04062023 WEEKEND

Respect the craft

An exhibit to explore the healing power of art

By JEFFARAH GIBSON | Tribune Features Writer | jgibson@tribunemedia.net

THE impact of art can have people living longer, and stronger and the healing process will be explored during a special exhibition that will coincide with the HEALinc Summit 2023.

Given that art has long been a proven powerful healer, mental health and arts will intersect during the upcoming event.

This year, Dr Desirée Cox, CEO and founder of the HEALinc Summit, and Nicole Collie, co-founder and CEO of Emerging Creatives and founder of The Gray Spaces, are teaming up to unveil an exciting new art show entitled “Art For Life” during the 2023 HEALinc Future Health Innovation Summit.

The exhibition will be a central feature of the HEALinc Summit grand opening under the patronage of the Bahamas Ministry of Health. It will be held in the exhibition hall at the Atlantis Resort on April 17 from 5.30pm to 7.30pm.

The Art For Life exhibition, which officially runs until the end of the Summit on April 19, will feature a diverse range of collective works by artists Dr Desirée Cox, Nicole Collie, Bahamian Ambassador to the US Wendall K Jones, Amina Fogg, Del Foxton, Lyndera Hall, Moses Victor, and Clifford Fernander.

Nicole and Desirée, both visual mixed media artists, first met when Nicole showed Desirée’s collection at her gallery in Nassau.

Desirée has since launched her regenerative art brand ArtRegen, where she produces paintings that draw on the science of light, colour and abstraction to spark imagination and help like-minded professionals access their innate ability to self-heal.

“Health is a creative process, and regenerative health requires imagination,” said Desirée. “My art functions on three unique levels – abstract, object, and motion – to help centre you, engage you, and allow you to feel more connected to your physical, spiritual, emotional, and mental health.”

This collaborative art exhibition will run alongside the 2023 HEALinc Summit, a global networking platform that unites scientists, innovators, entrepreneurs, and medical professionals from all over the world who share one common goal: to empower people to take control of their health and future.

Desirée has always descried her work as “regenerative art”.

Her transformative art hangs in private collections all over the world and has been featured in multiple renowned publications such as British Vogue, Tatler and House & Garden.

“My work is meant to lower your blood pressure, lift your spirit, and birth great conversation,” she said.

To learn more about this exhibition, visit www. healincsummit.com or www.emergingcreatives.org.

DR Desiree Cox

‘Final Breakpoint’ by Dr Desiree Cox

‘Welcome to Caribbean Love’ by Nicole Collie

Bahamian rapper scores dancehall hit and launches TikTok challenge

By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net

WHEN Dia Major first started her career in 2018, she had no knowledge of music or how to write a song.

Fast-forward to today, and not only does she have a hit song on her hands – “Sunday to Sunday” with Jamaican dancehall artist Charly Black – but her latest track, “TikTok Damages”, is also increasingly garnering attention around the world.

The Bahamian rap artist told Tribune Weekend the feature with Charly Black has accumulated over 537,000 views on YouTube and reached No 1 in multiple countries on iTunes. Her solo single, “TikTok Damages”, reached No 14 in Kenya during its first week of sales and is still climbing.

“ ‘TikTok Damages’ was inspired by the typical story that we as women go through when leaving a relationship. It reflects the energy of partying through the pain of losing someone close to you that you love, and of course (utilising) the new platform TikTok to binge and stalk past lovers. The song is definitely a party song. Although it speaks of a toxic love story, it has a swing that just makes you feel that everything is going to be OK regardless, but for now ;we will party through the pain’,” said Dia.

Visuals for “TikTok Damages” will be released in upcoming weeks. Dia said there are also plans to shoot a music video very soon. But in the

meantime, there is a TikTok competition people can take part in.

“Currently, we are launching a $500 cash prize TikTok competition for the most creative TikTok video to the song. The competition ends Friday, April 14,” said Dia.

“So far, the feedback has been amazing all over Europe and Africa. My manager, Crawba Genius, premiered it at many concerts all over Europe, and the crowd is loving it. The TikTokers are definitely loving it.”

Sharing a bit more about the “Sunday to Sunday” song with Charly Black, Dia said this one is all about partying and understanding how to have a good time, no matter what day of the week it is.

“The song encourages good vibes, dressing nice and shutting

the spot down wherever, whenever. The video was shot in Jamaica, but definitely pays great homage to our country as I wore a custom outfit created by myself using a Bahari print. The outfit also features the archipelago on it and the Bahamian flag as a tribute to my brother at the end of the video, who was killed in 2021 by the police. This is bringing awareness to police brutality in our country,” she said.

“Before Sunday to Sunday, I had 13 monthly listeners on Spotify. Now the number has (increased tremendously). I am very grateful to my team for all the work they have put in with helping me come this far. But we do have so much more to do, so everything that has happened so far has motivated me in many ways, but I do not feel completely accomplished.”

Dia’s music catalogue so far includes an EP called Matilda (2019); Trap Dia (2020), and Voices In My Head (2021).

She is excited to continue with her rap career and hopes to one day be one of music’s superstars.

