nuwomanmagazine.com
2 nuwomanmagazine.com
ON THE COVER On the cover- Analicia Thompson Credits : Photographer: Barry Williams Styling: Erica Meus-Saunders, Mitzi Thompson Black coat- Zara. Belt. H&M. Trousers. Theodore Elyett. Jewelry. Island Jewels & Souvenirs Cover Design: Amelia J. Shot on location. Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort & Casino.
PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Erica Meus Saunders CREATIVE DIRECTOR Barry Williams COPY EDITOR Tanya Simmons LIFESTYLES EDITOR Leah Larwood CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Nasia Colebrooke Johnnel Adderley Erica Meus-Saunders Heike Dempster Jennifer Freeman D’Andre Wilson-Ihejirika.
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Barry Williams Fadil Berisha Kovah Duncombe Erica Meus Saunders PJ Douglas Sands Heike & Robert Dempster
GRAPHIC DESIGN Amelia J Amoury Erica Meus-Saunders Barry Williams MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION Email: suzette.scott@gmail.com OR Tel: (242) 676-7908 Email: nuwomanmagazine@ymail.com NU WOMAN MAGAZINE is printed four times a year. PUBLISHED BY NU WOMAN LTD Freddie Munnings Manor P.O. Box CB 13236 Nassau, Bahamas Email: nuwomanbs@gmail.com Web: http://nuwomanmagazine.com © 2013 Nu Woman Ltd. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior consent of the publisher. Online subscriptions are now available, visit us on the web to sign up. 3
NU WOMAN MAGAZINE Available locally at: -Lowes Pharmacy, Harbour Bay -Logos Bookstore, Harbour Bay -Chapter One Bookstore, Oakes Field -Wongs Bookstore- top of Hill Mackey St -City Market Food stores -Atlantis Resort, Royal Towers sundry -Super Value Food stores (Winton, Top of Hill, Cable Beach). -Also available in Freeport, G.B (LMR Drugs, Solomon’s Foodstore, Bethel’s Bookstore, Appletree Pharmacy) & Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands. CONTACT US AT: TEL: (242) 676-7908 OR email us at: nuwomanmagazine@ymail.com Check out Nu Woman’s updated website :
http://nuwomanmagazine.com, On Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/NuWomanmagazine Coming up!
4 nuwomanmagazine.com
5
33
CONTENTS
JAN 2013
8 Publisher’s Page 10 Contributors
NU PROFILES 30. Putting Her Best Foot Forward in Life ...and on the runway. Analicia is the new ‘It Girl’. 28. Jennifer Freeman. My Life and Bodybuilding 40. Toby Lunn. 60. Celeste Marshall Featured Artists 17. Sheba “The Queen of Hearts.” 19. Sekhu 21. Gospel Artist Cazna Hinds
FEATURES 12. Susan Susgrove-Davis and Pink Pearl Gems. 15. The Hatcher Files.
6 nuwomanmagazine.com
67
CONTENTS 37. Hands for Hunger 57. To Sir Sidney With Love 27. Revisiting Ronnie Butler
NU FASHION 20. What Do Fashion and Engineering Have In Common? 48. City Limits editorial with Barry Williams.
ENTERTAINMENT 24. Unique Entertainment bringing excite ment to the world with the Bahamas All Star Music Festival. 64. Art Basel Miami Beach.
TELEPHONE 327-3558
14 7
Fresh Fast &
Flavorful! 11 RESTAURANTS to serve you!
ST O R E L O C A T IO N S I BERNARD ROAD 393-5592
GOLDEN GATES 341-0651
CABLE BEACH 327-1214
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (LPIA) 702-7167
CARMICHAEL ROAD WEST 361-5073 DOMESTIC AIRPORT (LPIA) 377-0511
MACKEY STREET 393-8055
O PE N D A I L Y SEAGRAPES SHOPPING PLAZA 364-9115 THOMPSON BLVD 356-3979
EAST MALL, FREEPORT MALL AT MARATHON 352-8120 393-5755
PUBLISHER’S Note
I sum up the 2012 year in review as a ‘Stand Up and Be Counted’ year for Nu Woman. 2012 brought with it many challenges and personal loss, but it also brought to the forefront great support and showed me the value of each person contributing to the Nu Woman ‘team’. We wanted to kick off 2013 with a ‘Push the Envelope’ attitude. Creative director Barry Williams, graphic artist Amelia J and I were back and forth with this cover design. We needed to get it right, and I think we achieved what we were going after. Our cover model Analicia was a breeze to work with and I have no doubt that she will be making waves in the international market very soon. Nu Woman magazine is a work in progress, and we are forever changing and adding to the mix of what our concept for the magazine is. We want to set new standards in 2013 and begin the year with an interesting editorial spread - City Limits by Barry Williams. In previous years, we have gotten the stories, now we aim to dig to the heart of the issues in talking to artists, women, entertainers and other people of interest. This issue is filled with such articles. One of my favorite interviews in this issue is with abstract artist turned filmmaker Toby Lunn; he was so ‘to the heart of the matter’ and engaging. I’ve also decided to revisit an article that we did in the past with legendary Bahamian musician Ronnie Butler, who is very ill and in the hospital as I write.
Hands 4 Hunger team. Mohamed Knowles and Renard Poitier of Unique Entertainment bring us the first Bahamas All-Star Cultural Festival, Bahamas All-Star Music Festival and Bahamian Music Award. This past December, I had the opportunity to sit and talk with Sir Sidney Poitier during his bridge naming ceremony, and thought it appropriate to include that article, which was first published on our website (http:// nuwomanmagazine.com). It’s a New Year; let us endeavor to learn from the mistakes of 2012 and to grow in grace in 2013. Live more, love deeply!
Happy New Year! Erica Meus-Saunders Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Publisher’s photo by Barry Williams
Nu Woman also celebrated 5 years in circulation and we had a special 5 years, 3 covers anniversary issue with cover models from here and around the globe including Miss Universe 2011 Leila Lopes, Bahamian international model Kamela Forbes and Nu Face winner Rokara Hepburn. This issue is all about the Arts and Entertainment. Heike Dempster brings us Art Basel Miami Beach, Sheba and Sekhu. Nasia introduces us to Cazna Hinds. We introduce a new writer Johnnel Adderley who talks with the 9
Contributors
Barry Williams has a been a photographer for five years and most enjoys shooting fashion and editorials. His photography has appeared in many online and print publications and he is currently working on a project for exhibit to showcase around the region later this year. He enjoys travel and reading, particularly about subjects pertaining to the Caribbean. His focus right now is shooting as many editorials as he can, both home and abroad. “Shooting the cover for this issue of Nu Woman has been one of my best so far. The hair and makeup team was great. There was a nice environment to work with that fit the overall mood we were trying to capture and the model was super duper great to work with,” says Barry who is also Creative Director of spreads appearing in the magazine. Contacts: M: 431-7678 Website: http://barryvwilliams.com 10 nuwomanmagazine.com
Heike Wollenweber is a publicist, journalist and radio personality based in Kingston, Jamaica and Miami. As a graduate from London Metropolitan University Heike started her company Axe-s Media in 2006 and has been primarily working in music and fashion, adding fine art to her portfolio more recently. Heike currently represents various Jamaican and Bahamian musical artistes internationally and her radio show All Axe-s is on air in the Bahamas, Turks & Caicos as well as online and on iTunes. Heike Wollenweber AXE-S Media • 876 484 6023 (Jamaica) • All AXE- S Radio
Leah Larwood has been a lifestyle contributor at NU Woman magazine since spring 2009. Originally from England, Leah has been living in the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands for the last few years. She is a published coauthor of a travel book about the Turks and Caicos Islands. Although she specializes in food and travel writing, last year for NU Woman she wrote about her quest in running the New York marathon. She is currently studying for a Masters Degree in Creative Writing. Leah was recently promoted to Nu Woman Magazine’s Lifestyles Editor.
Seasoned photographer, Dwayne Delancy plays a big role in the publication of these issues. Dwayne has photographed a few covers for Nu Woman and has added his unique style. Dwayne has covered events from Islands of The World Fashion Week and Bahamas International Film Festival to the Miss Universe Pageant. He has also contributed in the ‘Nu Face Model Search Season 2 and photographed Miss Bahamas Universe 2011 contestants. (Photography & Vintage R&B Music Tel: 424-6067)
Contributors
I’m Amelia, a graphic designer with over 5 + years of experience in the field. I’ve been surrounded by technology my whole life, so it was natural for me to take my creativity and make it digital. I’ve worked in both freelancing and for a number of successful print companies, which has allowed me to polish my skills. I am currently based in Nassau, Bahamas and have a strong focus on print design. To find out more about me you can visit www. ameliajamoury.com to view my portfolio.
N a s i a Colebrooke - 20 year old Nasia Rená Colebrooke (pronounced Nahja), has a passion for the Arts. Although she specializes in writing, she believes in the creativity of the minds of young Bahamians in other forms of Art and truly believes in the growth of the Visual and the Performing Arts, in the Bahamas. Nasia is currently a Junior at the College of The Bahamas, pursuing an English Literature Bachelor of Arts Degree. Along with being a writer, she is also aiming to become an English teacher. After gaining her Master’s of Fine Arts Degree, she hopes to return to a Bahamas that has more eclectic career opportunities for the budding minds of today’s youth.
TANYA P. SIMMONS Tanya P. Simmons is a graduate of C.R. Walker Secondary School, The College of the Bahamas and the University of Central Oklahoma. She is an avid reader who enjoys traveling and the occasional jet boat ride over rapids. Tanya is Nu Woman Magazine’s Copy Editor
Nasia’s hobbies include playing volleyball, watching movies, dancing, laughing and just enjoying life. She urges the talent of today to keep chasing their dreams, no matter how unorthodox they may seem. Never settle. There can never be change or versatility in the Bahamas unless we become the change we want to see.
Facebook: AJDesigns • www.ameliajamoury.com
11
Susan Susgrove Davis & Pink Pearl Gems Susan Davis is the owner and operator of Pink Pearl Gems. Susan is a mother of two boys ages 16 and 10 and has been married to Mr. Phil Davis for 10 years. Susan says that she started making earrings for coworkers about two years ago and that it just grew from there. Susan, who was born and raised in the North East of England in rural East Yorkshire, came to Nassau in 1990 to work at The Crystal Palace, which is now “The Wyndham Nassau Resort and Crystal Palace Casino” in the casino as a Croupier. Susan states, “I was living in London working in a West End Casino when I saw an ad for The Bahamas. They were looking for experienced Croupiers. I knew nothing about The Bahamas, but it sounded very exotic. I applied and three months later here I was in Nassau and I have never looked back! I have now been in casinos for 25 years.” Nu Woman took an opportunity to sit and talk with Susan about her jewelry business and how she juggles with trying to balance work and family. NW: How did you decide on a name for your jewelry line? Susan: I wanted a name that represented The Bahamas, that was exquisite and could be brought readily to mind. I came up with the usual names that would remind one of The Bahamas, for example, “242”, “Cacique: etc. Then I came up with “Pink Pearl”. When I “Googled” Pink Pearl, I discovered that pink pearls originated from the Queen Conch and are extremely rare, having only about 1 in 10,000 Queen Conch producing one pink pearl. I feel “Pink Pearl Gems” is a name that represents my jewelry being handmade in The Bahamas and an exquisite, one of a kind jewelry. NW: Was jewelry design somewhere in your background or was it a love that developed over time? Susan: I have always been creative. I was hands-on in the design of my home. I do all my own decorating and sewing for my home, so when I discovered jewelry making, it came naturally. Originally, I wanted to make jewelry using only ative products such as conch shell, coconut etc. I took a basic stringing course and was hooked. However, I would still like to get into the shell and coconut jewelry. NW: What are your dreams for Pink Pearl Gems moving forward? How do you see the business growing? Susan: Moving forward, I am looking at setting up a web site. I have had inquiries from other countries in The Caribbean as well as The USA and Canada, so I want to be able to accommodate them as well as The Bahamas. There are so many talented people here, but only a few functions to showcase our work so in the not too distant future I would love to have my own store here in The Bahamas where I sell not only my own work but also that of other local artisans. NW: Does your family support you in this endeavour? What do your kids have to say? Susan: I have an extremely supportive family. My husband is in marketing, so he gives me lots of advice in that direction. Also my husband and my older son will help by “sharing” my posts on Facebook and the youngest is always asking me to make him something so he can show 12 nuwomanmagazine.com
his friends! NW: You have started to make bracelets in support of breast cancer, and leukemia, what prompted this? Susan: I had recently discovered “Kumihimo” which is the Japanese art of braiding, when someone asked me to make a Pink bracelet. I made a Kumihimo bracelet in pink leather and not only did they love it, but I also received orders for many more. This then gave me the idea to make some to help out a co-worker’s grandson who has Leukemia. For every orange and gold bracelet I make, a portion goes to help this young man who is currently undergoing treatment. NW: Give me a description for the types of jewelry that you make?
Do you prefer making one type to the next? Susan: I love to work with Swarovski Crystals and Pearls, along with Sterling Silver and 14kt Gold Filled findings (clasps etc.,). Most of the work I do is strung which is simply threading the beads on wire. I also love to sew the crystals, which are basically sewing the beads together with a special thread and needle. I took a class in bead embroidery, which is a type of jewelry making I would like to experiment with a little more and I also want to try working with clay. The one aspect of Jewelry making I really enjoy is “custom made”. There is something satisfying about creating something special for a particular person. NW: How do you balance work, family and jewelry making? Is it an easy juggle? Susan: Although balancing everything is not easy, with having a young family, running the home and working full time I am learning to take full advantage of the spare time I do have to pursue my jewelry designing. Email: pinkpearlgems@yahoo.com Tel #: 357-8766 Facebook page: “Pink pearl Gems by Susan Davis” I offer free delivery in Nassau. For all custom orders a deposit of 50% is required.
