther Jones and Paula Harper 10 e-voke magazine Feb 2014

themselves, and the importance of knowing their status and seeking appropriate care,” acknowledged the World Bank APL Report.

Enter Love, Poetry and Song.

Chairperson of the BGIS Internal HIV and AIDS Committee, Esther Jones, talks to e.voke Magazine about the show.

group, gosh, we had the catering group . . . each group was responsible for an element of the team.

And a lot of people bought into it, the show would not have been possible if we did not get huge discounts from companies. The show that we put on is extremely expensive, but because of huge discounts, the co-operation of other ministries, the private sector and e.voke Magazine: Tell us about the everyone who assisted, it was possible Barbados Government Information to put on the show.

Service HIV and AIDS Internal Committee?

EM: How do you measure the success of this type of event?

Esther Jones: We’re the BGIS and our role is to educate the public EJ: Well, sometimes people say you on Government programmes and have to see if you made back the initiatives. The show was a way for us money. But this event was obviously to assist the HIV Food Bank and put not looking at making a profit. We out important messages: to eliminate were looking at raising money and stigma and discrimination and to awareness for the HIV Food Bank. change risky sexual behaviour, and to How do you measure awareness that understand that if people contract the people gain, and understanding, virus, it is wrong to discriminate or to not only of the food bank, but of the stigmatise – that was what we were messaging; which is eliminating trying to get across with the show. stigma and discrimination and that safe sex is sexy.

EM: Many have called the Ilaro Court show “World Class”.

EM: Brilliant slogan EJ: Well, thank you. At first we were thinking, can we do Ilaro Court, can we fill Ilaro Court? We had to break down the committee into individual groups.

We had advertising, we had the logistics group, we had the marketing

are still giving – whether it’s private sector organisations, the amazing sponsors or the general public. People have adopted a shelf, which is the Food Bank’s programme where you can donate food, products and other supplies for a period of time.

EM: How did the artistes workshop affect the performances on the night?

EJ: We did the sensitisation workshop a month before the show, and most of the performers turned out. I think that during that session the artistes bought into what we were trying to do, and have now become ambassadors of the message, “Safe Sex is Sexy”.

I must say one thing about the artistes – they are AMAZING. Completely amazing because they simply did it for honorarium. I mean they did commercials to advertise it . . . and whenever you asked a performer to come they did.

EM: What about future LPS Events?

EJ: We now know that there is going to be Love, Poetry and Song 2014 at EJ: Yes, which is à la Paula Harper’ . Ilaro Court – look for updates on the . . how do you measure that, right? I Facebook page at www.facebook. think it was definitely successful; we com/LovePoetryandSong raised over Barbados $37 000 and had over 18 barrels of food. We say we raised 37 000-plus, because people

Feb 2014 e-voke magazine 11

Q & A

Marisa Lindsay

Marisa Lindsay is undoubtedly one of the talented gems that Barbados can lay claim to and she showed why when she performed at the Love, Poetry and Song show back in February 2013. After the show Evoke Magazine caught up with Marisa for functions while at home in Barbados. I an update on what she’s been up to. made a life-changing decision to focus Evoke Magazine: You look great! What exclusively on the aspects of my life that produce the greatest fulfillment are you doing to accomplish this?

Marisa Lindsay: Thank you for the i.e. my personal growth, my family and compliment! I feel great!! Diet and my further development as a vocalist, exercise! My diet consists mainly of songwriter and teacher. Professionally cereal, vegetables and fish; I am on a that decision has resulted in two albums low dairy diet (it should be NO dairy but - Submit 2 LOVE (2007) and Deeper I LOVE cheese!!). I am blessed to live two Love (2009) and a very satisfying pursuit minutes from the beach so I swim as of helping other vocalists realise their full often as my schedule allows. I also do a potential and freely express themselves. lot of walking and I utilise my youngest It is my vision to establish Sayluv son Kiri in my weightlifting regimen. It’s Music to provide a nurturing, creative environment conducive to the holistic fun for both of us!! development of Barbadian vocalists, EM: We’ve missed you from the local songwriters and musicians and that has entertainment scene in recent times, made the difference in my performances. but now that you are back there seems When you see me perform know that I to be something different about you. have a greater purpose in mind. I hope ML: I understand that’s how it seemed to encourage my students to believe since I was travelling frequently to in themselves and have the courage to Canada and only performing at private do what they love with the talents they have been given. Whenever I watch my students like Vita Chambers, Livvi Franc, Mahalia Cummins of NEXCYX (I LOVE THAT BAND!!), Vizion and Amanda Reifer of Cover Drive perform, I am thrilled because they each have something unique and amazing to share and even more to give. It is a privilege to witness their journey.