“As my brand continues to evolve and capture the eyes and ears of the European, Caribbean, African and Eastern communities, I plan to continue to produce and release excellent quality, international and timeless hits,” she said.

“This Summer, we will be heading to Europe to work on an album and also tour my latest music. y brand has evolved from just being a rapper to being an all-around – as my stylist Anthony Smith puts it – ‘international phenomenon’…I cannot wait to see what 2023 holds and what I can bring back to the Bahamas within the very near future.”

All those interested can find Dia’s music on Instagram at therealitsdia, TikTok at itsdia_train, and Facebook and YouTube under the name “It’s Dia”.

DIA Major

DIA’s latest hit

NiQee Love

As a sexologist, she is on a mission to promote self-love and confidence in women, in particular. She tells Cara Hunt how she wants to encourage women to be audacious in their expression and comfortable in their bodies.

iQee Love has always been “that”

You know, the one that other women go to discuss things they may be uncomfortable discussing with their mothers or other female family members.

With many years of experience in the corporate world, NiQee has a history of effecting change in others and supporting their professional growth and development through corporate human

However, in 2019 she transitioned out of the corporate arena to pursue her true passion for connecting with and helping people to live their best lives Her self-confidence and natural ability to put people at ease, combined with her desire to help women find the best version of themselves, has led her to her dream career: a certified sexologist and the creator of the Self

The Self Love Affair is a bold movement of aspiring and flourishing fiercely confident women, audacious in their expression, comfortable in their bodies, and at one with their sexuality. Serving women internationally, NiQee dedicates her Bahamasbased practice to educating and helping women embrace their sexuality and sensuality with unflinching confidence.

“I started this path as a transformational life coach,” she told Tribune Weekend.

“I really had a strong desire to help people become the very best version of themselves. I have a few certifications in life coaching and it was really a natural evolution from that to becoming a sexologist.”

As a sexologist, she takes a holistic approach to help her clients achieve their full sexual and sensual potential. This includes developing not just their sexuality and sensuality but also working on their emotional, intellectual and physical selves as well.

“In this programme, we first start with a consultation where we attempt to figure out in black and white how you see yourself and how you want to see yourself, and then we work from there.”

NiQee helps to address these issues.

“I usually do a virtual session and we address their concerns.”

These concerns are often related to sexual performance and being a better sexual partner, and it also includes helping them develop their own confidence in their body and how they view themselves in this manner.

“The challenge comes from not fully knowing yourself, and when you discover that, then it leads you to become more confident,” she said.

“I think that sensuality exists in all of us, although it doesn’t always manifest in healthy ways, and that is what you have to learn.”

NiQee said that is why it is important that woman know and embrace who they are.

“Everyone has a sexual relationship. Even if you have made a decision to be celibate, that is your relationship,” she said.

NiQee said women are often judged for their sexuality and the choices they make when it comes to their bodies.

However, she stresses that self-love is the foundation for all healthy relationships.

“You can’t just confine yourself to a single box. Stop trying to fit into the little boxes we are often told we should fill out,

and stop making yourself small so you can fit in places you were long ago ready to outgrow,” she said.

Her programme’s self-love section is designed to encourage participants to have a whole new relationship with themselves.

“Self-doubt, misconceptions, fear and other nags can distract you, weigh you down and invite toxicity into your life. This workshop will give you the tools to change the narrative, empowering you to step boldly into a fresh new season of intense self-love,” she said.

Ultimately, her goal is empowerment.

“I try to put out there what I needed to know when I was a young girl. Often, we are uncomfortable, and I want to encourage women to ask the questions such as what femininity means to them,” she said.

In addition to NiQee’s one-on-one sessions, her website also provides information and help.

Her bookshelf offers a variety of suggestions for empowered reading.

this weekend in history

April 7

• In 1927, the first public demonstration of a oneway videophone takes place between US Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover in Washington, DC, and officials of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T) in New York City. Although the audio portion was two-way, the video portion was one-way with only those in New York being able to see Hoover.

• In 1994, violence erupts in Rwanda, foreshadowing the

coming genocide. Rwandan Prime Minister Agathe Uwilingiyimana, a moderate Hutu, is assassinated by Hutu soldiers a day after the deaths of Juvénal Habyarimana, president of Rwanda, and Cyprien Ntaryamira, president of Burundi—as Rwanda enter a period of anarchy.

April 8

• In 564 BC, Siddhartha Gautama, most commonly referred to as the Buddha, is believed to have been born in the Lumbini Province of Nepal. A wandering ascetic and religious teacher, he became the founder Indian religion and philosophical tradition of Buddhism.

• In 1990, Ryan White, who had become a symbol of the AIDS crisis, dies at age 18 of pneumonia, due

to having contracted AIDS from a blood transfusion.

He suffered from haemophilia and required weekly blood transfusions. Ryan was 13 when he was diagnosed with AIDS and given six months to live.

It was later revealed that roughly 90 percent of

“From self-love journals to memoirs of the women who have inspired me and more…Sometimes, that means exposing you to the limits of my wild imagination through sexy, often taboo stories and expressive poetry, deliciously centered around fiercely confident, unapologetically bold women and the adventures that come from living life unleashed,” she said.