13
14 nuwomanmagazine.com
T he
Hat c her F ile
L
ocal author Ray Knight recently released his first novel called The Hatcher File. Nu Woman caught up with him a few days after his book signing at Logos. Ray briefly described what the novel is
about. “The Hatcher File is a thriller with a romantic twist. Our hero, Tom, has upset some very powerful people who kidnap the one person he loves. Set against the idyllic backdrop of the Caribbean, Tom races against time to save her. It is a fast-paced novel with several unique twists. I really enjoyed researching and writing it.” Ray who was a good writer and avid reader since school says that he always wanted to write a book. “I’ve always had a dream to write a book. Many people I speak to have the same desire. I made several false starts over the years but kept on trying. Once I got the idea for The Hatcher File, I was hooked. This time I was determined to finish! Working full-time and writing on the side is not conducive to a fast process. Leaving Atlantis (Hotel & Resort) in April finally gave me the time to focus, finish the project and get it published.” NW: How long did it take you to write this book? Ray: The whole thing took around four years, from the moment I stared at my first blank page! NW: Is this your first book written or first book published? Ray: This is the first novel I completed and obviously the first one published. It was very ambitious and naïve of me to start with a novel as my first real project. I should have cut my teeth with short stories and perfected my writing style. It’s a lot easier to edit and re-write a 3,000 word essay than a 75,000 word book. Unfortunately, I learnt that the hard way! NW: What inspired you to write this book? Ray: A local newspaper article about an incident in Freeport caught my attention. Acting on an anonymous tip, police found a stash of guns, cocaine and millions of dollars in cash in a self-storage unit. It piqued my curiosity as it did many peoples at the time. I began to imagine how the contraband got there, who phoned in the tip, and a story began to form in my mind. That seed germinated into The Hatcher File. Ray, who has been in the business of gaming for many
Serving tapas, fresh seafood, pastas, and the BEST thin crust pizzas on the Island. Boutique Wines from around the world. Dine while overlooking Nassau Harbour and Atlantis Resort. East Bay St., Nassau, Bahamas. Ph. 242.322.6900 / 328.8283 Harbourfrontlounge.com
years, talked about how he drifted back to his first love. “I was a good writer at school and avidly read anything I could get my hands on. My ambition at that time was to be a journalist. I left school and drifted into the casino business almost by accident. For many years, my aspirations to be a writer took a back seat, although I continued to read prodigiously. Friends encouraged me to start writing again but I was reluctant. Becoming computer savvy was the final key. It’s so much easier to write with a spell and grammar checker! So, the last five years was a renaissance for me as far as my writing is concerned.” NW: How has your life experiences contributed to the book? Or is it all fiction? Ray: That’s a very interesting question! It is a fiction novel that was inspired by true events. However, I could not have written a novel of such depth and colour twenty years ago or even ten. I have visited every location used in the story. I based some of the characters on true personalities I have encountered over the years. Felicia is an ideal combination of many women I have known over the years. So, it’s fair to say that my life’s experiences made a profound contribution to the book. NW: What was it like to finally be published? Ray: Publishing my first novel was such a long, drawn-out process that the biggest feeling I had was relief. Though I must admit, it was a moving moment when I held the first paperback copy in my hand. The other satisfying moment was speaking to my parents on the phone long distance. Hearing the pride in my father’s voice was really touching. It’s gratifying to see those months and years of hard work finally pay off! Here is what Ray had to say about his first book signing at Logos: “The book signing turned out to be a fun social event. It started slowly. I sat for the first 45 minutes and no one showed up. I felt a little embarrassed at the table with a copy of my book on a little stand while I sat twiddling my thumbs. I got so bored that I started reading it! Then the first person came in, sat, and gave me moral support until the second person arrived. From then on, it snowballed into a steady procession until we sold every copy. Nervousness was not a factor. The best thing that happened was the arrival of Erica Meus-Saunders and her huge camera! I’m not just saying that because she edits this magazine! She caused such a stir taking photographs that several curious onlookers came over to see what was happening. They each ended up buying copies! Thanks Erica…” NW: What would you say to someone who wants to write a book, but think that they are too old or past that point? Ray: I hope that’s not a veiled reference to my advancing years! Seriously, it’s never too late. If it’s something that you feel passionate enough about, then shoot for your goal. In many ways, it’s more satisfying to achieve a dream later in life, because you appreciate it more. I mentioned earlier that my life
16 nuwomanmagazine.com
experiences helped me with the novel. That could be true for everybody. You don’t have to be young and fit and full of energy to write. It helps to have some wisdom, knowledge and experience of life to produce something with depth and feeling. I think age is an advantage when writing. But, that’s just my opinion. NW: Now that you have published this book, what are your plans? Ray: I’m working on several projects including a sequel to The Hatcher File. I’m spending a lot of time researching for my next novel ‘The Wilderness Conspiracy’. Everyone loves a good conspiracy, so it may have a wider appeal than the Tom Hatcher books. I’m also spending many hours promoting the sale of the book. The sales from that may be enough to keep me writing full-time until the next novel is complete. So, this is just the beginning. I’m continuing to chase the dream of becoming a fulltime author.
SH EB A “The Queen of Hearts”
By Heike Dempster
W
hat do you get when you mash up stadium level pop sounds, New York City’s concrete jungle, the majesty of Africa and Caribbean island style, and shake it like a Molotov Cocktail? Welcome to the world of SHEBA®, a feisty, dynamic singer/rhymer/songwriter/producer poised to set your speakers on fire with explosive beats, melodic hooks, provocative lyrics, wicked flow, and a diva-worthy four octave range. In early 2009, Sheba formed a self-financed and self-run, independent label, (S) onic Dynasty around the buzz from what turned out to be her first single, “Love This Lifetime” -- a song which unexpectedly took off from a Youtube post -- which led to a remix with dancehall legend Bounty Killer. Since then, that one, little song posted to Youtube on a whim, has traveled the world and opened up a universe of musical possibilities for the Cornell grad and former Marketing Director, for whom music was once just a dream. When it comes to music, Sheba wears her heart on her crown. “I was doing something totally different with my life, but my heart would not let me hear the end of it”, Sheba started.
“Music was bursting out of me. I write and sing for cathartic reasons. It’s how I process life. It’s how I make sense of the ups and downs. ‘Love This Lifetime’ was just a love song I wrote for someone, and when I put it up on Youtube, I had no real plan. It was like the music in me could not stay quiet”, ended Sheba. Some musicians are born into environments where music is all around and picking up an instrument or honing an obvious talent is somewhat automatic. Coming from a decidedly non-musical family that had fled a Communist revolution in Ethiopia, despite showing signs of ability at a young age, Sheba was encouraged to take on more stable pursuits that would lead to a less 17
precarious career. She says, “I knew I could sing very early on, around 4 or 5, and not long after that I knew I could and wanted to be someone who wrote the songs coming out of the radio. I also very vividly remember being frustrated that I couldn’t spell yet.” Sheba recalls racing home from school to secretly practice singing along with divas such as, the late Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Aretha Franklin and Chaka Khan. “I would record myself singing onto the same tracks as my favorite singer’s and chase them, note for note. That’s how I learned to sing. I would study the lyrics of my favorite songs. That’s how I learned song structure, melody and began to absorb production. I listened to the radio obsessively. I had my favorite albums on repeat.” Sheba cites Michael Jackson, Bob Marley, Stevie Wonder, Lauryn Hill, Prince, The Police and No Doubt as those that had the most influence on her musical style. Sheba stated, “Later on, when I got ‘nerdier’ about music I started to really dig into Fela Kuti. I saw a thread between the music he was making and the music Michael Jackson was making. It inspired me to want to make music that was about that space, where cultures rub up on each other, because I feel like I live and was sort of born into that space.” Sheba knows first hand what it is like to live in a space where cultures are constantly mixing. Born in Addis Ababa, the capital of her ancestral home, Ethiopia, Sheba arrived in New York City as a small child with her family fleeing the Civil War, after first spending a few years in Germany, then ending up in Guyana, and eventually landing in Queens. In her early years growing up in exile, she learned to appreciate her rich cultural upbringing through a diversity of music. She honed her voice by teaching herself to sing and write songs by using her favorite songs and singers as her guide, while her parents --who worked as international civil servants-- continued to take her around the globe. It was during a return to New York in 2004 after living in Kingston, Jamaica, that Sheba teamed up with her mentor Tommy “MadFly” Faragher, a Grammy® and ASCAP Pop Award-winning songwriter and producer. They met up in Brooklyn where she spent years honing her chops as a songwriter in his home studio and learning the craft of producing records, all while creating her first album, “The Lion of Sheba”. On it, listeners can expect Sheba to serve up her unique, eclec18 nuwomanmagazine.com
tic and edgy brew of Pop music, Afrobeat, Dancehall and Reggae, designed to take listeners on a journey around the diaspora through the eyes of a young Afropolitan, finding her inner roar. “The Lion of Sheba” was supposed to be self-released in 2010, but Sheba made the unorthodox decision to hold off on the release in order to further develop herself. She went back into the lab to work on her skills and has recently emerged with a new album, further along into her musical journey called, “The Queen of Hearts”. “This album was bittersweet for me”, Sheba stated. “I loved every minute of making it, but I had no budget and it was a real struggle to get it accomplished without one. I was also burned out from running the label alone. It was tough financially. I was also going through a lot personally. I took a break, and ended up wandering around Europe, staying with friends and family for months just sort of letting my heart guide me and tell me where to go next. It led me to make a completely unplanned pilgrimage to Lourdes in France, and a few days later, I found myself walking across Spain, to do the Camino Santiago de Compostela. I was undergoing an intense spiritual transformation”, she explained. “I had been debating whether to keep making music or to just come home and find something else to do with my life, but while walking I kept feeling guided to come back to New York and figure out how to make this album that kept playing in my head. I knew it was called “The Queen of Hearts” and I knew it had something to do with the journey I was on and finding my way back home from it. But I had no clue how I was going to make it happen”, she ended. With that, Sheba finally headed home after nearly six months. Now, with two albums under her belt, she plans to release these songs with accompanying visuals, dusting off the film degree she earned in college, over the next year. Musically, “The Queen of Hearts” is less about the broad cultural strokes of her life and more about letting the songs themselves shine brighter than the productions. “I was less interested in pushing the envelope production wise, and more interested in writing songs from my heart that made me feel more alive”, Sheba declared. “Technicolor”, her first single from “The Queen of Hearts”, is a perfect example of this shift into a more understated and universal style. “There is a slight Soca thing happening with the drums on Technicolor, but from the start, it was more about the song and the way it
made me feel”, Sheba explained. “We went in a housy, EDM direction because I’m more interested in connecting with people from all walks of life, not just one corner of the globe. And dance music is about celebration and living it up with people, regardless of where they’re from, and that’s what I’m all about.” Sheba’s one-drop lovers rock tune “Love this Lifetime” and the Remix featuring Dancehall legend Bounty Killer, garnered chart love in several countries, went to #1 twice (Afro FM/ Ethiopia, Richie B Chart/Jamaica), charted on the UK club chart three times (Music Week), received video play on the likes of international networks such as MTV UK & VH1Soul and charted in the Top Ten on Trace TV during the World Cup. These accomplishments are even more impressive when one takes into account that Sheba orchestrated and financed the entire effort on a shoestring budget while running the whole operation from her laptop.
“This album was bittersweet for me... I loved every minute of making it.” Sheba wants to make it clear that there is a lot of music coming down the pike for fans to enjoy. “I finally get it”, she declares. “I have to give all this music away and just let people hear it. I’ll be releasing both albums this year. Once the songs are out there, they’re for other people to hopefully be inspired by. And that’s the real reason I make music at all. I want it to lift people up.” Stay tuned for the video for “Get Yo Story Str8”, expected to drop any day now, which Sheba not only directed and produced, but also self-financed. The video is a clear projection of Sheba’s unique slice of the world, and embodies both a visual and sonic language that is all her own. A multi-facted auteur of her creative work, Sheba is a clear front runner in a new generation of artists that are blazing their own trail, taking full advantage of the digital space and are able to express their artistic visions across the entire spectrum of their work.
Sekhu
The energy, messages and positivity of Reggae music appeal to people around the world, capturing hearts and souls. Reggae music speaks to everyone who understands a language of love and a sense of uplifting and Sekhu has chosen Reggae as the genre to best express himself and connect to his audience. Based in St Croix in the US Virgin Islands, the music of Sekhu is Reggae but has a distinct Virgin Island twist. His timeless music speaks of righteousness, positivity and consciousness, as well as his community and its emotions, concerns and struggles. Sekhu released his debut album “Do Your Best” in 2011 and is now ready to follow up with his sophomore album, scheduled to be released in early 2013. The new album reflects the young artiste’s journey as a man and an artiste. He has matured and gathered new experiences with family, friends, fans and through his travels. His style of music has developed and he feels that he has a lot more to give. Talking about his new album the artiste shares, “Music keeps us strong on the journey of life. This new album is about community togetherness and endurance on that journey.” The journey of life has ups and downs and Sekhu’s music reflects both, including songs about everyday life, love, good times and bad times, politics and culture. The vibes and melodies of the Caribbean, mixed with strong lyrical content, makes Sekhu’s music so endearing and powerful. He wants listeners to pay attention, be inspired, think, dance and enjoy. Once the new album is released, Sekhu is planning to tour more and bring his musical messages to old and new fans alike, in person. He cannot wait to touch the stages and connect to international audiences. The Bahamas, of course is one of the top-listed places on the agenda, as Sekhu would love to visit and perform for his Caribbean neighbors soon and explore the culture, music and beauty of the Bahamas and its people.
