Bahamian Culture Under The Spotlight
Millions of people around the world will get an in depth glimpse into the culture of The Bahamas as the award-winning, Travel & Lifestyle TV series, Music Voyager, will feature indigenous Bahamian music and culture in three 30-minute shows.
Music Voyager, originally co-produced with Nat Geo Music and PBS, is in Season 6 and broadcasting with over 200 top broadcasters across the world, including International In-Flight, cruise ships and A+ hotels worldwide.
The series focuses on the story of a location as told to the world directly by the local artists, while using local music as its story vehicle.
Music Voyager ‘Bahamas’, features host Jacob Edgar, an ethnomusicologist and CEO of world music label Cumbancha — exploring thriving, exotic global music scenes to discover existing and emerging talent.
Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe endorsed Music Voyager’s production.
“The task at hand is to grow The Bahamas’ tourism industry at a faster rate and expand our economies to meet the rising expectations of our growing population,” he said.
“In this highly competitive and challenging global environment, we cannot rely only on our natural features of sun, sea and sand, as the compelling reasons to visit our shores. We are taking advantage of our heritage and featuring our rich culture, our festivals, our literature, our art and craft, the bounty of nature, our cuisine and our celebrated music. The broadcast of Music Voyager will help to do just that.”
In December and January, the show visited Grand Bahama, Nassau and Cat Island in hopes of experiencing The Bahamas through its creative spirit and hospitality.
CEO of Music Voyager Farook Singh said The Bahamas will be broadcasted in over 120 countries and dubbed in 33 languages.
“Art and Culture is the legacy of The Bahamas, the local artists are the cultural ambassadors who show us the heartbeat of the Bahamian islands which needs to be experienced by everyone visiting these magical islands,” he said.
“We found that the heartbeat of The Bahamas is its people, a very honest spirit, with no frills, refined, refreshingly polite and genuinely hospitable. Everywhere we went it was like coming home, like you were an old friend. We’ve filmed a lot of countries all over the world, but with The Bahamas…. you need to experience it to believe it. It will speak to your senses directly and spiritually. The Bahamian heartbeat is warm, deep and reliable, step out of those beautiful resorts and go out and resonate with the people.”
Mr. Edgar said he was intrigued with Bahamian music.
“In the short time that I have been here, I have been so amazed with Bahamian music – the history, the sound of it the depth of it. It’s so appealing and there are so many different characters involved in the music scene and it means so much to the people of The Bahamas.
“The rhythm is in their soul and that’s what sets them apart from other places in the Caribbean and the world and that’s so important,” he said.
“I think this show will really help people to understand that going to The Bahamas offers a lot of great experiences, not just going to the beach.”
The episodes will air over 30 times on each broadcast partner channel across the world, Music Voyager Season 6 begins May 2015.