NiQee also has an online store which sells adult intimate items.

“We are committed to curating a digital sanctuary for the fiercely confident woman; audacious in her expression, comfortable in her body, and at one with her sexuality,” she said.

She is also available for workshops and seminars. Recently, she hosted an event for the Bahamas Pharmaceutical Association as part of its Pharmacy Cares public outreach initiative. She helped with their goal to engage the community in edutainment; finding creative ways to discuss health issues and bring awareness.

American haemophiliacs who had received similar treatments between 1979 and 1984 suffered the same fate.

April 9

• In 1682, French explorer and fur trader René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur (lord) de La Salle claims the Mississippi River basin for France, naming it La Louisiane (Louisiana). One source states that “he acquired for France the most fertile half of the North American continent”.

• In 1965, the Astrodome opens in Houston, Texas, hosting the first indoor baseball game. It was nicknamed the “Eighth Wonder of the World”. As the world’s first indoor, airconditioned domed stadium, the 18-storey multipurpose structure set the bar for arena design and construction for decades to come.

THE FIRST public one-way videophone call. (Photo/AT&T Archives and History Center)

New podcast puts spotlight on creative entrepreneurship and its challenges

By JEFFARAH GIBSON | Tribune Features Writer | jgibson@tribunemedia.net

Ask any artist trying to make a living off their work and they will tell you how difficult it can be to manage both the creative and the business aspects of their ventures.

Many creative entrepreneurs, both here in the Bahamas and around the world, deal the with sad reality of their work not being valued as it should, or their skills and time not being properly respected.

Clients often don’t understand the amount work and time that goes into art, crafts, photography or cinematography; or they feel because they are not purchasing from a “traditional” business, they shouldn’t have meet a certain price point or respect the terms of a deal.

A new podcast called “Mhmm” by two Bahamian creatives seeks to address some of the burning issues many of these creative entrepreneurs face on a daily basis.

Launched by portrait and commercial photographer Scharad Lightbourne and cinematographer Emmanuel Petit-Homme, the show borrows its title from Bahamian colloquialism “mhmm” , used “when acknowledging a person, idea, thought, or statement. It can also be used to express emotion as well.”

This podcast is a discussion between the

two and tackles both “chaotic and comedic” topics which people in the creative industry experience.

The show aims to provide some insight into this locally thriving industry, and educate listeners about the ins and outs of it.

The first episode premieres April 11 at 11am and 8pm on the YouTube channel @MhmmthePodcast.

Season one of the show will address many of the highs and lows artists face in the Bahamas.

“Creative entrepreneurs go through many challenges running a business but don’t have a platform to express those challenges or use them as reference points to understand how to overcome them,” said Scharad.

“For a long time, Emmanuel and I

thought of how we could bridge both sides and eventually felt a podcast would serve us well.”

The experiences both Scharad and Emmanuel have under their belt as a photographer and cinematographer respectively will be shared during the podcast.

“For now, season one will really push (us as hosts). We look to expand by hosting reputable industry experts in season two,” said Scharad.

“Our podcast covers pricing, branding, budgeting, communication, and other important topics we face when running a creative business.”

Emmanuel said he has faced many a challenge as a creative entrepreneur which he hopes to shed some light on as the season progresses.

“The number one issue creatives face is respect for our craft. People don’t see a lot of what goes

into producing, crafting and creating; we want to address all these. Some (topics), for example, are ‘My price is my price’ or ‘Why clients ghost’, which by a recent poll got a lot votes,” he said.

“My partner, Scharad, and I want to address these issues publicly, but in a professional way. Our aim is to educate our fanbase, subscribers and listeners, and hopefully change the landscape of how people all around view creatives as business owners.”

HOSTS of the ‘Mhmm’ podcast Scharad Lightbourne and Emmanuel Petit-Homme

Fruit drop

Good day, gardeners. I have returned from spending a week in Ontario with my daughter, and let me tell you, there is nothing that brings gratitude to me (other than spending time with my child) than spending some time in the Bahamian garden after a week in the north.

The entire landscape was brown and grey in Ontario, cloudy and drizzly. We saw the sun for a total for around six hours the entire week. Some of the native trees were budding, and there is joy in the springtime when growth begins, but the weeks before hand are simply miserable for me.

I would compare myself to a tropical fruit tree in that I cannot tolerate a hard freeze, and I require lots of water and sunshine to thrive.

On the topic of tropical fruit trees, there has been a lot of activity and many folks asking the same question: Why is my mango tree dropping so many fruit? Should I water more? Less?

Well, here’s the skinny on fruit drop: it happens, and it is a process of natural attrition, but there may be an underlying issue although usually there is not.

First things first, a mature fruit tree requires very little water. There is absolutely no reason to soak a mature fruit tree in conditions outside of a severe drought. Do not pay attention to those folks saying to water a mature fruit tree deeply a couple times a week. They are simply wrong, especially when it comes to mango trees. Mango trees thrive with very little nitrogen in the soil, and they thrive in conditions that are more dry than wet. A lot of stress that newly planted fruit trees experience is often created by the gardener by too much attention and typically, too much water.