NU WOMAN TRIVIA 1. Which legendary Bahamian artist has been performing for more than 50 years? ANSWER: Found in this issue of the magazine. 2. What is the name of this same artist first song on his first album? ANSWER: The answer can be found online at our website under “Posts” with an article featuring this artist. 3. Name three (3) Bahamian beauty pageant queens that have graced the covers of Nu Woman Magazine. Please email us your answer and be eligible for special prizes. Email us at: nuwomanmagazine@ymail.com. Please be sure to include a telephone contact.
19
What do fashion and engineering have in common?
“Quite a bit”, says entrepreneur D’Andre Wilson-Ihejirika. D’Andre was born and raised in Nassau, Bahamas and moved to Montreal, QC in 2006 to pursue a degree in chemical engineering.There, she was involved in many ethnic societies such and the Caribbean and African societies and the National Society of Black Engineers. Through these and other organizations an interest was sparked in Entrepreneurship. This led her to complete a Master’s in Financial Engineering from the Centre for Management of Technology and Entrepreneurship at the University of Toronto. Upon graduating, she launched her business, combining fashion and engineering, creating, ‘My Ziri Bag’. “Some people may think that fashion and engineering would have nothing at all in common, but that is not true”, D’Andre explains. “I can sum up the similarities in one word; ‘design’. Just like many creative professionals, engineers thrive on innovative thinking, intuition and a little imagination. Artists design aesthetic objects and engineers design functional inventions, machines, products and processes. Engineers are very creative!” Many women believe that engineering would not be the best environment for them because it is too rigid and ‘cookie-cutter’ and that there is no flair. But it is just the opposite. Engineering teaches us to think outside the box and engineering can lead to careers in so many interesting fields, like cosmetics, music, media, and of course fashion design. “I believe that we need to see more women pursuing careers in engineering. Women have a way of thinking which is unique and if harnessed can be used to create extraordinary things!”, gushes D’Andre. For this reason, D’Andre started her business ‘My Ziri Bag’ in the spring of 2012 in an effort to create handbags that raise funds for women’s scholarships and grants. These bags are made with Batique fabric -- a cotton material dyed using wax -- to create unique and colorful prints. D’Andre chose this fabric because it is very popular throughout Africa and the Caribbean and it is a tribute to her strong ties to the African Diaspora. “I wanted to use this style of print to give a little shout-out to my family and friends from Africa and the Caribbean, and of course at home in the Bahamas”, D’Andre explains. “I also want to bring this style into the main stream because I believe it is absolutely beautiful!” My Ziri Bag will donate 50% of the profits toward a scholarship for women. In summer 2013, nominations will open for any young woman interested in pursuing a degree in engineering. For more information on how you or someone you know can be nominated, email scholarship@myziribag. com . And stay tuned for the spring 2013 official launch of D’Andre’s business at www.myziribag.com
20 nuwomanmagazine.com
GOSPEL ARTIST
CAZNA HINDS By Nasia Colebrook
Music and the Arts are on a steady rise in The Bahamas, being generated more frequently by younger artists, especially. “Keith “Hallé” Gray”, “The Gospel Boys” and “Najie Dunn” are just a few of the young gospel artists who can be heard daily on radio stations around the country. In an effort to highlight this new wave of contemporary gospel, I, Nasia Colebrooke, had a sit down with Upcoming Contemporary Gospel Artist, Cazna Hinds, adding her to this list of rising stars. We chatted via Skype around the greatest time of year, Christmas and Cazna let me in on a few quirks and random facts about herself and also on her start in music, where she is today and where she would like to be in the near future. Nasia: How are you? Cazna: I’m great. Nasia: Getting into the Christmas Spirit yet? Cazna: Yeah. I’ve been playing a lot of Christmas music and dancing all around my house. Haha! Nasia: What’s on your wishlist? Cazna: An iPhone 5 or the new iPad Mini. But if I can’t get any of them, money or clothes are always good; and maybe some music equipment. Nasia: Are you a Mac or a PC? Cazna: I’m an Apple girl all the way! Nasia: WHAT?! I’m still on PC haha! Who are you pulling for this Junkanoo season? Cazna: The Valleeeyyy Boys of course! Nasia: Really though?! I see! We’ll talk about THAT later haha! So, when did you realize that you have the gift of singing and that this is what you wanted to pursue? Cazna: In Primary School at C.W. Sawyer my music teacher would keep picking on me to play parts. She asked me to join the choir and I realized that I had something special. Music’s always been my top subject; always excelling and getting “A’s”. All throughout school I would always be selected to represent the school. About two years ago, I was working as JCN as a videographer, designing and editing. But I started to realize not long after that it was keeping me in a box. God wanted me to broaden my horizons. Music is what I knew I should be doing. I had to make a choice. Nasia: Wow. That’s brave of you to want to pursue a singing
career in The Bahamas. Cazna: Haha! Of course I had my doubts of wanting music to be my sole career, but over about a month or so, you would start to get frustrated, almost as if everything is uncomfortable for you. It’s like putting on a jacket that’s too small for you. A part of the growing experience. I had to follow my heart. I had to follow my passion. When asked who inspires her, Cazna listed some of the Greats such as; the impeccable Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson and Brandy. Along with Kierra Sheard, Beyonce and our own Chris “Sketch” Carey. Cazna is also inspired by music producers Freddy & Rodney Jerkins along with Ryan Leslie. Additionally, at age 24, Cazna enjoys reading books about the music business and says that the movies is a real “hot spot” for her. Also, when she’s not reading or going to the movies, she just enjoys the time she gets to chill with family and friends. Nasia: Why did you choose to sing Gospel rather than secular? Cazna: Gospel is defined as good news. I just want people to know that for me it’s about life experiences. Yes, I love God and I can sing any kind of music but I chose to do it because of my relationship with God. I just want people to know that it’s perfectly fine to serve Him. Music is about really being honest and sharing my heart. My music is more about showcasing my life experiences and emotions towards God and my walk as a believer and as a human being. We tend to put this gospel thing in a box, but there is more to it than people shouting all the time. We have David from the Bible which is 21
one of my favorite Biblical characters asking God to, “Please restore the joy of my salvation.” You won’t always have joyous times. But through my music I want to share my journey and my heart towards God and I believe that what comes from the heart reaches the heart. Cazna’s debut single is entitled, “Live for You” which reached Bahamian radio stations since October 26th, 2010. Nasia: You’ve been on the scene for a while. Two years. But, I’m only now hearing “Live for You” on the radio recently in 2012. Are you working on anything now? What can fans and Nu Woman subscribers expect from you? Cazna: I’m working on releasing a free mixtape. When asked why she decided to release a mixtape rather than an official album, Cazna responded, “Mostly finances. I’m an independent artist and I’m also unsigned, so I thought it was the best choice since a lot of people have been asking for hard copies.” She continues, “Also, I’m still growing as an artist and in the music industry and I don’t want to get ahead of myself, doing a full-blown album and not getting a good amount of support and sales for it. I want to take one step at a time and I think that it would reach more audiences this way.” Nasia: Gotchya! So, when can we expect this? Cazna: Hmm...don’t want to give away too much yet, but I’m aiming towards sometime next year definitely before June. Nasia: Cool. And what are some things that we can expect from the mixtape? ... lyrically, musically, creatively? Cazna: Definitely sincere and relative lyrics fused with a contemporary sound. Nasia: That sounds #dope. Can’t wait to hear it! Cazna also shared what she sees for herself in about five years or so, saying, “I see myself as a Billboard #1 Artist and as one of the top Contemporary Gospel Singers/Songwriters from The Bahamas. If not the first, one of the first females to win a Grammy award from The Bahamas. I also hope to be travelling all around the world touring and sharing my gifts. Also, still working along with eNue Magazine and also giving back to The Bahamas’ music industry and helping other youth to be empowered & inspired. And as it relates to the family aspect, I would hope to be married but without a child hahaha!”
22 nuwomanmagazine.com
Get ready Bahamas! Unique Entertainment is starting off 2013 with a bang! We are bringing you the first ever Bahamas All Star Music Fest and Bahamian Music awards! Our theme is, “Celebrating the past and embracing the future”. It’s time to meet the new face of Bahamian Music.
Bahamas All-Star Music Fest We at Unique Entertainment are committed to contributing to the formation, growth, and evolution of the Bahamian Music Industry. Our marketing team has prepared a great campaign that will unfold in the upcoming weeks and months, locally and internationally, as we aim to tap into visitors from metropolitan hubs in South Florida, New York, Toronto, and the Caribbean. The Bahamas All-star Cultural Festival, Bahamas All-star Music Festival and Bahamian Music Award (BACF, BAMF & BMA) are local events that we wish to showcase to the world, as an example of the strength, talent and creativity of the Bahamian people, ensuring that any success we have as a company, will be a shared success for The Bahamas!
Bahamian Music and Cultural Extravaganza We have developed and are preparing to showcase an annual Bahamian music and cultural extravaganza, with the annual Bahamas All-star Cultural Festival, Bahamas All-star Music Festival and Bahamian Music Award (BACF, BAMF & BMA) featuring our native sons and daughters. Some artists performing include: Sammi Star, MDeez and Puzzle.
Sammi Star Sammi Starr is “On a mission to take over the world!”, stating, “Music is my life. Thank you Lord for giving me talent! I will be a success! Bahamas to the world!” Sammi Starr is one of the Bahamas’ hottest artists to date! Representing nothing but the “242”, Sammi is all about positive music, love and supporting the youth. Catchy lyrics, hot music, and a “babyface” makes this local celeb a hot commodity. “Good To Know You”, “I’ll Never Leave” and “Pick Me” are just a few songs that have fueled his rise to the top. Some of his latest songs, however, which are garnering success are “Not Over You”, “Keep Riding”, “Anything Everything” and “Another One Gone Again”.
24 nuwomanmagazine.com
Puzzle “Puzzle”, who is affectionately known to his family and peers as Preston Wallace Jr., hails from the beautiful island of New Providence, Bahamas. He is a gifted storyteller that harvests his inspiration from his island’s unique culture along with its political and social standpoints, and captivates his audience with an inimitable sense of humor, while presenting factual information that makes you want to listen. This can be found in his songs, “Jobless”, “Mommy I Pregnant”, “My Birthday”, “Go Gal” and the widely known, “Barefoot Bandit”, just to name a few. He has been involved in music since the tender age of five, singing and playing instruments in church. Puzzle has developed an appreciation for all genres of music and a passion not only for singing but also for songwriting and producing. He not only produces and writes his own music, but has produced and written for several other Recording Artists in the Music Industry and has his own record label, “Puzzle Entertainment Bahamas”. Puzzle’s latest collaborations have included various recordings and remixing at the Hit Factory Criteria in Miami, working with extraordinary music engineer and Lenny Kravitz’s “go to” man, Matt Knobel, for his hit single “Animal”, which was recorded at Johnny Wright’s studio in Orlando, Florida, along with Miami based producers Sugar Dip on “Hispanic Girls”. Puzzle’s music could be categorized under various genres, such as, Rake ‘n’ Scrape, Pop, Reggae Culture and R&B and some of Puzzle’s musical influences are artists such as Michael Jackson, Ne-Yo, Brian McKnight and Usher. Among these achievements, Puzzle has also represented the Bahamas in Carifesta which was held in Guyana and was the first Bahamian Artist to have his own “Day in the Life” TV Show called “A Day in the Life of Puzzle”. He’s recorded with producers in London, England and has other Pop hits which he produced, himself. Puzzle’s first single “Sour Vibes” which was recorded in Toronto, Canada held the number one spot for ten weeks. Recently, he has recorded music videos for his hit songs “Animal” in South Beach, Miami, Florida, and “Jobless” in Nassau, Bahamas. Puzzle’s music was also selected as the Theme Song for the Top Radio Personality in the United States, Mr. Michael Basden from “What Do Women Really Want?” Through his contribution to the Music Industry, Puzzle’s ultimate dream is to be an inspiration to other upcoming artists and to put his country on the map musically.
MDEEZ Born to a Jamaican father and a Bahamian mother, MDeez found himself intertwined with the Caribbean love for music. MDeez is impartial to all genres of music and his lyrical variety speaks to that. MDeez has crafted a unique reggae/hip-hop mixture that infuses his passion for music and life. With years of giving his all to music, he has evolved into an explosive artist with thought provoking metaphors, catchy hooks, and enough energy to power all 700 Bahama Islands. Bapes, Imma Boss,and Shawty are three of his singles that have 25
hit number one on the 100Jamz’s Bahama Hot Ones countdown. “Summer Bubble” and “Thanks for leaving” featuring DMac, are his latest singles, which are garnering positive feedback and consistent airplay on several local radio stations, and the video is being played on an inter-regional music channel.