beautiful songstress

EM: What are your future goals?

ML: Recording my third album and continuing my mission to provide Sayluv Music students with the tools and opportunities they need to be productive independent artistes.

EM: What are your thoughts on the Love Poetry & Song show?

12 e-voke magazine Feb 2014

ML: Love, Poetry and Song was a great show with great talent for a great cause, organised and executed by a great team!!

I hope it evolves into a once-a-month event showcasing the talents of each parish, educating the artists through HIV workshops, while helping to make them aware of the duty they have as artistes to fulfill their social responsibilities through their chosen medium.

EM: What does “Safe Sex is Sexy” mean to you?

ML: When committed couples empower themselves by getting tested to find out their status and being educated in safe sex practices, the couple fortifies this aspect of their relationship. Being dedicated to protecting themselves and each other by practising safe sex gives them the confidence and freedom to explore their sensuality together. So whether it be with condoms (male or female), dental dams or a sincere pledge of monogamy, knowledge equals freedom equals confidence equals sexy!!! Life is a precious gift and each one of us has a purpose and the choices we make in life should advance the fulfillment of that purpose.

EM: Tell us something we do not know about you.

ML: Love, Poetry and Song was actually the first “field trip” for Sayluv Music Performance Training group and I was very proud to share the stage with my students – the beautiful and talented Rochelle Griffith and Debbie Reiffer. Debbie is so amazing; she wrote a special song for the event!)

Love poetry & Song

a great night for

a great cause The curtain has long come down on the 2013 installment of the Love, Poetry and Song event, but the reason behind the show remains a constant.

Explaining the origins of the event, Barbados Government Information Service (BGIS) HIV Internal Committee member, Paula Harper-Grant, said: “Last year we had this idea...to have a concert to raise funds for the HIV Food Bank we decided to bring together some spoken word artistes, some singers, some dancers, kind of a cultural extravaganza, and it actually worked well.

“We found that some of the artistes who are very talented in Barbados but who never get a chance to be exposed, were able to come out and have a forum...The response was so overwhelming we had the Museum sold out...We ran out of space and we had to turn back people…The generosity last year was fantastic,” she said, adding that persons contacted the BGIS after the concert to find out how they could contribute to the cause.

This fantastic response she noted was why Love, Poetry and Song 2013 had to be taken to a larger venue, which would allow important messages relating to HIV to be shared with a wider audience.

Committee Member and MC for Love, Poetry and Song, Lisa Bayley agreed,

adding that “2012 was good, but we are going to try to be even better... We were at the Museum and [last year] continued on page 17

Feb 2014 e-voke magazine 13

Hal Linton first time

Back for the

By Shamkoe Pilé Barbadian international recording artiste, Hal Linton, will always have special memories of Love, Poetry and Song. The concert was his first major show in Barbados since leaving Universal Motown, where he had a US$1 million record deal.

What made Love, Poetry and Song even more special was Hal’s father witnessing his son’s performance for the first time ever.

“Usually I never invite my dad because he’s an Adventist, and a lot of the times, the shows I do in Barbados fall outside of the Adventist parameters,” Hal explained.

“It was the perfect time and Love, Poetry and Song was the perfect show.

I always wanted my dad to come [see me perform], but he was like ‘no, no, no, I’m not going to that’. So I said okay, I can’t force him anyway…” the singer/songwriter said.