There is no reason to treat trees for pests or disease, unless there are pests and disease present. There is no reason to fertilize a fruit tree unless there are signs that there are deficiencies. Abnormal new growth, lack of new growth, yellowing foliage, curled leaves, and so on, are signs of distress and may need treating, otherwise, let it be!

Fruit drop is not in itself a sign of distress. This applies to most fruit trees that we can grow, with the one exception being citrus, which must be sprayed regularly to avoid contracting lethal issues.

Non-toxic, basic oil sprays or Spinosad are typically all that are needed, there is no need for hard poisons such as Sevin, Malathion, or neo-nicotinoids in any home garden. With the rare exception, maybe, a systemic on hibiscus and one or two others, maybe. Drop the over attention and just let it be; enjoy it! Balance in the garden is often achieved most efficiently and effectively without human intervention outside of general, basic maintenance used to strengthen or improve a plant or tree.

This refers to the needed fertilizing on most material in our low nutrient containing soils to promote growth and basic health, the needed IPM – Integrated Pest Management to monitor and manage (not eradicate) pest populations, and the needed pruning to control and support the growth of the tree with good branching habits and a strong root system.

This year has been a boon for fruit set, from what I can see. There was good pollination and a heavy initial fruit formation on established trees.

Some years we get high winds or extremely heavy rains and they may knock off quite a few early fruit. This year we seem to have not experienced weather that has caused that to happen, yet.

Now it is time for the natural process to occur in that the tree itself will dissect the fruit that it cannot bear. The tree itself sheds that which it cannot carry, to the benefit of the fruit that it does carry.

Through management and favorable weather conditions, it is possible to increase the amount of fruit that a tree can bear. Back to the possibility of underlying issues, we had a couple of years of severe anthracnose which is still going around as any infectious disease will without management. This led to some poor yields and dieback of fruiting branches.

In our location it is not present this year, it is present at some sites that I spend time at. Anthracnose is the one that causes me concern and requires treatment. There are several

studies from India and Florida that determine that one percent of all flowers and fruit that set will become edible fruit that is harvested. One percent fruit viability. A rose is a rose, and a mango is a mango, yellow or red, slim or round, please stop calling them mangolas. Mangoes drop. You are doing great!

As always, I wish you happy gardening.

• Adam Boorman is the nursery manager at Fox Hill Nursery on Bernard Road. You can contact him with any questions you may have, or topics you would like to see discussed, at gardening242@ gmail.com.

New this week: Brooke Shields,

prequel and Lewis Capaldi

By The Associated Press

MOVIES

— “Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields,” a two-part documentary on Hulu, reconsiders how Shields was sexualised throughout pop culture as a child model and as the 12-year-old star of Louis Malle’s controversial 1978 film “Pretty Baby.” Shields, now 57, intimately discusses how the early labelling of her a sex symbol affected her personally and shaped her career. The documentary revisits plenty of infamous episodes from Shields’ life — her friendship with Michael Jackson, her relationship with Andre Agassi, her odd run-in with Tom Cruise — as well as new revelations, including that she was sexually assaulted by someone she knew professionally.

— AP Film Writer Jake Coyle MUSIC

— Michigan rapper NF has a new album out tomorrow and some tough love for his record label. “I could write a record full of radio songs/ Do a bunch of features that my label would love,” he raps on “Motto,” the first single. “Sounds like a nightmare if you ask me/Went from my bedroom to the big leagues.” The 13-track album ”Hope” boasts features with singer-songwriter Julia Michaels and rapper Cordae. It marks the rapper’s first full-length release since 2019’s platinum-selling “The Search.”

— Scottish singer Lewis Capaldi is ready for his spotlight in 2023. The artist who gave us the pop ballad “Someone You Loved” will have a new album, “Broken by Desire to be Heavenly Sent”, out on May 19 and he has been announced for Glastonbury 2023. This week, Netflix released “Lewis Capaldi: How I’m Feeling Now,” a documentary that follows the Grammy nominee returning to

his Scottish roots and attempting to reconnect with his old life and the family and friends he left behind. The new music includes the aching love song “Pointless,” with lush strings and powerful percussion.

— Linkin Park fans can celebrate the band’s landmark “Meteora” album with a 20th anniversary edition dropping Friday. It’s got a lost gem — literally, a complete and mixed, yet forgotten, song from the era, appropriately entitled “Lost.” Says bandmember Mike Shinoda: “Finding this track was like finding a favorite photo you had forgotten you’d taken, like it was waiting for the right moment to reveal itself.” Another lost track is “Fighting Myself,” with the late Chester Bennington in fine force. “Meteora” landed on March 25, 2003, went No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 before selling 27 million units worldwide.

— AP Entertainment Writer Mark Kennedy

place four years prior to the events of the “Grease” movie starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. It features original music by Justin Tranter, a producer who has worked with recording artists including Lady Gaga, Dua Lipa, Ariana Grande and The Chicks. The show’s creator, Annabelle Oakes, says her hope is to create a “Grease” cinematic universe much like Marvel’s, centered around Rydell High. “Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies” debuts Thursday.