When and where will the events take place? Saturday, February 23rd 2013 with the Bahamas All-star Cultural Festival at Fort Charlotte, a day of family fun and a celebration of all things Bahamian. Friday March 1st 2013 we are hosting a Champagne Party at the historic Fort Charlotte, which will be the center of attention as we launch our weekend of festivities filled with featured Bahamian Music Recording Stars, Icons, and Professionals. It will also give attendees an opportunity to meet and greet various performers and take advantage of photo opportunities. If you love Bahamian Music, Saturday March 2nd 2013 Luna Nightclub will be your destination of choice, as we showcase featured Bahamian Music Recording Stars, Icons and Professionals. On Sunday March 3rd 2013 the Red Carpet Bahamian Music Award Show at the Rainforest Theater will mark the culmination of our weekend as we welcome, showcase, celebrate, give tribute to and bestow accolades to Bahamian Music Recording Stars, Icons and Professionals. All of whom have worked diligently in perfecting their craft, and have earned their place in the Bahamian Music Industry. These events will all be historical and cultural extravaganzas.
Fun & More Fun On Saturday February 23rd 2013 we will host the Bahamas All-star Cultural Festival at Fort Charlotte, which promises to be a day filled with family fun and all things Bahamian. We will have;
• • • • • • • • • • • •
Special performances by local Bahamian Artists and Entertainers Bahamian Storytelling Fire Dancing Best Drummer Competition Best Beller Competition Best High School Deejay Competition Kite Making Top Spinning Face Painting Bouncing Castles Bahamian Arts and Crafts Vendors, Toys, Games, Prizes and Surprises.
26 nuwomanmagazine.com
Additional Milestones
Our goals at Unique Entertainment with the production of the BAMF & BMA are to create a platform for music industry professionals to stand on, to give tribute and recognition to our music industry professionals, to continue showcasing Bahamian Music to the world, to celebrate our past and embrace our future, and most importantly to create a legacy for future generations that will encourage the growth of our people’s dreams, visions and aspirations.
“ANY INVESTMENT IN THE BAHAMAS IS AN INVESTMENT IN ITS PEOPLE” As with all great accomplishments we can only achieve our goals through unity, cooperation, and the assistance of honorable men and women who are dedicated to creating and preserving a heritage and legacy for future generations. Any investment in The Bahamas is an investment in its people We request that you lend us your support as we move forward with our events, as we celebrate all things Bahamian. Please join and celebrate with us as we show our love and support for our music industry professionals, and show the world that our strength not only lies in the services we provide but also in the strength of the people of the Bahamas. We at Unique Entertainment look forward to celebrating with you at our events, and to also beginning a new chapter in Bahamian history. Mr. Muhammed Knowles /Tel: (242) 426-3007/ President of Unique Entertainment Mr. Renard Poitier/ Tel: (242) 426-0112 Vice President of Unique Entertainment
Revisiting The Legendary
Ronnie
Butler By Erica Meus-Saunders
A
few years ago I had the opportunity to sit and talk with the legendary Ronnie Butler, that article was featured in Nu Woman magazine and Ronnie revealed so much about his life, his beliefs and his first love. Today Ronnie is seriously ill, and I feel the need to revisit that interview and share some of what Ronnie revealed to me. On this particular interview I had taken my girlfriend Suzette along who was excited to meet the man himself. A candid person, Ronnie Butler spoke freely about his music, his life, about the decline of morals, an appreciation for culture, and the plight of the Bahamian musician. Ronnie was the one to ‘break the ice’ and cracked a joke about going to jail one time for stealing chicken; and I could not help but to laugh and we soon got into a comfortable banter. I’ve picked out a few bits and pieces from that interview to share.
On Religion Ronnie: I was brought up like most of us in the church, barefoot, patch in the ass. I was dragged to church, spent 5 days a week in church. At 17, I was what was called ‘MC on the altar’. I would have to set the pages for the priest, the chapters that he would read from on those days. So I knew that bible from back to front at the age of 17. But then I questioned some of the things. I asked the priest, who was an English priest, some questions and he told me that I should not question the bible, but just believe it. So I asked him, ‘Well, why don’t we ever read the bible period?’ And I would pretty much guess, that if you have been going to church since a young child, no matter what the denomination is, you have not seen where they have started reading from Genesis and go to Exodus. It’s like they are always picking through and never reading the entire Bible. Do you know why? Do you know why? It’s because they don’t want you to do what I’ve done, which is question. There are so many things there to question, and when you start questioning and especially when you get a few answers, your mind begin to open up. This is why I’m at this stage, from being an MC on the altar at 17, I have not been back.
About his early beginnings NW: How long have you been performing? Ronnie: 55 years. NW: When did you first begin performing? And where did you begin performing? Ronnie: I started performing right after I was 17, at a place that was on East Street North, between Shirley and Bay. It was called the Carlton House. It’s no longer there; there is a parking lot where Carlton House used to be. NW: So how did you get into music at that young age? Ronnie: I didn’t choose music; I sort of glided into music. I did masonry. The guy, who lived across the street from me, played a Hawaiian guitar (the kind you put across your knees). I used to go over there after work and fool around with him, and then about ten days later, I went home and there was a drummer there, and we started practicing. I guess about two months later, he got the job at the Carlton House.
On Marriage NW: Have you ever been married? Ronnie: Twice. NW: So you are a marrying man? (laughter) Ronnie: I was. The second marriage, the minute I wrote that song (‘I’m a Married Man) and recorded it, two weeks later my wife left me. NW: Why did she leave? Ronnie: I ‘een know… I know, but I can’t tell you (laughter). NW: So as an entertainer, would you say that you have had a
“Revisiting The Legendary Ronnie Butler” continued on page 63 27
JENNIFER FREEMAN My Life and Bodybuilding
Back in high school, I played just about every sport. I was a part of the track & field, softball, volleyball and basketball teams, but I was never able to fully master them. It was like being a “Jack of All Trades”, without actually being the “Jack”, ha! However, when my mother grew really ill, I had to retire all my extracurricular activities and attending high school overall, to take on the role of “mother” to my siblings. Life, sometimes, deals us cards that we are not prepared for, but we MUST play the hand and it just so happened, that I was dealt a bad hand. This didn’t stop me. With God’s grace, along with my strong sense of faith and will-power, I pressed on, letting nothing hold me back. This strength and faith allowed me to ably raise my brother and sister after our mother’s death, along with my three children and nephews. In December of 1986, I got a job on Paradise Island in one of the cafés, which was very close to the casino. I fully enjoyed working at the café; it was awesome! I was very grateful for having co-workers who were aware of my situation and willingly took good care of me. I spent many days standing at the cashier booth in my workplace, admiring the Croupiers, as they would walk back and forth, dreaming that I would one day join the Gaming staff. This was one of my biggest dreams, at the time, and in 1992, my dream became a reality. After having taken the Gaming test for the second time, I passed with “flying colors”! God never left my side. After entering the department, I met some of the most beautiful and caring people. It was as if I had a brand new family! During the 2000’s, a few of the Casino workers were interested in bodybuilding; with some of the women having some of the most spectacular bodies! There was a lady in particular, Michelle, whose body was very well toned and I had always admired this and wanted my body to look just like hers or even better. Michelle was a very outgoing, friendly and outspoken lady, who would compete in many bodybuilding contests that I attended, but I was always overwhelmed by the competitions. One night after one of the competitions, I asked Michelle what do I need to do to enter a competition and without skipping a beat, she gave me all the information I needed. In 2002, it took four months of intense training with security officer and my trainer, Keith Evans, along with Della Thomas, to help with my routine. Together, they helped me win my first NOVIS Bodybuilding Championship and it didn’t stop there. I competed in several competitions afterward. In 2003, I won the Women’s Heavyweight at the Northern Bahamas Championship, in Freeport, Grand Bahama. At this time, I 28 nuwomanmagazine.com
had been training with Chris McQueen. Moreover, I had been recommended several times by members of the Association to join the group in competing in the USA. At that time, I was not mentally ready for such a large event. I kept thinking how the girls in the US were bigger and better. A voice in my head kept holding me back. All I could ever hear was, “You’re not ready for this” or “Give yourself another year”. But I realized that this was fear that was holding me back. For two years I had given up on opportunities due to fear. However, for the past eight years, I’ve been living in the United States and I still attend bodybuilding shows. A co-worker of mine, once again, is really into bodybuilding. One day, after her third show, I spoke to her about my dreams and aspirations and told her how I had the opportunity, twice, to participate in bodybuilding competitions and I eventually asked her if she could help me achieve these goals. Without hesitation, she then became, and still is today, my personal trainer. A f ter training for twelve long and
intense weeks, my body had begun to fight with some of the supplements I had been taking. The diet was tough and it made me sick on many occasions, because at that time, I had been taking a different set of medications. I’m guessing that my age may have had a role to play in the effects, as well, because of jumping into such an intense program, without any prior warming up. Nonetheless, I didn’t let this stop me. All I kept thinking was that this was my chance and that I had been awarded an opportunity to achieve a long-term goal of mine. I wasn’t going to mess things up this time! There were definitely many times where I wanted to just quit, but I had to do this for myself! On November 17th, at the 2012 NPC, Florida Gold Cup, Natural Bodybuilding Championship, I had proven to myself and the world, that I had what it took to compete with professions ladies in Florida. I went on stage, as a nervous wreck, for the first time in the women’s Master Category. I was literally shaking as a leaf and had to be escorted to the entrance by an attendant! I hadn’t expected to see so many people, especially after not being on stage in such a long time! I hadn’t placed in this category, but I did get a “call out” which was a positive sign for me. In my second category, I walked to the side of the stage, looked in the mirror, took a picture of myself and started talking to myself, out loud; encouraging myself. My second category was Open Class and these women were even bigger than the first group! I closed my eyes and whispered a prayer. When they announced my number, 79, I stepped out as if I owned that stage! I had such confidence! I acted as though it was MY show! It was all about me! I heard my family and my co-worker shouting, “D&L” and all of my other nicknames! When I spun around to show off my back, I knew, hands down, that I had this in the bag because all I could hear was, “WOW! Look at her back!” I felt terrific! My spirits were lifted! I knew I was a winner! To the judges, I placed second, but in my heart, I won! I became a champion! I faced my fears and just did it! By placing second, I am now qualified for Nationals! Today, I am proud to say that I am the grateful owner of six trophies! Competing in the US was the most difficult competition for me, but I didn’t do it alone. I would just like to thank those who helped me every step of the way from the beginning to now. Aymara Mejia (my main Coach), Keith Cox (my Internet advisor and former co-worker), Samsin Wildfire (my assistant trainer) and Myriam Charleston (posing trainer). I would also like to thank, Marcus Robert for providing my music, my family at The Hard Rock Café and my family and friends in the Bahamas and the U.S.A. Thank you all very much for all your support! Also, a special thanks to Nu Woman Magazine for featuring me! *tear of joy* Photos provided by Jennifer Freeman
29
Analicia is the
New ‘It Girl’ Photographer. Barry Williams. Hairstylist. Scherlin Major. Makeup artist. Italia Williams. Styling. Erica Meus-Saunders. Styling assistant. Mitzi Thompson. Coat. by Zara. Jewel-
ry. Island Jewels and Souvenirs. Location. Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort & Casino.
30 nuwomanmagazine.com
Putting Her Best Foot Forward ...in life and on the runway By Erica Meus-Saunders Analicia has been modeling for less than a year and is creating quite a buzz. She describes herself as a ‘rookie’ in the business. Yet, this ‘rookie’ received the attention of a Ford Model scout during the Miss Bahamas competition where she placed as 1st runner-up. She has been photographed by major Bahamian photographers, has received a New York contract with Profiles 98, and is currently working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where she is putting her language skills to work. Several months back I got ‘Grace Jones’ inspired and the concept for the next cover shoot was forming in my mind. I wanted a model that could bring this concept to life and asked our creative director for some feedback. He showed me pictures of several models, but when I saw Analicia in an older photograph that he had taken, the ‘deal was sealed’. We began planning a shoot with her immediately. Before shooting I needed to find out more about the model and asked her some candid questions. Full name: Analicia Lynette Thompson Age: 23 Occupation: Foreign Service Officer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Hobbies: Traveling, Trying New Cuisine, Running Marathons, Watching Documentaries, Buying Shoes Nu Woman: What made you decide to enter the Miss Bahamas Double Crown Pageant? Analicia: It was almost like destiny, to be honest, as I never was particularly interested in pageants growing up. I was not an extrovert; in actuality, I was really shy most of the time, and I cringed rather than craved a lot of attention. I guess I changed a great deal after college. I returned home
31
and I had some time to work on myself. I started going to the gym and eating healthier, and it really allowed for getting in touch with my more “feminine” side. One night, I viewed a rerun of last year’s pageant on television, and I thought, hmm I could do that, but I didn’t seriously consider it until I was invited to an informative meeting regarding entering. I thought if persons on the pageant committee could see the potential in me, then maybe I did ‘have what it takes’. Plus, in my utter naivety at the time, I thought, ‘How hard could it be?’ Nu Woman: How would you describe that experience? Did you expect to walk away with the crown? Analicia: Participating in the pageant to me was like enlisting in the military, because it broke me down on all fronts: physically, mentally and emotionally; and then re-built me into a Pageant Superwoman of some sorts. My life was no longer my own; I lived, slept, ate and thought about the pageant all the time. It was a unique experience that is almost impossible to describe because simultaneously I had a roller coaster of emotions going through me all at once: fear, excitement, anxiety, disappointment, relief. Overall though, I can definitely say that it was worth the time and effort because it made me a stronger individual. In hindsight, I really did not know what to expect. I had never attended any of the events in the past, or followed pageants that closely, so I was basically ‘walking in the dark’. I just knew that there was a reason why I was meant to be there and to go through the experience. I had an epiphany during the finale show, just after we answered our final question. I had a moment to think backstage and it dawned on me that no matter what happened I gave every ounce of me I possibly could. Win or lose, I had a family that was already proud of what I had already accomplished and a world of opportunities waiting. That realization definitely helped counteract the pang of disappointment I felt when I heard my name called for 1st runner up, but I knew in time I would be ok. I assured myself that there was something bigger than the crown out there waiting for me; I just hadn’t gotten to it yet. NW: What did you learn from the whole experience? Analicia: One thing I took away, which was probably the most valuable, was that if I put my mind to something, anything is possible. If anyone had asked me at the beginning of 2011 if I wanted to participate in a pageant, I would have thought, “ This person must be
joking or clearly does not know me”, but what this experience has taught me was that I didn’t really know myself and what I was capable of. I went into the competition with a few misguided notions like pageantry is only about looks and very superficial, but it is so much deeper than that. I am happy that I was able to see beyond the surface-level and truly embrace what pageantry is all about, and it has helped me to refrain from judging things at face value too quickly. NW: How long have you been modeling? Analicia: I have been modeling for just under a year, 10 months to be exact. NW: What was Fash/Art like? Analicia: Fash/Art was definitely a much needed experience for me. I think after the pageant, a lot of people assumed that I had been modeling for years because of my “look”, when in actuality I am a rookie. So the workshops that were provided gave me crucial insight into the fashion industry and helped me broaden my insight as to whether modeling is right for me or not. NW: Do you plan to pursue modeling fulltime? Analicia: For right now, I’m not really in the position to pursue modeling full-time. I just recently got into it, so I’m still exploring my options in terms of how far it can take me, while keeping my other long-term goals in focus. Right now I am just enjoying the novelty of my new interest.
