Traditions that helped to shape Barbados into what it is today will be in focus this month, as the country celebrates Heritage Month from June 1 to 30.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office with responsibility for Culture, Senator Dr. Shantal Munro-Knight, said Heritage Month is part of the Season of Emancipation, which runs from April 14 to August 27.
Speaking during a press conference at the Ministry of Home Affairs and Information today, Dr. Munro-Knight explained that the month of June was dedicated to heritage, to commemorate the inscription of Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2011.
“The Heritage Month is also about us appreciating our cultural heritage and its importance to building national identity and national consciousness. And it is for this reason, particularly for this year, that we are focusing a lot more…on some of the traditions that would have helped build this country and, perhaps, are still important to us…,” she said.
A number of activities are scheduled for the month, including Jazz in the Yard, which is being hosted by the St. Mary’s Anglican Church, and comes off tomorrow, Saturday, June 3, beginning at 6:00 p.m.
The Minister indicated that the event will feature jazz in the graveyard of the Church, where there will be storytelling, and talks about the history of the Church and its involvement in the Emancipation story. Another event will be a fair at the Rock Hall Freedom Village, on Saturday, June 17.
Dr. Munro-Knight explained that the fair will feature a corner dedicated to older persons telling their stories and having them recorded as part of the island’s history. She added that the all-day event will also feature storytelling about old-time traditions.
There will also be an International Food Fair component featuring the various embassies, and persons will get an opportunity to taste different foods from several countries.
The Minister further outlined that the Division will also host a paint a picture of your community exhibition, to encourage people to reflect on their communities. That activity, she said, would encourage visual artists to paint a picture and submit.
“The ethos here is that we go back to the community. We are not focusing so much on doing big shows…, but just making sure Barbadians themselves can participate and have a full understanding of what our cultural heritage means to us…,” she said.