— Alicia Rancilio

VIDEO GAMES

TELEVISION

— The new Paramount+ series “Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies” shows the origin of the girl gang before Frenchy, Rizzo, or Sandy ever donned their own pink jackets. “Rise of the Pink Ladies” takes

— Golf’s marquee annual event, The Masters Tournament, begins today, but the big news for virtual duffers is Electronic Arts’ long-awaited return to the links. It’s the first entry in the EA Sports PGA Tour franchise since 2015, and its main selling point is exclusive rights to the Masters and the sport’s three other majors. Augusta National, St. Andrews, Pebble Beach and 25 other classic courses are rendered in vivid detail, and EA has completely overhauled swing mechanics, ball physics, weather and landscape effects. You can tee off Friday on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S and PC.

— Lou Kesten

‘Grease’

literary lives – Gordon Lightfoot

Canada’s bard

Sir Christopher Ondaatje writes about the Canadian troubadour who helped define the folk-pop sound of the 1960s and ‘70s. He is still referred to as Canada’s greatest songwriter and is known internationally as a folk legend.

“If you could read my mind, love, What a tale my thoughts could tell. Just like an old-time movie, ‘Bout a ghost from a wishing well. In a castle dark or a fortress strong, `With chains upon my feet. You know that ghost is me.

And I

will never be set

free

As long as I’m a ghost that you can’t see.”

– Gordon Lightfoot

If You Could Read My Mind

Gordon Meredith Lightfoot Jr was born on November 17, 1938, in Orillia, Ontario to Jessie Vick Trill Lightfoot and Gordon Lightfoot Sr, who owned a local dry-cleaning business.

He had an older sister, Beverley, who died in 2017. His mother recognised Lightfoot’s musical talent early on and schooled him to become a successful performer.

He sang in the choir of Orillia’s St Paul’s United Church. As a boy soprano he appeared in local operettas and oratorios and, when he was twelve, made his first appearance at Massey Hall in Toronto.

Lightfoot learned piano, as well as drums. He later taught himself to play folk guitar following the music of 19th century American songwriter Stephen Foster. In 1958, he moved to California for two years to study jazz composition and orchestration at Hollywood’s Westlake College of Music.

This was the grounding for his musical ability. He was bright and

creative and wrote commercial jingles while he was there. But he missed Toronto and returned in 1960, and has lived there ever since.

In Canada, he performed on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s Country Hoedown, and in the Yorkville coffee houses. In 1962, he released two singles produced by Chet Atkins in Nashville. They were local hits. He also sang with Terry Whelan in a duo called “Two Tones”. They released a record called TwoTones at the Village Corner.

Lightfoot travelled to Europe in 1963 and hosted BBC TV’s Country and Western Show. Back in Canada in 1964, he played at the Mariposa Folk Festival and began developing a reputation as a songwriter. “Early Morning Rain” and “For Loving Me” were recorded by Ian and Sylvia Tyson, and later by Peter, Paul and Mary; Elvis Presley; Bob Dylan, and George Hamilton IV. “Ribbon of Darkness” was recorded by Marty Robbins, and both Judy Collins and The Kingston Trio recorded “Early Morning Rain”.

But he was also developing his style as an individual performer.

“In those early days, he resembled Ryan O’Neal with a hint of Nick Molte; he had the kind of squinty rugged good looks you’d see on the hero of a television western.”

– Owen Gleiberman Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind: Film Review: Variety

He also honed his acoustic and 12-string guitars – both perfectly tuned for the impeccable rhythmic ringing sound that did not need drums.

In 1965, Lightfoot signed a management contract with Albert Grossman, Bob Dylan’s manager,

and signed a recording contract with United Artists who released “I’m Not Sayin’” as a single. Nineteensixty-six marked the debut of his album Lightfoot! which brought him exposure as a singer and a songwriter.

He appeared in the Newport Folk Festival, and New York’s Town Hall. His album featured “For Lovin’ Me”, “Early Morning Rain”, “Steel Rail Blues” and “Ribbon of Darkness”.

He was a revolutionary figure who rocketed to Canadian home-grown stardom without having moved permanently to the United States. To kick off Canada’s centennial year in 1967 the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation commissioned him to write “The Canadian Railroad Trilogy” – broadcast on January 1, 1967 – about the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway.

Between 1967 and 1969, he recorded four additional albums for United Artists: The Way I Feel (1967), Did She Mention My Name? (1968), Back Here on Earth (1968), and Sunday Concert (1969). Unhappy with the lack of promotional support from United Artists, he switched to Warner Bros. Records in 1970 and scored a major hit in the United States with “If You Could

Read My Mind” which had sold over one million copies by 1971. It originally appeared on the album Sit Down Young Stranger, but after the song’s success the album was issued under the new title If You Could Read My Mind. It reached No 5 nationally, and was a turning point in Lightfoot’s career.

The song was about the break-up of his first marriage, and the sad lilt of his pained voice turned his ballad into a confession. Lightfoot admitted that his infidelity was the cause of his marriage breakdown, and probably drinking. He had a relationship with Cathy Smith – the woman later infamous for injecting a speedball (a mixture of heroin and cocaine) into John Belushi the night he died. He sang about his relationship with her in “Sundown”.