lies ahead and ready to leave all things of the past behind. Also, I really enjoy photo shoots with a more edgy feel and vibe because it is more challenging to me and really pushes me to be creative and inspirational in front of the camera. NW: Are you a Grace Jones fan? Analicia: Grace Jones has always been an inspiration to me, even outside of her modeling career. I love that she fully embraces who she is and does not allow anyone to change her style. To me, she is a true representation of embracing who you are on the inside and outside, plus she has a personality, facial features and a body to die for, and I love the fact that she is still performing well into her senior years. NW: Tell us about your recent trip to the Dominican Republic with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. What was the whole experience like? Analicia: I was selected as a representative from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to accompany a Bahamian Delegation to the Dominican Republic to discuss Illegal Fishing in The Bahamas by Dominican nationals. Given that I am fluent in Spanish, it was a great opportunity to use my language skills. I was even put on the spot to provide translations for a meeting and press conference at the President of the Dominican Republic’s residence. It was the first time I had to do something so important, and I was happy that I was able to execute my job without succumbing to the pressure of speaking a non-native language in a room full of foreign diplomats and media press.
NW: Tell us about the ‘new look’. What brought about the change? Analicia: Well it was almost spontaneous, really. After the pageant, there was still a lot of buzz going on, and I was just ready to move on to the next challenge. I wanted a change that would give me a boost to start fresh, and since I had never done a short look before, I thought I might as well go all in and do something no one would expect, not even myself. Also, because there was a new focus, I got less of the “how do you feel about the pageant” type questions, so it helped me move away from the pageant look and embrace my modeling side.
NW: What are your immediate goals? Where would you like to be in five years? Analicia: Right now, I would like to continue building my professional and modeling career. In five years, I hope to be in the process of attaining or fully completing my Master’s degree in International Relations, which would assist me in establishing my own business one day. No matter what happens, I intended to utilize every opportunity that I am given, and most importantly, live life to the fullest.
NW: Are you excited about the cover concept? Analicia: Most definitely. This is my first cover shoot, so the fact alone that I’m going to be on a cover of a magazine is bananas to me. I absolutely can relate to the futuristic theme, because I am optimistic and excited for what
NW: How do you stay in shape? Analicia: I enjoy working out in the gym, so I try to go at least four times a week. I love running because it gives me time to clear my head, but I’m always looking for new exercises to try out so I don’t get bored with the same routine.
After the shoot I sent her a few more questions, which revealed a bit more about this up and coming young lady whose star is on the rise.
Dress. Zara. Shoes. Go Jane. Jewelry. Island Jewels and Souvenirs.
33
Corsett. United Colors of Bennetton. Jacket. Baby Phat. Leather Pants. H&M. Bag. H&M.
34 nuwomanmagazine.com
Dress. Theodore Elyett. Pink Clutch. Cindarella. Gloves. Vintage. Jewelry. Island Jewels and Souvenirs.
35
NW: What would you say is your best physical attribute? Analicia: My eyes are my best physical attribute; not because I like them the most, but it is the part of my body most people tend to remember or notice. Over the years, I have gotten positive and negative comments on them, but overall, they definitely make me feel unique. NW: Are you dating/single? How challenging is it being a model? Analicia: I have been in a happy relationship for about a year now, and I feel lucky that I met my boyfriend before I started modeling, just because when guys see you as a model, it is hard to find one that is genuine in his intentions, and not just there for the hype or his own ego. I am comforted by the fact that I am dating someone who is not solely interested in me on a physical level, but values me intellectually as well. NW: What is the best dating advice you can give? Analicia: I think Maya Angelou said it best when she said “The first time someone shows you who they are, believe them.” I think as women, we often stay in relationships longer than we need to because we think we can change the man. I think, if he is consistently acting up at the beginning, it is unlikely things will get better later on; it is best to move on and see what else is out there.
“Win or lose, I had a family that was already proud of what I had already accomplished and a world of opportunities waiting. “ NW: Even though you haven’t seen the cover up to this point, how was the entire shoot? Do think you brought the theme to life? Analicia: I feel pretty confident that I captured the essence of Grace Jones, while still staying true to my own persona. The make-up and creative direction I had during the shoot were amazing, so I’m expecting nothing but fierceness from the cover picture. Working through this shoot with Analicia was a breeze. She was professional and took direction well.
Please send feedback on this article. Email us at: nuwomanmagazine@ymail.com. Or visit us on the web: http://nuwomanmagazine.com and write a comment under “posts”. Your comments will be published in the next issue of the magazine.
36 nuwomanmagazine.com
By Johnnel Adderley
“Be the change you want to see in the world.” Mahatma Gandhi.
These are words I try to live by, but I recently met and interviewed two young women who are the true representations of what these words mean. Alanna Rodgers is an extremely driven young Bahamian woman, who has been proactively making a positive impact within the Bahamian community. She founded Hands 4 Hunger in 2008 and her, her staff and many volunteers have been committed to the elimination of unnecessary hunger and the reduction of food waste through their daily food rescue program. I first met Courtney Hamm (volunteer coordinator at Hands 4 Hunger) when I volunteered with the organization Jollification last year. She instantly made me and the other volunteers feel welcomed. Courtney was outgoing, informative, patient and kind. It was a wonderful experience. I contacted both Alanna and Courtney to see if they would be interested in sharing their story with Nu Woman Magazine and they both enthusiastically accepted. During the interview, the ladies were was passionate, engaging and inspiring. Johnnel: How did Hands 4 Hunger start? Alanna: I started getting involved in community service and I realized that many social services organizations here were providing feeding services with their own personal budgets to purchase food, but they were providing other services as well such as counseling services, unemployment services, providing a shelter, and they couldn’t have all their budget going towards buying food. I thought there had to be a better way to do this from a general operational standpoint. We looked at model organizations in New York and Toronto who had established programs where they had been conducting these food rescue programs and successfully picking up and rescuing fresh surplus food that had not been touched and still completely edible. We used those models and applied them to the Bahamian market and wherever there was a hotel, restaurant or bakery, food store, wholesalers a farm where there is surplus food that is not going to be utilized for various reasons, let’s get our hands on it and then redistribute that to the service agencies already providing feeding services to enhance what they’re doing. The idea was to help those agencies already doing what they do to do it more effectively and efficiently. Johnnel: Being that you are young and a woman was it difficult for you to gain people’s respect for you and your vision? Alanna: I think my age was probably what had people a little hesitant to give me a chance, because I was only twenty at the time, but once I
showed them that I had all my facts and I was legitimate they were open to hearing what I had to say. People only start questioning you when you’re not confident in your message. If I knew I was going to be meeting with someone who was a big decision maker, I knew that their time was valuable and they didn’t have much of it. I needed to be prepared in what I wanted to say and I needed to demonstrate the value to them during that encounter; once I did that they had no reason to reject my proposal. Also, when you can say that you are working in partnership with a certain organization and they’re successful and they can see the facts for themselves people will always tend to relax; your creditability goes up in their eyes if you’ve done your research and show that you have endorsements by other organizations. Johnnel: Was there ever a point where you thought that Hands 4 Hunger would not become a reality? Alanna: I like to do my research work upfront. If something is looking like there’s a question as to whether it’s going to be successful, I don’t think it’s fair to waste people’s time and resources. I look for clues in the beginning, but of course you can do all the research you possibly can, and still get to the stage where you press the button or you launch on day one and it never goes as plan, that’s life. The more prepared you are the more able you are to deal with those problems as they emerge. Again, because this was taken from a model that was already successful other places, it increased the probability of it succeeding here because our conditions are conducive to that working; and since we are smaller it’s a much more close knit community. If I really didn’t think there was a chance that this could work, I definitely wouldn’t have put the time and effort and more importantly engage other people and their time and effort and money in many cases and resources to make this happen. Johnnel: Paradise Plates is your major fundraising event for the year, how was the concept for the event developed? Alanna: It was a matter of if we have a fundraising event; it needs to actually raise money. With those organizations we model ourselves after they usually used some type of culinary related fundraising event to raise the majority of their funds. Having a culinary event here would be a way to have the culinary community show off what they were good at and be among their peers and we wanted to throw an event that people would actually enjoy going to. We did a good job I think of initially differentiating Paradise Plates from the other events that were going on in the fundraising calendar. Johnnel: How are the funds that are generated from donations and fund raising events dispersed within in the organization? Alanna: All of the funds go directly to our operational costs such as keeping our trucks on the roads, paying for fuel and supplies, the sala37
ries of the staff that run the organization. Also a good much of our funds go towards a lot of educational programs, where we’re in schools giving presentations on food security. We have and we are working on creating a fund to support our own food security research. So research, education and our actual food rescue program is how our funds are distributed throughout the organization.
sure every citizen is informed of these issues, so we can all act in our best interest. So, I think that’s where they are at fault and that’s where they have a responsibility to themselves and to us as citizens of the country.
Johnnel: In which communities is the food insecurity crisis more prevalent? Alanna: Generally speaking the majority of our agencies are located in the central area of the island. All of our deliveries are to places that have agencies already. Anywhere you have an Urban Renewal essentially, that’s an area that we qualify as high need.
Johnnel: Is there any initiatives or programs you would recommend or you would like to see the Government implement that would solve the food insecurity crisis in these communities? Alanna: I think the Government should be devoting the time and resources to conducting the research and then making that research available and then being part of a collaborative effort involving multiple entities to look at possible solutions that work best here and I think they need to make food security higher on its lists of priorities.
