Popular Bahamian entertainer, Cyril "Dry Bread" Ferguson, says he's concerned that indigenous Bahamian music is not being passed down to enough young Bahamians and he intends to do something about it.
Mr. Ferguson, who has been performing for the past 35 years and recorded eight albums, is advocating that young Bahamian musicians be trained to take over from the older Bahamian musicians so that "local culture could be preserved and improved."
He told the Bahama Journal that after visiting several schools in Grand Bahama, his plan to provide an avenue where young Bahamian bands could showcase their skills, is currently before the Ministry of Education and he is hoping for a favourable response very soon.
"I'm suggesting that we do courses that would cause the music departments [to] turn out suitable candidates that can be put into local 12-person combo bands that could perform at the malls, that could perform at the restaurants, that could perform at local public spaces that could keep the atmosphere in a happy, convivial fashion so that the Bahamian people could show more love for our Bahamian performers," Mr. Ferguson said.
According to Mr. Ferguson, many Bahamians seem to be willing to listen to indigenous music on the radio, but when it comes to patronizing Bahamian music, that is a different story.
"It's alright to say okay, well I will listen to it on the radio, but it is another thing to hire a Bahamian band to perform for your wedding, or to perform for your baby christening, or to perform for your birthday party or to perform at the mall," Mr. Ferguson said.
"This is not happening and this is what I am advocating to begin to happen because right now the Bahamas is poised for an influx of capital in these islands and if we do not prepare or empower our youngsters to benefit from it, they are going to be the ones to attack these people and make them not feel comfortable here."
Mr. Ferguson has written and recorded a number of songs. His more popular works include, "Sunshine in my body," "Bahamian Music," "Get in the groove" and "Don't squeeze the mango."
He said he also intends to hold a concert in Grand Bahama once a month in various areas of the island, including, High Rock, Freeport, and West End, where school bands from the New Providence can participate.
"I'm very passionate about music and entertainment and I want to see more live performances," Mr. Ferguson said.
"[We should] empower young people and get them involved in the entertainment of this destination because all other entities have young people doing on-the-job training; they have people going on electrical, plumbing and other disciplines, but we don't have people to come on stream for music and entertainment so that our visitors could stay happy."
Mr. Ferguson said he had stopped recording for a while to "take a look at some of the circumstances that affect music and entertainment", especially in Grand Bahama.
By: Courtnee Romer, The Bahama Journal