Over the next seven years, his drinking years, he recorded a series of successful albums that earned him enormous popularity in Canada and the US.

In 1972, Lightfoot contracted Bell’s Palsy, which left his face partially paralysed, but he continued to deliver major hits. “Sundown” was No. 1 on American and Canadian charts – his only No 1 hit in

the United States. He continued to battle his demons.

In late 1975, Lightfoot read an article in Newsweek about the loss of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, which sank on November 10, 1975, on Lake Superior during a severe storm with the loss of all 29 crew members. The lyrics of his song “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” were based on the facts in the article. It was a number one hit in Canada, and reached number two on the United States Billboard chart. Both “Sundown” and “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” received heavy airplay on many classic folk and rock stations. He had another top 40 hit in the United States with “The Circle Is Small (I Can See It in Your Eyes)” which reached No 33.

Sometime after the mysterious and tragic “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald”, Lightfoot conquered his alcoholic demons and got sober “cold turkey”, embarking on fitness canoe trips into the Canadian wilds and a vigorous exercise programme six days a week. He has not touched a drop since. Like the Edmund Fitzgerald, he knows how near he was to hitting bottom.

During the 1980s and 1990s, Lightfoot recorded six more original albums and a compilation for Warner Bros/Reprise.

In the 1990s, Lightfoot returned to his rustic roots and recorded two albums: Waiting for You, which includes Bob Dylan’s “Ring Them Bells”, and A Painter Passing Through, which reintroduced a sound more reminiscent of his early recordings.

Lightfoot played about 50 concerts a year. In 1999, Rhino Records released Songbook, a four-CD boxed set of Lightfoot recordings with rare and unreleased tracks from the 196090s, together with a small hardcover book with details about how he created songs, and facts about his career.

In April 2000, Lightfoot taped a live concert in Reno, Nevada, broadcast by CBC in October, and as a PBS special in the US. In April 2001, he performed at the Tin Pan South Legends concert at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, closing the show. In May, he performed “Ring Them

Bells” at Massey Hall in honour of Bob Dylan’s 60th birthday.

Today, at age 84, Lightfoot is a gaunt skeleton of a man, with his long hair combed back over his shoulders, and a face that looks as if he has been to hell and back. But

there is still the glint in his eyes relaying the joy of his survival, and his voice and his guitar playing are still strong, although he does not play long concerts.

In January 2002, he suffered severe stomach pains and was airlifted to

McMaster Medical Centre in Hamilton, Ontario, where he underwent vascular surgery for a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm.

He remained in a serious condition in the Intensive Care Unit, and endured a six-week coma and a tracheotomy.

He underwent four surgical operations. In 2003, he struggled through follow-up surgery to treat his abdominal condition, but he returned that November to a new recording contract with Linus Entertainment, and began rehearsing with his band for the first time since his illness. Harmony was released in May 2004 –his 20th original album.

In 2004, he made a surprise comeback performance at Mariposa in Orillia, and the following August performed a five-song solo set in Peterborough, Ontario at a flood relief benefit.

In November, he appeared in the sold-out benefit performances in Hamilton, Ontario.

On September 14, 2006, Lightfoot suffered a minor stroke that left him without the use of his middle and ring fingers on his right hand. He fought his way back, has the full use of his right hand, and continued to perform. In 2012, he told a sold-out crowd at Ottawa’s National Art Centre that he performs sixty times a year.

A tour of the United Kingdom was announced in 2015 with 11 dates across England, Ireland and Scotland between May 18, 2016, and June 1, 2016. In 2017, tour dates included the United States and Canada.

He played at Canada’s 150th birthday celebration on Parliament Hill on July 1 2017, introduced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Lightfoot’s 2019 tour was interrupted when he was injured while working out in a gym. On March 20m 2020 Lightfoot released Solo without the accompaniment of other musicians.

It was his 21st studio album, released more than fifty-four years after his debut album. It was released by Warner Music Canada. As Lightfoot announces when he performs on stage: rumours of his death have been much exaggerated.

LIGHTFOOT, 84, is still touring throughout 2023

LIGHTFOOT with Bob Dylan at the Mariposa Folk Festival in Toronto, 1972

The abolition of the slave trade

“Although the Colony was prosperous for a number of years, owing to the great stimulus given to it by the new immigrants, this prosperity was not destined to be permanent. The soil, which at best was thin, was exhausted of its strength by the middle of the first decade of the nineteenth century. Its value decreased, and with it passed away a great part of the value of the slaves that had been employed upon it. Some of the planters now emigrated, with their slaves, before the prohibition on the exportation of slaves from British colonies.

The restrictions on the holding and working of slaves were gradually tightened. Attempts were made to secure the right to emigrate with them, but no relaxation in these restrictions occurred. The interest of Bahama slaveholders had, thus, to suffer. owing to the necessity of enforcing a uniform system of regulations, against the slave-trade.

With this brief notice of the early history of the Colony, we will now turn our attention to a more minute study of the conditions which brought such hardships to the slaveholders of the Bahamas.