He recalled that on the day of the show, he and his manager, James, had just walked into the Ilaro Court venue, when James asked him, “Isn’t that your father over there?”

“If we had come a few seconds earlier, I would never had known [he was there], but it was cool. My dad was excited, I was excited, it was a good moment, I will always remember that,” Hal reminisced.

Once the headline act took to the stage, the rain drizzled and maybe this was a metaphoric welcome back to his homeland.

14 e-voke magazine Feb 2014

The approximately 5 000-strong patrons danced and sang along with Hal as he performed new, old and cover tracks. Several times during his performance, Hal reinforced the event’s theme – “Safe sex is . . .” to which the crowd screamed, “sexy”!

Stressing the theme was “amazing, clever and effective”; he explained safe sex as more than condom use alone. “When I say safe sex, I don’t only think of condoms . . . there are some couples who have been together forever, they are faithful to each other . . . and they have been tested together.

To me, all those things combine into something safe and sexy. Without a safe environment, you can’t even venture into places where you can have a little bit more fun than usual,” he said.

The artiste said he was happy with the public’s overwhelming support for the event and added this showed there was still a “fighting spirit in Barbados towards the eradication of HIV and AIDS.”

As the conversation shifted to Hal’s career, he said he was happy with the direction he was taking as an independent artiste.

Hal is now focused on songwriting and producing and is currently signed to Green&Bloom/BMG – a publishing brand for songwriters and independent artistes. He has also made waves in Europe – particularly in Germany, Italy and France, as well as performed dance music in Germany

“In other parts of the world, you would be really surprised at how intense the music business is . . . how vibrant other marketplaces are, and how readily accessible they are to people who just want to work,” he said.

“The problem with the US sometimes is that you have to pay ‘real’ dues or get a ‘real’ lucky break. It is a situation where fortune favours the brave and the lucky. In other marketplaces you do not find this so much. People are

and worked on an album with a French artiste.

He has also released his first mixtape, Technicolour, on datpiff. com in September 2012 The 14-track compilation features fellow Barbadian songstress and songwriter, Shontelle, Jon Connor, and Phonix.

“I love this whole ‘inde’ thing, it’s from the artist directly to your iPod and the response has been great, so I feel I will keep this going,” Hal affirmed.

Making headway into markets outside of the United States is a priority.

According to Hal, the music business has changed drastically within the last three years, and independent artistes can no longer concentrate exclusively on penetrating the US market.

“Believe it or not, there are lots of huge markets in the world,” he said

constantly working. It’s very exciting for creative people like me,” Hal insisted, adding he was exploring the Asian market.

He said that there was no clear path to success in the music business but encouraged those who wanted to enter the industry to work hard. He suggested reaching out to established industry players, but admitted it was easier for the “average” person to access an international songwriter or producer, than it was to get in contact with an artiste.

“It’s not overly complex but it’s not one size fit all either,” Hal reasoned.

The artiste said he was working on his next mixtape called Nocturnal, but did not give a release date.

Feb 2014 e-voke magazine 15

Simon “Says” Evoke Magazine caught up with Simon Pipe, the cool reggae artiste after the Love, Poetry & Song show. The son of a British father and Barbadian mother, Simon begged for a guitar at the age of eleven, and it has never left his side since.

Evoke Magazine: How did you first start singing?

Simon Pipe: I started singing in bands when I was 11 and I started out in church as the youth worship leader and I played guitar and sang (and occasionally lead worship) with the adult worship team.

EM: Do you have a favourite place to perform?

SP: Performing is something that I usually dread. The studio is such a safe environment – performing is a whole other world. I’ve been fortunate to perform in some great places, but the people make a performance enjoyable for me. Seeing people enjoy my music is really encouraging.

EM: What does success mean to you?

SP: My idea of success is being able to be myself and support my family by doing what I truly love to do.

EM: How did you get your unique name?

SP: My parents are responsible for that one! Simon Pipe is my real name.

