As Black History month approaches, Pelican Village is set to be repositioned as the area for culture in Barbados.
The month, celebrated annually in February, will see the hosting of a number of cultural exhibitions to mark the occasion and to highlight the arts and crafts of the Village.
Vice President of the Pelican Tenants Association (PTA) and Chairman of the Pan African Coalition of Organisations for Barbados, Wayne ???Onkphra??? Wells, disclosed that on Friday, February 6, the festivities will be launched with an outdoor exhibition. Industry Minister, Donville Inniss, will deliver the opening address that same day, commencing at 11:00 a.m.
???The morning will be coloured by outdoor sculptures of wood, stone and iron, and the Barbados Arts Council Gallery, along with the Queen???s Park Gallery, will also have their paintings on display. The theme is: Black Arts within Black History Month: African Connections.
???Additionally, that same day is Bob Marley???s birthday and at 6:00 p.m., we will have a cultural programme to highlight the contribution of his music. This will include presentations by artistes such as Khalid Batson, Winston Farrell, Albert Olton and Charles O???Dell, and other poets, musicians and drummers will take the stage until the night drops,??? Mr. Wells indicated. Patrons will be required to make a contribution of $10.
The Vice President of the PTA further revealed that other activities during the month will include a lecture on Valentine???s Day, Saturday, February 14, to be delivered by historian Trevor Marshall on the theme: Afro- Caribbean Music Culture, beginning at 6:00 p.m., followed by the event Pan in the Village.
On Saturday, February 21, a panel discussion entitled: Weaving Identities: A Display of Textiles and Textile Production from West Africa and the Caribbean, will be held at 5:00 p.m., featuring representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Exclusive Cotton and the art teaching fraternity.
It will also include a demonstration of African traditional weaving of cloth, batik and tie-dying.??On Saturday, February 28, there will be a Kings and Queens Dinner, commencing at 7:00 p.m.
Mr. Wells continued: ???All these events will be in Pelican Village, and we are hoping to receive the support of Barbadians. Also, after February, the tenants will be presenting a year???s plan of activities. Indeed Pelican Village is a viable, beautiful outdoor event just waiting to be utilised and again we are inviting the general public to come out and support us.???
Persons are also asked to bring a food item in support of a food programme organised by various churches across the island.
theresa.blackman@barbados.gov.bb