Johnnel: Who donates the food that is collected for the Hands 4 Hunger food rescue program? Alanna: We have approximately forty food donors. We work with hotels, bakeries, cafes, restaurants, food stores. We are trying to work more with farms, and then sometimes caterers at special events. There are very stringent guidelines for what food we can take, it can’t be from someone’s plate, and it can’t be damaged in any way. The food donor has to have the capacity to meet those standards to be a part of the program and obviously not all street food side stands are qualified. So they have to have their own health and safety standards already in place. Johnnel: Why did you decide to focus on only collecting perishable foods for your food rescue program? Alanna: Most of the service agencies we provide food to have a food bank system already in place and they collect non-perishable food items throughout the year. We decided to collect perishable food items for mainly two reasons, first the food we collect are food that was already being wasted. Secondly, perishable foods are higher in the nutrition factor, fruits and vegetables are obviously very expensive here to buy and they’re essential to overall good health. They are also a high need item from that perspective as well. So that was kind of how that was determined. Johnnel: Do you believe the Government is doing enough to tackle the food insecurity crisis in The Bahamas? Alanna: What I think the Government is at fault for entirely is their lack of actively pursuing or conducting research on this issue. They need to get the information and then make 38 nuwomanmagazine.com
Johnnel: Have you given any thoughts to expanding to the family islands? Alanna: Initially when Hands 4 Hunger was founded it was definitely on the agenda. The way that I think that a program like this could be expanded would be through strategic partnership on the ground on the islands doing something similar to Hands 4 Hunger and potentially using the H4H brand, but it needs to be someone who is based in that community who knows the issues and the challenges within that island. I think it can be done but for us we’re trying to help the largest number of people we can to make the biggest impact with the resources we have. We all know that two thirds to three fifths of the population lives in Nassau, so it’s just not the best use of our resources at this time to expand. Johnnel: What’s next for you and the Hands 4 Hunger Organization? Alanna: We’ve had some challenges with leadership and figuring out what that looks like and I think the organization needs to be able to stand on its own as far as whether I’m in the picture or not for various reasons. I think we’ve had a bit of a hard time of identifying who the organization is and what it stands for outside my involvement. I think that we are struggling with dealing with figuring out what the next frontier will be. The ground work for H4H is very solid and very strong we’ve built tremendous credibility among the community and I know we will get through this. It’s a growing pain for the organization, but I think that there’s a lot on the horizon. For me personally, I have been working on launching a local culinary tourism company called True Bahamian Food Tours, it’s a three hour walking food tour around Downtown where we take people to seven different tasting locations and we tell them the story of how the entity came to be and at the same time we tell them about the history and culture and architecture of Downtown and Old Nassau. So that’s my next entrepreneurial venture. Johnnel: Do you have any advice for young Bahamian women who might want to start their own business or who may be afraid to follow their dreams? Alanna: It all starts with asking yourself what is the main thing you want in life, because if you want a lot of money you can do that by working for other people, but if you want your own autonomy you can only do that by doing your own thing, that is more important to me than making a lot of money. You have to know yourself and if you know yourself then no mat-
ter what anybody else say those things don’t actually affect you because you know that no one else knows you as well as you know your own self. You just have to be honest and ask yourself what are you passionate about, what do you really care about, what fuels your soul? Johnnel: Where are you originally from, Courtney? Courtney: I am originally from Illinois Johnnel: How did you hear about Hands 4 Hunger and then end up eventually working for the organization? Courtney: I came down to The Bahamas in 2010. I worked at the U.S. Embassy in Public Affairs, and I had actually attended Jollification two years ago and that’s where I met Hands 4 Hunger. I was really interested in the work they were doing and I got involved and began volunteering with them while I was here, so that is how I heard about Hands 4 Hunger. At that same time, I was finishing up my Master’s Degree in Non-Profit Management, so I left The Bahamas and went to work at another non-profit organization in Bolivia - working on a fair trade project trying to increase income for women and artisan group. When I came back, I applied for a position with Hands 4 Hunger. Johnnel: As the Volunteer Coordinator what is your role within the organization? Courtney: My role as Volunteer Coordinator entails recruiting volunteers and bringing in resources to Hands 4 Hunger and trying to fill the gaps that we need in terms of people or resources to volunteer with us if we have events, such as Jollification or Paradise Plates. Recruiting them, integrating them, educating them about what we do at Hands 4 Hunger. Sharing that information with them and making them feel comfortable to want to volunteer and what it means to volunteer. It’s not always you go and volunteer and sit at a booth and pass out fliers, there’s other ways people can volunteer. They can volunteer individually at home, they can do small side projects, they can take initiative and run their own food drive, you don’t have to be physically present to volunteer. I also work with businesses with
demonstrating corporate social responsibility. Johnnel: How many agencies is Hands 4 Hunger currently working with and how many are on the waiting list? Courtney: H4H currently serves 12 agencies and we have a waiting list of more than 30 agencies who have requested food assistance. Johnnel: How often does Hands 4 Hunger pick up and deliver food for its food rescue mission program? Courtney: We are on the road 5 days a week delivering fresh, surplus food to those in need. Johnnel: What are the differences between your food bank and the food rescue mission program? Courtney: H4H currently does not have a food bank although we do collect non-perishable food items that are collected and then distributed to our recipient agencies. Johnnel: What are the different volunteer opportunities the public can get involved at Hands 4 Hunger? Courtney: We always have ongoing volunteer opportunities to assist on the Hands 4 Hunger truck, where you can see and experience firsthand our food rescue program, with picking up and delivering to the different agencies. With office support you can come in and update documents. There is also our food drives, events like Jollification and Paradise Plates. Sometimes, people get involve by hosting their own food drives at work or at schools. There are many different ways people can use their talents in various areas of the organization that need support
Designer. Darcel de Vlugt Shoes provided by CIAMONET 39
TOBY
LUNN
ABSTRACT ARTIST & FILMMAKER By Erica Meus Saunders
I
first met Toby Lunn at the Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF) lounge while in search of press passes for the 9th annual Bahamas International Film Festival. We were both waiting and we got into a casual conversation. He spoke of art and artists in the Bahamas and how it was so difficult for them to survive. He also mentioned that he had tried something different this year and had done a short film to bring awareness of the plight of the artist; a film that he had submitted to BIFF. I later contacted him on facebook, sending him a note that I wanted to interview him for a feature in the upcoming issue of the. A few days later, I was sitting in Galleria Theatre waiting for the premiere of “Brigidy Bram”. I had not anticipated such a film. It was informative, but, as I watched the story unfold, it seemed to cut deep into my emotions. After the film festival wrapped up in Nassau, Toby took off to Eleuthera on ‘the Eleuthera Tour and Events’. We didn’t catch up until almost two weeks later. We met at his home studio on the heel of his 20/20 showing at Popop Studios. Toby talked about his art, his struggles and his life and I got to see the man and the artist expressing pure emotion.
40 nuwomanmagazine.com
Toby’s path to becoming an Abstract Artist “If you say to someone I’m an artist, you had better be ready to deal with whatever. They ask you, ‘Why are you wasting money? Why are you wasting your education. Why don’t you become a doctor like your dad?’ Like becoming an artist is like...a bad thing. I don’t think it’s even a choice.” Toby started studying painting at the College of the Bahamas (COB) in 1989 and says he was ‘temperamental’. “At COB I was introduced to art through Stan Burnside. Stan Burnside (my first art teacher) gave me some advice, ‘As you mature, you learn how to control that (temperament) somewhat. You learn how to channel it, when to step back, when to push forward. I think that is the lifelong journey’. Meeting Stan Burnside at COB showed me that you could be sophisticated and make a mark. So after COB, I went to the Maryland Institute of College of Art in Baltimore, Maryland for three years. I graduated in 1994 with a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts in painting. That was an eye opener too, because America is very different from the Bahamas. Just the race relations, the climate was so different. It was such a shock; it was a culture shock to me. You know Baltimore is a hard place. For me it was like these guys in the USA have a whole other set of issues. The reason why I bring race into it is because I come from a mix race family. I look like a white boy, so in the Bahamas my friend tells me ‘I look like a white boy with a tan (laughter)’. Nu Woman: When did you get into abstract art? Toby: At COB I did a lot of portraiture with Stan because I was emulating him.He is a very spiritual man (a lot of commentary in his very mythical figures), but by the time I got to art school (I was like 22/23), I just had to let go of something. So around 23/24, I had a shift. I was exposed to the abstract expressionist. I just like the way they approach image making. Wow! The content, it’s almost like the rhythm of the painting became the content, not so much the figure in the painting. The elements of the painting became the subject matter. It’s real simple. NW: How has that been for you? How has your art been received? Do you believe that you are taken seriously as an artist, your work? Toby: Yes and no meaning those who are in the art world (i.e. painters themselves or even collectors, the people who are informed) respect and appreciate, but the masses…..
On BIFF and ‘Brigidy Bram’ NW: So tell me about your experience at BIFF? Toby: I love films especially independent films. So the film festival to me is like an outlet into the independent world of cinema. To me film is where you want to reach a lot of people. Film is the medium to do that. Toby talked about where the idea first sparked to combine artist and film in his head. “What happen is that I saw a short film about an artist, about 7 years ago. I won’t mention the name, but it was very DULL. I was like wow! That’s a very boring way to portray an artist. And so I kept this idea to get involved in something to do with art and film and
every year I participated in the film festival as much as I could.
How the film developed I love those ‘Indie films’ especially the sad ones (giggles). Yeah, I love films with emotion and then last year, I met a girl who was a filmmaker, who had done an excellent film about these artists in South Africa and she was really cute... She is a really, really strong artist/filmmaker herself. So we did this film with Kendal Hanna who is an old Bahamian artist and another one of my mentors. Kendal Hanna is 76 and he has been an abstract expressionist painter, long before people started looking at him. He was diagnosed with Schizophrenia, had shock treatment to the brain, and had a major bout with alcoholism and self-medication. Kendal and I are pretty good friends and actually collaborated and did a show together in 2009. That was an interesting synergy because he is 35 years older than me, but we just have a language that we both can understand. It’s challenging working with other people, but we pulled it off. Anyway, when I linked up with this filmmaker; I think we just pitched it to each other to do a film on Kendal Hanna, and she was like let’s do it! So we were in the trench, we were dating at the time so that made it very involved. I think it was a really honest, heartfelt portrayal of Kendal Hanna. ‘Brigidy Bram’ premiered this year at BIFF. ‘Brigidy Bram’ is one of Kendal’s statements. We call it ‘Kendalism’. We are still trying to get finishing funds to make it into a feature film. NW: What was it like working with Kendal? Toby: Kendal went through some periods where he was in the doldrums. Working with Kendal was challenging, like me he is an abstract artist and has his own way of expressing. He does not compromise and that’s where he and I connected; but at the same time I’d show up to the studio with him and I’d say, ‘Kendal you ready to work’ and he’d say, ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah’ and then he wouldn’t be ready and then the next day, I would do the same thing. It’s hard to explain that from an academic, textbook point of view. It’s like how do you get things done? Basically, the creative process does not stop. I can’t work 9 to 5 because my brain does not work that way, I work in bursts! I could get up 1a.m. and work for 3 hours or work for 4 weeks straight where you don’t see me and then I take a break. NW: How did the film do in the line-up of films at BIFF? Toby: I was elated for myself, Kendal and Laura Gamse (she is also the co-director) to have this film be in the Bahamas International Film Festival, as we got an honourable mention. We basically got beat out by this big budget independent film. ‘Brigidy Bram’ is heart... Jackson Burnside says, “You can learn about technique, design, structure... All of these sorts of formal elements, but you can’t really teach ‘heart’.” NW: What did you take away from the film festival experience? Toby: (1). How collarborating on a film is very different than being in a studio, it’s a collective effort. For me it was an amazing experience because I learnt so much... in watching other films, and about how we inform each other. (2.) Learning what I can do better in making ‘Brigidy Bram’. Again I respond to the films with heart. I hear some of the other filmmak41
ife is a gladiator sport. You have to condition your body, mind and L spirit on a daily basis.�
“
Photography by Barry Williams
42 nuwomanmagazine.com
ers talking about all this technical facts and I just let it go. There is an educator Ken Robinson and he is talking about how school kills creativity. He is saying that school can squander creativity out of children. I’m not saying it does do it, I’m saying that it can do it .What if a kid comes in and says I want to do this purple drawing? And they say no you can’t do it because of so and so. How do you discover anything new if you are constantly being told you are wrong? NW: What have you learnt from the whole filmmaking experience? Toby: I’ve learnt that the creative process can transcend mediums. I considered myself a painter, and now I realize if you are going to categorize it, I’m a filmmaker now, although it was a totally collaborative effort, as I could not have done it without Laura Gamse. I’m learning that I also love people, and I love learning from people. I’m learning to not even put parameters on what I think is creative. Particulary in the Bahamas where some think that if you paint sailboats, you should continue to paint sailboats, so people would know who you are... I went to a show in Washington, D.C and saw some Picasso drawings. I think that Picasso is one of the hardest artists of all times, just raw emotion and skill. You see some of his early drawings and you can’t believe some of these rendings. If I look at the history of art then I understand a lot of these guys experimented with all kinds of forms. They never said... ‘Oh I paint boats I can’t deviate’... I understand in some ways it’s a marketing strategy, like building a brand, my hat off to you if you can build yourself only by building red squares.
On his show 20/20 at Popopstudios Toby describes the show as conversation over a 20 year period between John Cox and himself. “It was basically 20 years ago when John Cox and I did our first show. We did our first show in 1992 at the now non-existent Bahamian Art Gallery off Bay Street. And you will see in the 20/20 showing I showed some of the earlier works that I did in 1992. John and I are different beasts, different characters; I thrive on emotion. I wish it was not that way because sometimes it’s to my detriment, but I’m learning. Even now I’m in the process of hanging this show with John Cox, I’m still on edge. I’m like ‘Oh, my God’... You just have to take it. Not only do you spend hours, days, weeks, months even years in the studio, but you put the work up and then you have to deal. It’s almost like you are a gladia-
43
44 nuwomanmagazine.com
tor in the Coliseum, and you are in the ring, and then you are ready, and then the crowds come in and then the fight begins! *Life is a gladiator sport. You have to condition your body, mind and spirit on a daily basis.*
On the internet and technology and how it changed the ‘game’ The internet and technology totally changed the game. I’m fully endorsing technology, it’s a language that we cannot do without today, it’s now a part of our language. Within minutes I can look anything up, and have a document, visual or in depth knowledge of it. However, it can also be a hindrance, there are so many apps, what do I do with them all? Sometimes I feel like an idiot because I don’t have the newest software... That sh*# cost money..... A great tool, but if you get a camera today, the way that advertising works, by the time I figure out how to use it, it’s kind of outdated. “Technology is to be used, but it’s not to replace being human.” It’s funny because it sounds like I’m contradicting myself, but I love all languages.
About getting older Someone said that I have that luxury of working on my own time. For now I do, but I’m forty and I’m suffering for it. I’ll be honest with you, as of next year, God’s willing, I’m looking to balance it even more because I liked having a day job. When I worked with Jackson and Pam Burnside I liked that structure, because having too much time can be a blessing, but it can also be a curse.