EM: What are your thoughts and feeling about Love, Poetry & Song?

SP: This was my first time participating in Love, Poetry & Song and I was pleasantly surprised at the numbers that came out and the donations that came in. It’s great to see people supporting a great cause and good entertainment and art.

EM: Who are your mentors or role models and the best advice you ever got?

SP: I don’t really have any specific mentors per se. I have been priveleged to have met some wonderful people over time (far too many to mention) who have had a positive impact on me. We even learn a lot from those who persecute us, so it’s hard to even begin to describe one person’s impact on me. I’m thankful for it all – the good and the bad. They mould us into who we need to become.

EM: What does “Safe Sex is Sexy” mean to you and how do you plan to reach your son with the message?

SP: I think I see “Safe Sex is Sexy” as a matter of being a responsible human being and a loving partner. I think children will usually end up repeating the behaviour and attitudes they grow up around, so hopefully I can provide a positive example for my son. I also believe in information and education – information and education leads to informed, intelligent decision-making.

EM: Do you have any rituals before a performance?

SP: Every performance is different for me. I’d love to have a routine that I know works, but I’m still figuring this thing out, so I try different things all the time.

EM: Tell us something about yourself that we don’t know.

SP: I once was detained by the police in London for moving a temporary bus-stop that had been set up by the council. They let me go after making me put it back in its original position.

16 e-voke magazine Feb 2014

a great night for a great cause continued on page 17 it became standing room only, so we made a very bold decision to move to Ilaro Court.”

Speaking about the concert’s raison d’etre, she remarked: “We do this because we are trying to help the Food Bank. It does not get money directly from Government and it works basically from donations; and the Food Bank not only helps people who have HIV but also their families and their children. It (the Bank) gets help at particular times of the year, but we want to be able to sustain it on an annual basis so that every day there is something there for people who really

need it.”

Noting that the concert should be the beginning and not the end of support for the agency, Bayley pointed out: “One of the other things we are hoping to get out of Love, Poetry and Song is to get Corporate Barbados – and that does not just mean big businesses, small businesses can do it as well

– to adopt a shelf of the HIV Food Bank so that they will consistently give a particular good or goods for a period of time”. They also noted that other entities interested in offering their support to the event and the HIV Food Bank could do so by contacting the BGIS at 426-2232.

Feb 2014 e-voke magazine 17

love, poetry & song

Artistes and Audien

All enjoying the Show

18 e-voke magazine Feb 2014

g... beautiful people

nce

w

Feb 2014 e-voke magazine 19

DJ Simmons,

Spoken Word Artiste

by the stimulating sensation of edutainment.

I does do spoken word, And it is my duty to mek it heard, Through social commentary communication, So I taking this opportunity to massage the muscled minds of the masses, And reason between we cause it don’t be easy, Is be hard.

Hard when society looks at a young good lookin fella like me, Placing peer pressure to promote promiscuity, Through conversation swaps in cars, and talks in bars When a smile asks, “Wuh you drinking?”

As you walk in wid you outside ting.

“Hard”

by DJ Simmons No fuh trut.

You see all a we hey come together under stars Stars sharing a stage Awakening ears, eliminating fears And creating awareness in a community through an alternative culture of education Against desensitized discrimination Through Love, Poetry and Song.

(And although I don’t sing any love songs.)

Poetry is my ting, So I gin fling some fluent fire through lips licking ya eardrum through a speaker hum And when I done, All inside yuh will be sparked

20 e-voke magazine Feb 2014

Silent fist bumps knock loud in the subliminal, When the virgin male sees the man with many missus place on the pedestal And he misses out on the high five because he does only deal wid one girl, Is be hard.

Hard for that striving, striding focused female, To stay faithful in that relationship when de man playing de tail, But understand, he’s no failure, He’s employed, takes care of his children, But he has settled into a laid back lifestyle that’s all good for him and uncompromising, And his woman feels like she has to keep providing for her and him And her ambitions aren’t being matched,

In fact, it works out her gym actually begins with a J, Jim takes up the slack of the Jack she only regards now, as a retard, Das why me men gotta come hard!