In all of the West Indian colonies of Great Britain, the number of slaves gradually increased, until they composed the greater part of the population. Early in the history of each, it had been discovered that the employment of slave labour was profitable, owing to the favouring conditions of soil and climate. The enterprising English merchants of the 17th and 18th centuries realised this and also saw the opportunity of making great gains by supplying

the settlements and plantations with the much-needed labour.

The slave trade, which began to meet this demand, grew to great proportions, reaching its height in the latter half of the 18th century. The trade, even in its mildest form, was a barbarous illustration of man’s inhumanity to man; nevertheless, it was fostered under various guises by royal courts, and in addition to the lucrative returns to both trader and planter, the alleged improvement in the condition of its victims was put forward in its justification.

The scenes where it was carried on were far removed from the mass of the English people, and the actual conditions under which it flourished were not well known outside of a very

limited circle, until late in the 18th century, when the inquiring minds of the reformers began to investigate this trade, as one thing that demanded their attention.

Agitation against the slave trade was begun and kept up, gradual accessions being made to the ranks of the reformers until, at the close of the Napoleonic period, the whole world began to feel the influence of their labours, in behalf of the slaves.

Public men of weight and influence were among the enemies of slavery and their demands for reform could be heard in the Cabinet, in the Houses of Parliament and throughout Britain. In fact, in the British Empire, trading in slaves had been abolished in the year 1807.

the slaves in the British possessions, and the doing away with the slave trade.

It became the object of the hatred and of the anathemas of slave owners in the colonies, yet it bore an important part in the proscription of the slave-trade, as well as in the improvement of the condition of the slaves already in the colonies.

Having met with success in the British Empire, it was necessary for the reformers, supported by the sympathies of the English people, to strike at the same evil in other countries, in order to make effective the abolition, within their own possessions. They went about their task in a masterful way, and before many years, success attended their efforts.

Attempts had been made to make that abolition effective, but great difficulties had to be met, and overcome. Nearly all the rest of Europe, and the Americas, were engaged in the enterprise and, besides, many Englishmen continued to invested all of their capital in it.

The agitation of the reform party grew in importance, and with the passing of the years, the leaders gained increased audience, among all classes, and the feeling against the now illegal trafficking rose to a high pitch. Perhaps the most active agency in spreading the reform was the African Institution, which worked in London, and which came into especial prominence in the years 1814-1815. This society had in view the amelioration of the condition of

Treaties were formed with the other European nations to put down the trade on the high seas, and attempts were made to get each nation to proscribe it within the territories and waters which it controlled. A nominal abolition of it was secured, but some of the nations, such as Spain and Portugal, were backward in strictly enforcing the regulations made to destroy it, within their own dominions.”

A greater insight into the whole subject of slavery can be found at the Pompey Museum, on Bay Street (opposite George Street). It is well worth a visit.

VENDUE House on Bay Street (looking north from George Street). This was the market where goods and slaves were sold. It is now the Pompey Museum of Slavery and Emancipation

animals

Animal matters

Kim Aranha

Oldest whale in captivity could finally be freed after 52 years

The 57-year-old orca Lolita has been in captivity for more than 50 years. Now, she may finally be returning to the Pacific Ocean. Sounds amazing, doesn’t it? Have you taken any time to think about it? Has anybody actually read in between the media lines and sensationalism to figure out just what this really means?

This poor orca has endured 52 years in atrocious conditions, in a ridiculously small water tank, gawked at by idiot humans with pea-sized intellect and no moral conscience.

Marine mammals have been forced to endure disgusting conditions at the hands of money-grabbing aquarium owners, encouraging uneducated humans, who (like my parents) never stopped long enough to think about it.

The trafficking and capturing of these magnificent sea creatures became a huge fad, mostly thanks to a gentleman called Ted Griffin. Mr Griffin has much to answer for; he was personally responsible for dozens of orcas perishing in inhumane conditions.

There are special places in the afterlife for people who exploit and torture animals for personal financial gain.

When an orca (or porpoise) is captured, the family members remain. They linger, trying to help, one last view, one last “kiss”, just as humans would under similar circumstances.

Let me tell you a little more about Lolita’s living arrangements. After being removed from her mother as a small child, crying and screaming, she was shipped to the Miami Seaquarium, where many of us were taken

PET OF THE WEEK

Spot a Spot!

By The Bahamas Humane Society

Well, clearly, he’s the dog! This two-year-old is thrilled to finally be allowed to join the dog walks. He’s learning to trust people and to come out of his shell around other dogs. He’s not so good with cats, though.

Spot wouldn’t mind a house where dog walks are part of the deal, and he thinks he could even handle a child or two if they’re not super

young. Do you see a spot for Spot in your life? If so, come to the BHS to meet him or call 32506742 for more information. Spot looks forward to meeting you!

• The dog walks happen Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10am. If you’d like to join in, please contact the group through the Facebook page ‘Animal Lovers Nassau’.

by unsuspecting parents who had not been brought up to understand animal intellect. Lolita weighs 5m000 pounds and lives in a tank that measures 80 feet by 30 feet and is 20 feet deep… can you begin to imagine living in an unadorned area 80 feet by 30 feet for a few days, let alone 52 years?