What he has learnt. All my life informs my art. **Growing up I was not comfortable in my skin at all. I always wanted to be other. As I travelled and as I got older, I became more comfortable in my skin, and just wanted to be myself. So people ask me now, who are you? I am a human being and I mix with all. What I’m learning. I am not an exception. I am just a human being. You meet other people, who you can totally relate to, and then I start to realize that I’m not different, that’s very comforting. I find that by being open you get to the nitty-gritty right away instead of ‘sugar-coating’ and you see who understands and who doesn’t, because a lot of people are in the dark when it comes to other people. The reason why I mentioned all of that is because all of that informs my art. I’m starting to value my work now; before that, I was like ‘No I’m not worthy’. Where does that come from? I’m not worthy. It bugs me that anyone thinks that. Even when I think about it in spiritual terms, like I’m not worthy to receive thee. Well who the hell is? Why am I letting that person say that, or that doctrine? Who wrote that doctrine? There are so many artists that are way better than me. It’s not being the greatest; it’s being true to your profession. I believe in the soul’s journey and it’s not up to us I read this book this summer, “What is an angel doing here?” It talks about a spiritual journey. What we have experienced in dealing with loss. I had a friend (Felix) of mix race from Montreal who killed himself, he couldn’t cope, he said ‘’man I don’t know where I fit”. He was 35. That book though, it talks about when you are going through something, that there are always angels around. But more importantly, I celebrate for my ancestors; for all that I have, and have been given. I used to be like man I am leaving Nassau, I am going to blend right in, and now I don’t feel that, I feel as if I want to be a part of this mix, to fight the fight. You ready? You sure you want to fight me? You ready? You might win, but boy I gonna gouge you with lyrics and love!
On Relationships We went off on a bit of a tangent talking about some personal experiences, and again Toby was quite open. He spoke about a recent relationship that had ended, but talked about the fact that they remained friends and that it was difficult for him to deal because there were still so much emotion involved. “I am not a mean person, even though I may be hurt, I won’t deliberately try to hurt you, it’s a spiritual thing. It’s like creating more negative Karma. The reason why I talk so much about these personal experiences is because all of it informs my art”.
45
46 nuwomanmagazine.com
Toby in home studio. Photography. by Barry Williams
47
48 nuwomanmagazine.com
C
ITY LIMITS
Photography. Barry Williams. Photography assistants. Vijay Subramanian. Reno Miller. Makeup and hairstyling. KAT. Styling. Nykarlio Ferguson. Styling Assistants. Erica Meus-Saunders. Models l-r. Jessica Thompson (Direct Models). Anabel Hall (PTG Modeling Agency). Dresses. by Alicia Seymour.
49
Top. by David Rolle. Mini skirt. by Alicia Seymour
50 nuwomanmagazine.com
Top. by Alicia Seymour. Pants. by Klassy Loft
51
Top. by Alicia Seymour. Pants. by Klassy Loft. Shoes. CIAMONET
52 nuwomanmagazine.com
Top. by David Rolle. Mini skirt. by Alicia Seymour. Shoes. Shoe Dazzle. 53
Pantsuit & jacket. by Nykarlio Ferguson (June K Woods Collection).
54 nuwomanmagazine.com
Top. by Alicia Seymour. Skirt. by Theodore Elyett 55
Pantsuit & jacket. by Nykarlio Ferguson (June K Woods). Skirt. by Alicia Seymour
56 nuwomanmagazine.com
To Sir Sidney with Love By Erica Meus-Saunders
I believe that the very first time I met Sidney Poitier on the big screen it was in the movie “To Sir With Love”. It is the movie that stood out most in my memory in connection to him. I was overjoyed when my publication, Nu Woman magazine was invited to sit in on a very intimate press conference with him. It’s said that first impressions are lasting, and to many degrees I accept this as fact. You can tell so much about a man by the way he presents himself. Sir Sidney entered the room and I was in awe; he showed resilience, there was a peacefulness about him, and yes, humbleness. Our press conference got underway and I was charmed by his wit and almost hypnotized by the sound of his voice. I had always been a great fan of this man, and here he was in the flesh and I could talk to him in this pressroom. Sir Sidney has set milestones - being the first black man to win an Oscar after having to learn how to read properly at a late age; making over 58 films; and deciding to become an actor after being told he should stick to being a dishwasher. So I was over eager for an opportunity to ask a question or two. Many questions were asked, and much was revealed in the answers.
*Sir Sidney talked passionately about fostering the arts and filmmaking in the Bahamas*
to Canada for people who come down and design your advertisements that go all over the United States and in some cases all over the world. Why then do we not have a small body of well-educated gifted filmmakers? We should have and if they don’t do commercials they can make films out of their own imagination.” Another question was given to Sir Sidney asking him how he remained true to his vision in a segregated era. He revealed that he had never set out to become an artist or actor but that circumstances had propelled him in that direction. “I did not start out in life to be an artist. I had no knowledge of art in almost any area. I did not have a good education. I was born in Miami, Florida to Bahamian parents, my mother was pregnant, seven and a half maybe eight months, but she was under the impression that she would be back on Cat Island because they went there to sell their tomatoes. They would be back on Cat Island, Arthur’s Town, quite soon, but her water broke and I was born February 20, 1927. When she was able to travel we went back to Cat Island. I stayed there until I was ten and a half. Then my father’s business fell apart (the government of Florida placed an embargo on tomatoes coming from various countries in the Caribbean area). I was possibly a victim prepared for the reform school (you all may know what a reform school is in this country and all the unfortunate natures of that kind of an institution). So my father was afraid if I ever went to reform school what would happen would
“We are in a world in which we see on television the exquisite execution of dancers and actors, singers and painters and many other gifts. We have to, I believe, or we have the responsibility to behave in an artistic way that reflects on the growth of our country, the growth of the Bahamas is essential. For instance, you have in the Bahamas, you have very few filmmakers and you should have more, and if the good government let you have and is willing to listen to it, there ought to be a beginning of creative filmmakers and ultimately then, the Bahamas will not have to send from abroad to Canada or Miami, New York or California to get the imitations of what ever we put out there, to invite people to come to the Bahamas. I believe it costs you a great deal of money to create those things. Our children should be creating those; they should be making those things in this country. I know that there are a few kids, but we are not encouraging them. We definitely are not, when you send 57
be, when I came out the likelihood would be that I would wind up in prison because too many of them in fact did. Some of them were my friends, so he decided to send me to my eldest brother who lived in Florida. He sent him $10 and part of it was to articulate the fact that I was born in America and he had $6 dollars left. And he decided to get me off, he took me to a boat, I don’t think it was the Ena-Kay, but it was something similar. He put $3 in my hand and he put me on a boat and he said, ‘Take care of yourself son’. I was 15 and everything I knew in the world came from my mother and my father.
name of the College? College of the Bahamas? You don’t have at the College of the Bahamas, even two men who are really gifted in the whole art of filmmaking. There are cameras that small (he indicates), and every one of you guys know it, that small that records sound and imagery. If you hire two such people they can teach kids, young people so much about these instruments! And then they may begin to think of how much they need to know in order for them to fly. But, if they don’t have that kind of opportunity, it will never happen for them. It will never happen. They NEED to be encouraged in that way. And trust me, I could not read or write, I could not read well, I could not write.
** My mother and my father, for reasons that I do not understand even to this day, were able to give me enough, that I could think my way through, even circumstances that I did not quite understand. I would go inside myself and I would try to remember how my mother treated me, and how my father treated his friends and how they treated together their people. So I left and went to another country, but somehow or another, I had digested some value system, things that are not good to do, things that affected how I perceived my parents. So luckily, I went through my whole life on values that I saw operative in their lives. That’s how it was.”
Sir Sidney talks about improving on his reading skills I was working... Am I going too long? I was working as a dishwasher because I couldn’t read or write that well and I was satisfied about having to work as a dishwasher to feed myself in New York City. On one such job, I am just outside the city and I was working in this place washing dishes and I’ve been there for a few weeks. My job was to wash the dishes when the restaurant closed. When the restaurant closed the guys who did the waiting, they would leave and I would wash the last dishes, because the guys who waited they would sit and have a kind of last minute dinner and then they would go. I would then wash the dishes and go.
I finally got a chance to ask Sir Sidney a question, and again it was geared towards filmmakers in the Bahamas because this subject was also close to my heart as I am currently the Executive Producer of my own reality show, Nu Face Model Search.
One night I’m sitting in a chair as I am here and this is the door to the kitchen, a man from a nearby table got up because I was reading Journal American newspaper. I wasn’t reading it, I was reading those words that I knew and he walked over to me and he said, “What’s new in the paper?” and I said to him, ‘I can’t tell you what’s new because I don’t read very well.’ He said to me, ‘Would you like it if I sat there and read with you?’ And I said, ‘If you would like.’ He sat down with me and the Journal American newspaper and he started teaching me how to read better. Okay, long story short (audience laughter), I somehow learned to read better! And because I could read
My Question: In speaking of Bahamian filmmakers, editors and videographers, what advice Sir, would you give to the up and coming filmmaker who wants to make a name for him or herself? Sir Sidney’s response: Well, they are going to need, excuse the point... They are going to need government help; you have, what is the
58 nuwomanmagazine.com
better, I would test myself, and I found that there was a thing called a dictionary and I went exploring in the dictionary. I was feeding my own self-interest. That is how I learnt to read, that is how I got into the theatre, that is how I made 58 movies in my life, I directed, I wrote, wrote! I never did my own editing, but I had control over the things I wanted to do with my life. And that’s what I did.
plishments, and hoped that when I had accomplished most of what I’d set out to do, that I too could retain my humility.
Many other questions were given to Sir Sidney, this one in particular stood with me in how graciously he answered it.
Photos by Derek Smith
What did you think of this morning’s ceremony and how do you feel that some Bahamians feel that you might not deserve the honour of being named on the bridge? Sir Sidney’s response: Certainly that is the prerogative of those people who carry such thoughts. As I keep reminding some of my friends, we are now 7 billion human creatures on this tiny little planet and we are not always going to have the same point of view. We are going to have difficulties because we are, and please forgive the phrase, we are essentially imperfect creatures. If nature had intended us to be perfect creatures from the jump, we would be in heaven, and that would be pretty boring after a while (laughter) so, ah, what was your question? (laughter from the audience) ... Bahamians having negative feelings ... “Oh yeah, I don’t have them. What I have is a ‘something inside me’ and I suspect I got it from my mother. I look at the situation and I try to see the truth of it in relation to me. But, I also have to explore the truth of it in relation to the opposite part of the question, so that I understand the reason the person says oh, I don’t believe in him or I don’t think so. They have the prerogative to do that and I can defend myself, but I will not spend my life defending myself. So I go on my gut.”
This article was first published online at: http://nuwomanmagazine.com. To stay updated with our online posts visit - http://nuwomanmagazine.com/posts-2/ Follow our blog!
Jennifer Hudson on the Red Carpet at the Atlantis, where she performed in honour of Sir Sidney Sheldon. Ophrah Winfrey was also present. Below: Fireworks display at free concert held for Sir Sidney at the Atlantis, Paradise Island.