So it would be easy for our incredible women to be inspired to invest in we, But, I know is be hard Because, money don’t come easy If it come a tall.

And being realistic There are those much worse off than you and me But dem still got de urges Yet, nutten in dem purses And poverty is not going to stop the passion of spontaneity, But it will prevent proper protection, When Durex cost three, but bareback is free,

Is be hard but use ya head buddy, I know, when that seductive skin start tantalizing them tickles trickling down to those romantic regions, Ya does get hard Ly any chance to use the right head! to focus properly And although Lord knows it ain’t easy.

We need discipline B, And don’t even come to me wid that ting bout condoms ugly, Give it to her, and she would show you that safe sex sexy.

And you know what I think is hard?!

I only find out de other day That it’s been four years since there’ve been a baby born At we hospital infected with HIV, Medication provides one hundred percent protection,

Against passing infection from mother to chile I ainno know bout you, but that sorta news does mek me smile.

Is good when certain information in relation to HIV can be positive.

So big up the geniuses of G.I.S for producing this, Cause it don’t be easy.

Is be hard.

Hard to pull together all these artists in this one spot, Pun this big plot a land, To land lyircs of positivity sincerely about a similar theme, Some seem to think too sensitive, When really and truly, is all a we business, And you know wuh one of the best parts is.

All it tek fuh wunna To be part of this goodness, is a lil ten dollar, And bout two cans of tuna!

Feb 2014 e-voke magazine 21

Love, poetry & Song

artistes get schooled

She threw out a challenge to participants to encourage persons to get tested, especially men, noting that “we find men at the stage of AIDS, where they are clinically diagnosed because they are ill, and that is too

By Nekaelia Hutchinson late. We are losing our men. It is The topic of sex is often considered the not just young men, it is not just old ultimate taboo, as it touches on issues men; it is all men!” that are seen as sacred, or at least, Testing, though necessary, cannot private and personal; but sex was seen protect you from HIV or STIs, however, in a different way when the artistes and Nurse reminded the attendees who participated in this year’s Love, that it was sexual choices that Poetry and Song concert, gathered determined who remained safe and at Almond Bay, Hastings, to discuss who was at risk. sex and HIV. In response to an artiste who asked Led by the HIV and AIDS Commission’s about the current trend of casual Behavioural Change Communications sex and correct condom use, Nurse Specialist, Alexis Nurse, the frank two- cautioned that having multiple hour session offered artistes a refresher partners at the same time carried “a

on HIV 101

very, very, very high risk. We have to really make our minds up that we are going to make sex safe, but also make it enjoyable.”

“Prevention [is crucial and] this is what you [artistes] need to be selling.

If you do not use condoms correctly, if you do not use them consistently, they will not be effective,” she said, and encouraged persons to read the instructions carefully prior to use.

Illustrating that protection – whether male condoms, female condoms or dental dams – was always necessary, Nurse explained that while oral sex carried a lower risk, all a virus required was “an entry point”. continued on next page

course about sex, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HIV, AIDS and their responsibilities both as performers and partners.

Nurse explained that “HIV uses the machinery of cells and tells it to reproduce new HIV particles so the viral load in your system will go up while your immune system [weakens]”. This, she said, was why an HIV test detected the antibodies the immune system produces in response to its presence in the body.

Even though Barbados has made progress in addressing HIV-related issues, and no HIV-positive babies were born here in the last four years, behavioural change continues to be a major stumbling block. It was this area of effectively reaching the masses where Nurse said artistes could use their popularity for a good cause.

22 e-voke magazine Feb 2014

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If there is bruising, cuts, STIs like herpes where there is a sore are direct entry points.” However, she added that with any type of sex, the “receptive partner” was more likely to be infected than the “insertive partner” and added that the presence of an STI made it easier to contract HIV. External factors also influenced the chance of transmission, the Commission representative said, listing poverty, stigma and discrimination and cultural factors as some of the issues involved.