All whales are intelligent social creatures with family connections. Each pod has its own method of communication and can recognise each other from great distances. They say that Lolita’s mother is still alive, and they are going to move her to where she will be in immediate audible contact with her family members.

The plan is to build a sanctuary for Lolita measuring approximately 15 acres (or six hectares). At first, she would be released into a smaller area within the sanctuary, so that she could be monitored 24 hours a day. They have to be very careful with her; she needs the highest level of medical

care we can provide in 2023. All the expertise and money to mend an orca ill since the 1960s. We can but feel ashamed as humans.

There is some push-back; some advocates want her to remain in Florida, with better facilities, and describe her as a geriatric whale and worry that she cannot survive the gruelling trip.

The plan is that she would be placed on a stretcher and then loaded on a large cargo plane to the West Coast, to be barged the rest of the way, to arrive at her new home where she would be lifted by a crane and gently placed in the water. An enormous and very costly undertaking.

This is undoubtedly righting the wrongs of yesterday, of which there are many. Man was clueless and thoughtless. The almighty dollar ruled to the detriment of anybody or thing that got in the way. Exploitation was the name of the game, and the unscrupulous had bulging wallets and blood on their

TRAINER

hands.

Have we learned anything from this? Not really, Outrageous behaviour continues the world over. There are still dolphins held in captivity, forced to jump through hoops to get a reward of fish. How are they trained? It is a tight-knit community and they do not like to reveal their secrets.

I spent a wonderful evening speaking to Ric O’Barry, who started out life as a dolphin trainer. Over the years, he grew to admire, respect and understand these amazing animals. Through his eyes so much became clear and it was painfully obvious that these wonderful creatures suffer tremendously, being torn away from their mothers and their family in general.

It is my understanding that those poor dolphins are still in inadequate and shallow pens off Balmoral Island (it has acquired a new name to allure tourists). I went there with Re-earth’s Sam Duncombe and we were appalled at the size and lack of depth of the pens.

People just don’t care. Stop thinking about it and it will go away. Nice try, guys, but it doesn’t work that way.

Good luck to Lolita and those who are championing her freedom. May her voyage of many thousand miles be a success, may those who inflicted pain and suffering on her over the 52 years of captivity finally acknowledge their transgressions toward nature and towards Lolita.

My hope is that the next generation will never commit such wrongdoings against nature, however, alas, I am not holding my breath.

(PHOTO/JUDY YOUNG)

Marcia Hinton pets Lolita, a captive orca whale, during a performance at the Miami Seaquarium in Miami, March 9, 1995. (Nuri Vallbona/ Miami Herald via AP, File)

A return to bold colours for Easter

By CARA HUNT | Tribune Features Writer | cbrennen@tribunemedia.net

This Spring season, dress your little Easter bunnies in an array of dazzling colours that simply scream new beginnings and happiness.

The season’s hottest trend for children is lots of colour, said Danielle Anusiem, CEO of the Kalico Bay children’s clothing brand.

She said designers are marking the end of the stressful COVID-19 pandemic with bold colours that represent a return to happier times.

“This Spring, pastels are huge. Now that may sound cheesy and may sound like the obvious thing, but it’s not really the case,” she told Tribune Weekend.

“I find that after the bad circumstances such as terrible storms and the many deaths we’ve had in the past few years due to the pandemic, we want to go back to what is nostalgic, what is comforting and what is familiar. That happens religiously after we’ve faced tumultuous situations. People just want to be comforted, and comfort comes with familiarity, and so you will find that this season every shade of pastel is paramount.”

This includes pink, sea foam green and baby blue. Yellow, in particular, is a hot trend; present in a multitude of shades including daffodil, primrose, neon, egg yolk and mustard.

“We also have something for those persons who appreciate stronger colours mixed in because not everybody is a pastel lover, and so you will see bright oranges that take you into Summer and very proud royal blues that blend perfectly with soft yellow and pink. You will get a nice mixture, but you will definitely see the pastels coming through.”

And this is relevant for both girls and boys, Danielle said.

She noted that pastel blazers and pants and printed bowties are the perfect Easter Sunday choice for boys. And at Kalico Bay, they have matching adultsized ones, which means that you can have a family coordinated look with sets for big/little brothers and fathers.

There are also several other trends fashionable parents and their kids should look out for.

As Danielle noted, there is a desire for nostalgia, so more parents are opting for more classic clothing styles, such as puff sleeved tees, peplum and boho blouses in classic fabrics such as eyelet and soft florals.

Gender neutral clothing is also on-trend, and in another nod to the use of colour, resort style shirts and two-piece sets in bold prints are also filling up store racks. Staples such as denim jackets, cargo shorts and pants and leggings will also help to create a capsule wardrobe for the whole season.

And puff-sleeves, ruffles or lace dresses are a great choice for the Easter weekend festivities.

Kalico Bay recently celebrated their eighth anniversary with the launch of their new website, which you can check out to see more Spring and Summer styles.

(Photos/GDemeritte Photography for Kalico Bay)