Chester: What did you think of this morning’s ceremonies? Sir Sidney: This morning ceremony, I was overwhelmed by it, truly overwhelmed by it. I was truly overwhelmed to see these children, and you know, that is the essence of our country. To see these children and to listen to them sing and to wave and to reach out and shake my hand; was really terrific. It was really terrific! They are the ones who will put inspiration in their lives because if we open ourselves to them, and reach out to them and nurture them, we will have a country that can ultimately stand face to face, with pretty much any country in the world. But they have to have that education. They have to have that nurturing, they have to have the gumption to reach out and to explore and to learn you know. This room is filled with people who have had very good education. Very good, and that in part is responsible for wonderful things in the world. The few minutes spent with this man were truly enlightening. I thanked him as he exited. I wish that there could be more humans like Sir Sidney whose entire life’ journey could teach multitudes of lessons. I was in awe of how humbled he remained in spite of all his accom59
Celeste Marshall
From Runway Model To Miss Universe Celeste had just flown in from New York after finishing a photo shoot with Fadil Berisha and agreed to meet me at Starbucks. I was curious about how she felt on the upcoming Miss Universe competition, which is scheduled for December 19th at Planet Hollywood, Las Vegas, and to also ‘pick her brains’ about the upcoming competition and her experience leading up to the Miss Bahamas Double Crown competition. NW: What prompted you to enter the Miss Bahamas Double Crown pageant? Celeste: Wow! There were so many things! Basically, it was just to try something new. I am a model and that’s really what I was focused on. But I figured, “Hey, if I get into pageantry, this could push my modeling further!” It could also help me out with my personal life. NW: Did you expect to win? Celeste: I didn’t. I honestly didn’t. People ask me that question and it’s really funny, because they say, ‘’Oh well you should have known.’’ It’s really not that; you just never really know. At the end of the day it’s a competition; you really don’t know what to expect. I had no idea. NW: What has the whole pageant experience been like for you? Celeste: It’s actually way, way more than I expected. I knew about certain things; you hear about them. It certainly puts you out there. There are many more people who know who you are, and a lot more people pay attention. Also, it really keeps you busy. I can’t even explain how much busier it is. I should say, “It is what I expected”, but it’s so much more. NW: How long have you been modeling? Celeste: I started when I was 13. I was just getting into it, trying to see how I felt and if I liked it. I didn’t start doing anything big until I was 15 or 16; that’s when I really got into it and I’m 20 now. NW: All of 20? Celeste: Yes (laughter) NW: Do you think this worked to your advantage? Celeste: Actually it did, but pageantry is very different from modeling; that is something that a lot of people don’t know. But yes, I think it did contribute to me winning. NW: So how was your trip to NY for your fashion shoot? Celeste: Actually, I’ve been to NY a few times. It’s just that this time was extremely cold. I did learn a
Photo by Kovah Duncombe 60 nuwomanmagazine.com
lot, though, especially going into the Miss Universe competition. Photographer Fadil gave me some extra points; some things that I can do that can possibly help me. So, my experience was pretty good. NW: How was that photo shoot with him compared to other photo shoots you have participated in? Celeste: I think it was just more energy. He is a really fun person. He is brutally honest and sometimes you need that to understand what makes a difference, or what looks better, you know? I think the energy level on the photo shoot helped me to stay comfortable and helped me to just let loose and do what I had to in front of the camera. NW: How do you feel about going into the Miss Universe competition in December? Are you nervous? Celeste: A lot of people ask me that, but I’m not nervous yet! (giggles) I think the nervousness will kick in when I get there. Right now I’m just excited and anxious to see what goes on and how things come about in the Miss Universe competition. There are so many things that you hear, but I really want to be there to experience it. So I’m really excited and anxious to get there! NW: In entering the Miss Bahamas Double crown pageant, did you get a lot of sponsorship? Celeste: I didn’t. I had a coach, Delano Sweeting. He basically got me through the whole competition. My family was a big support, and so were my friends but I had no concrete sponsors like the other girls did. My coach Delano Sweeting did all of that for me. NW: Going into the Miss Universe in a few months, how much sponsorship have you received in terms of clothing, jewelry etc as the reigning Miss Universe Bahamas? Celeste: I have received quite a bit. I actually just came from Obsession. They gave me a few pieces. Also, Nassau Gyals, and The Escape in the Cove at Atlantis, have all given me clothes as well. NW: So what is Celeste Marshall bringing to the Miss Universe competition? Celeste: There are so many answers to that question and I can’t really pinpoint what the judges are looking for or what anybody is looking for. But, I am hardworking and I am determined and anything I put my mind to, I go after, every chance I get. I am focused and I am driven, and putting my mind to something I want, I go after it with everything that I have. I think I have a great personality and my energy is high, so let’s just cross our fingers and hope they see something in me. NW: Is there any additional pressure with this competition? Celeste: Just a little bit, but that gives me an additional push to work as hard as I can to represent my country. Many people say, “Hey we are really supporting you.” It’s just a little bit of pressure, but nothing I can’t handle. NW: Many beautiful Bahamian women have gone to the Miss Universe, why do you think that none of them were able to make the top 10, the Top 15? Celeste: Wow! Again, not having the experience or being with them or just seeing what they have been doing at the Miss Universe pageants, honestly, I can’t say, because there are certain things they say such as, “You can’t say this” or “Do that” while you are there, or things like that, so I can’t say what the issue is and why they didn’t make it as far as they did. However, one of the things that was pointed out to me was that in regards to the Bahamas, “Doesn’t have the support that they need”, like
how Miss Venezuela or Miss Puerto Rico has it, whether it’s with online voting or other ways. They push for their country to get out there. I do know that this is one of the issues. Also, my pageant Sash as ‘Miss Bahamas’ is not as high as that of a ‘Miss Venezuela’, or the winning countries. NW: ‘Sash’ as in title? Or country’s title? Celeste: Yes, my title (as a Miss Bahamas) isn’t as prominent as the former winners’. It makes a difference because Miss Universe does take note of the different countries that are entering... who they send, how they behave, how they look and things like that, and unfortunately the Bahamas is not up there like so many other countries are. Like I said, I can’t exactly say what has or has not been done while these contestants were at the Miss Universe competition. The support from my country is big and it is something that was big for them as well. But, for now that’s the most important issue for me. NW: So after this competition do you want to continue with your modeling? 61
Photography by PJ Douglas Sands
Celeste: That is something that I really, really want to continue doing. I want to become a supermodel, that is one of my goals and I think that I will indeed continue with that. NW: Are there any specific steps that you will take in achieving this. Celeste: Steps? Well, if I’m not becoming Miss Universe, then of course I’ll do different things to get myself out there. Go to the different agencies, see what they need, what they want, if I’m qualified or how to meet their criteria. NW: What are your hobbies? Celeste: I like to dance. Modeling of course. I listen to music all the time. I sing occasionally, though I’m not very good at it. Basically, I just like to have fun with my friends and family. NW: Are you dating? Celeste: Dating? Aah, I do have a boyfriend. I don’t think he would want me to say his name, but yes, I do have a boyfriend.
62 nuwomanmagazine.com
“Revisiting The Legendary Ronnie Butler” continued from page 27. bumpy road with relationships? Ronnie: Well, you know most people have bumpy relationships. NW: Yeah, but was it more difficult than normal, due to the fact that you are a musician? Ronnie: No, not really. My first marriage broke up because I was young, stupid and doing sh#@.
On the plight of the Bahamian musician NW: Right now, would you say that there are a lot of places or avenues for a Bahamian artist to play? Ronnie: There are just a few. To be perfectly honest with you…I blame (and you can put this in big bold letters) I BLAME THE GOVERNMENTS, and I say governments (both) because none of them ‘een no good. When they make their heads of agreements, they say to these people (hotels, foreign investors) we want you to hire some Bahamian musicians. Well that is Bulls#@#, excuse my expression because they are giving the person a way out, okay. When you give away hundreds of millions of dollars in concessions of this country, I’m a part of that. So are you giving those concessions away just for waitresses, waiters, bartenders and maids? No. This is a part of my country you are giving away, so I should also benefit. When I say “I”, I am speaking about musicians and entertainers in general. They (government) just say we want you to hire, and so as a result, the fellow may hire two here, three there. We have on Paradise Island at the Atlantis, a piano player and a singer and that’s ‘BAND”. That is totally ridiculous, especially when you have all these musicians who aren’t working.
Musicians who influenced his music NW: What instruments do you play? Ronnie: I play a number of instruments. As I said, King Eric was largely responsible for me being Ronnie Butler the entertainer. He gave me the opportunity to learn how to be a band leader, and as a band leader in my view, you are supposed to be able to tell the drummer “Eh, man I said play Bossa Nova, not Rumba.” If you are in charge, the ball is in your court. Someone comes over to dance a Bossa Nova, and the drummer is playing Rumba, and that person is a professional dancer, he knows , so I’m supposed to know to tell my drummer to play the right kind of music, and if he can’t, I’m supposed to teach him. So I learned to play the guitar and base drums, the saxophone, the steel drums, the Bongos, and the Congo. NW: What is your favourite instrument? Ronnie: My favourite instrument is and always was the guitar. NW: So would you say that King Eric influenced you most? Ronnie: Yes, of course. There were also people like Joseph Spence, Blind Blake, and George Symonette who were entertainers ahead of me. Also Freddie Munnings Senior.
The highlight of his career NW: So through all your years of playing is there anyone who you wanted to play with, but did not have an opportunity to play with? Ronnie: No, I have had the opportunity …in 68, 69 I had the opportunity to play with Roy Hamilton, when he came to Nassau. He was one of my favourite foreign artists, so was Ray Charles. Ray Charles is at the top of that list. But my biggest moment in entertainment was to be able to perform on a stage where many of the greats performed at the Apollo Theatre in New York City. Of the many things we discussed back then, the one thing that I took away from this interview and the one thing that stuck with me was how drastically our Bahamian culture has changed over the years especially in the plight of the Bahamian musician. We need to refocus on what is Bahamian, and to honour our legends while they still have life. Here is a final quote from the legendary Ronnie Butler:
“I am just happy to have lived in this country when living was good, when I could jump in my car at 2:00 in the morning, go out to the esplanade, open my doors, lay cross my back seat, go to sleep with money in my pocket, and wake up the next morning with money in my pocket.” To read the complete article visit us online at: http://nuwomanmagazine.com Click on ‘Posts’. Please leave feedback on any or all articles.
63
By Heike Dempster
E
very December Miami turns into the hub for the international art world when Art Basel Miami Beach opens its doors at the Miami Beach Convention Center. In 2012, over 260 galleries showed art by more than 2,000 artists like Scott Campbell, Picasso, Yayoi Kusama and Kehinde Wiley at the premier art fair in the Americas. For the 11th installment of Art Basel Miami Beach, galleries, collectors, artists, art enthusiasts and celebrities gathered to enjoy art, do business and have a grand time at countless parties, special events and brunches. The first day of the vernissage attracts collectors, press and celebrities. P Diddy and girlfriend Cassie were amongst the first visitors as were Barbara Becker, Lenny Kravitz, designers Diane Van Furstenberg, Vogue’s Hamish Bowles, and artistic multi-talent Pharrell Williams. Art Basel is a true experience for anyone interested in art. There is much to see, experience and absorb at the main fair while sections like Art Nova and Art Positions introduce younger artists. These sections are more experimental with a more unorthodox curatorial approach. Noteworthy for 2012 were the works of Miami-based artist Agustina Woodgate as well as New York based Andra Ursuta and Mexican artist Julieta Aranda. 2012 saw a record number of satellite fairs in Midtown and South Beach including established fairs like Scope and Art Miami (now in its 23rd year) and new fairs like Untitled and Miami Project, which made a strong first impression. Scope, known for showcasing emerging contemporary with a focus on multi-disciplinary programming and cutting edge curatorial projects, delivered again for 2012. Scope teamed up with VH1 to create an outdoor lounge celebrating the visual arts and, of course there, was some interesting art to be seen such as “Le Mond est un Zombie” by Simon Bilodeau, Typoe’s huge sculpture of a bust dripping with white paint and Hugh Hayden’s white goat standing on building blocks entitled “American Hero 2.” Some of the most amazing art can be seen at Miami galleries as they select some of the most exciting artists for their exhibitions during Art Basel Miami Beach. Spinello Projects presented the group show “Closer” featuring artists like Manny Prieres and Sinisa Kukec and Gallery Diet created a space inspired by architecture with the exhibition “The Working Day” by Ohad Meromi. Locust Project presented “Theaster Gates: Soul Manufacturing Corporation,” a multi-disciplinary project inspired by lectors of the early industrial
64 nuwomanmagazine.com
era exploring urban intervention, space transformation and relationships between aesthetics, labor and race. Primary Projects, always on the forefront of what’s happening in Miami’s art scene, presented four projects including performances by Autumn Casey, an installation by Kenton Parker at Soho Beach House, a solo show by Rebeca Raney and a pop-up store in Wynwood for Asif Farooq. For her solo show “Raneytown,” Rebeca Raney transformed Primary Project into a fantasy world inhabited by wondrous imaginary creatures. Raney’s delicate ink and gouache drawings came to life in the front part of the gallery in brightly colored and glittery toy like sculptures which were up to 10 feet tall. In a special collaboration with Madewell, Raney’s imagery also debuted in a limited edition fashion line. The artist’s signature backwards-facing llamas and intricate floral elements provided the inspi-
ration for a cashmere sweater, silk top, scarf, hand-painted tote as well as pendant necklaces. For the pop-up store “Asif’s Guns”, Primary Projects invaded a space in Wynwood. The store offered 300 handcrafted cardboard guns by Miami artist Asif Farooq, who made the exact replicas of firearms like colts, snub-nosed revolvers and AK 47s over the past nine month. According to Primary Projects, the installation “challenged viewers to be aware of their instinctive reactions and principles as it relates to gun culture, and the place of art, crafts and toys in probing controversial questions about societal and personal values.” Wynwood was definitely a hot spot during Art Basel as the area has developed into the art district of Miami with street art, galleries and new restaurants, bars and stores. Street artists like world renowned Shepard Fairey, Miami artists like Luis Pinto and Ruben Ubiera, as well as artists from around the world gathered to paint murals, using every square inch of wall space available to them. Art Basel Miami Beach generally means parties galore. ‘Miamians’ like to party, so just imagine what happens when you throw additional celebrities and international jet set into the mix. Stella McCartney hosted a brunch - the Sagamore Hotel’s Annual Art Basel Brunch was attended by MOCA Executive Director and Chief Curator Bonnie Clearwater, gallerists like Carol Jazzar and Anthony Spinello as well as artists like Abby Double, Farley Aguilar and Joshua Levine. Vanity Fair Magazine and the Museum of Contemporary Art welcomed over 3,000 guests for a party and opening reception for a new exhibit by Bill Viola; and Visionaire Magazine teamed up with Net-A-Porter for their Art Basel
Thesater Gates at Locust Project. Photo. by Robert Dempster.
65
Top right. Rebeca Raney’s photo. Bottom right. Sculpture by Typoe at Scope. Photo. by Heike Dempster. Bottom right. Rebeca Raney at the opening of her solo show at primary projects. Photo. by Robert Dempster. Top right. Barbara Becker and friends at Art Basel Miami Beach. Photo. by Heike Dempster.
66 nuwomanmagazine.com
extravaganza attended by Joseph Altuzzarra, Vera Wang and Kanye West. Art Basel Miami Beach 2012 was the expected whirlwind of art and parties. As the fairs close their doors until December 2013, Miami returns to being one of the most exciting cities, offering an exciting mix of culture, music, culinary delights and a thriving young art scene. Top left. George Herms. Untitled . Top right. Rebeca Raney . Centre. 101 exhibit. Photo. by Heike Dempster. Bottom left. Anthony Spinello at the Sagamore Brunch. Photo. by Robert Dempster Bottom right. Artist Julieta Aranda. Photo. by Robert Dempster.