One participant suggested that stigma could result in persons refusing to get tested for fear that information that should be confidential – such as sexual orientation or HIV status – would not

behavioural change with regard to sex and HIV. Sex, Nurse said, should not be reduced to nothing more than proof of manhood for men and a means to an end for women; however, the reality was that it was regarded as These decisions could also include the a commodity, where boys would be option of abstinence which, although teased for valuing their virginity and less popular, still has a place in the girls would be pressured to reconsider discussion on HIV. Another artiste their chastity. observed that young people should be taught how to abstain. She added There was still hope, however, as that the decision to have sex was Nurse said that the artistes’ fans mental, emotional and spiritual and and supporters would listen to any the choice to have sex or abstain message they had to share, for should be grounded in knowledge example, if that message was one of safe sex and non-discrimination: “If and awareness. we stop stigmatising people, then It was this fact, coupled with the need people will start feeling empowered to for both men and women to value express themselves. It has to start with their bodies, that was at the root of us.” be treated as such. “If we continue to [perpetrate] stigma, then we are part of the problem. We cannot be judgmental; people have the right to make their own decisions,” she said.

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Feb 2014 e-voke magazine 23

“It makes no sense to throw your life away for a cute smile or hot body. So get serious and protect yourself!”

This is the advice singer/songwriter Rhesa Garnes stressed in an interview leading up to this year’s Love, Poetry and Song show. She advised persons to use good judgement during the infatuation or courting stage of potential relationships and avoid being “blinded by feelings”.

It’s time to get serious about safe sex!

Adding that protecting oneself extended beyond condom use, the mother of three emphasised, “Being safe is more than using a condom…

It also means being faithful to one partner and abstaining until you are [mature] and ready for sex”.

Reasoning that persons should “get the facts” by educating themselves about HIV and AIDS, the NIFCA awardwinning singer noted that one could not simply tell a person’s HIV status by looking at them and cautioned against discrimination towards persons living with HIV, “because it could be your sister, brother, mother, father, or it could even be you”.

Erika Alexei, an island-soul singer emphasised that, “HIV and AIDS could affect any single one of us and it will continue to do that unless we take a really firm stance to protect ourselves.

[If that does not happen, then] the possibility of anyone contracting HIV will remain a reality.”

Also encouraging her fans to protect themselves against the transmission of HIV, Alexei pointed out that abstinence and correct condom use were effective methods of protection.

“I am a really firm believer in abstinence, as much as one can 24 e-voke magazine Feb 2014

abstain, but I am also real… I believe that [if you are going to have sex] being smart is sexy, safe sex is sexy and

you should love yourself enough to protect yourself,” she stressed.

The artiste, who started singing in church at the age of 16 and is best known for her ingenious transformation of ballads and R&B songs, said, “I am really excited to be a part of the show... It is a totally non-profit event and we are helping to raise money and food items for the HIV Food Bank.”

pastas; jams; jellies; peanut butter; granola bars; nuts; apple sauce etc.

How You Can Help:

PLEASE DO NOT DONATE: EXPIRED, You can do a combination of the DENTED CANS, OPEN/USED ITEMS, following – RUSTED CANS OR EXOTIC FOODS Donate food Why the Food Bank is Important: Conduct a food drive Make corporate donations People who are ill have difficulties Adopt-a-shelf working. HIV and AIDS can bring with Volunteer your time it a strain of nutritional dysfunctions within the body. This weakening of the Fresh fruits, vegetable and juices immune system reinforces the need Fresh bread, eggs, cheese and milk for nutritional support.

“Thanks to Chefette Restaurants Meat Individuals, families and communities Limited for their kind contribution Canned goods are not only impacted by the symptoms to the HIV Food Bank and Dried goods of HIV and AIDS but also by the e-voke Magazine.”

Ground provisions symptoms of the prejudice, stigma Liquids supplements Other items: sugar; rice; seasonings; and discrimination and ignorance.

Feb 2014 e-voke magazine 25

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