Residents across Barbados will be treated to a unique concert on Wednesday, November 9, when the Deaf Calypso free sunset concert comes off at the Frank Collymore Hall, Church Village, Bridgetown, beginning at 6:15 p.m.
And, Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, Kirk Humphrey, is inviting “all of Barbados” to come and be a part of the “amazing show”.
Speaking during the launch of the project, Mr. Humphrey said much could be done for persons with disabilities, especially those in the school system.
He suggested that the calypso art form could be incorporated into telling the narrative of persons with disabilities, and begin to change the way they were viewed by society.
“And, then we bring it into the cultural sphere, the art form for persons with disabilities. We use it to tell the story, not only as a competition and to sing songs, [but] to tell the story of what is possible. Then, we will begin a real process of magnificent transformation,” the Minister stated.
He called for more work to be done in communities to assist persons with disabilities, and even extend the art form to include poetry and drama.
President of the Barbados Council for the Disabled, Kerry-Ann Ifill, said work on the production had been going on for a “long time”, and involved students from the Irvin Wilson School, the Barbados Community College, along with international artistes.
She noted that the deaf community welcomed the opportunity and encouraged residents to enjoy the experience and embrace the new reality.
Speaking via the Zoom platform, Producer of the project, Ruth Montgomery, who is also the founder and Artistic Director of Audiovisability, the company behind the project, said the deaf community wanted to be connected with the hearing.
She further noted that they were looking forward to coming to Barbados to host the show, which was in the planning stages for quite some time.
The Deaf Calypso show will combine deaf and hearing creatives with musicians, writers and artistes from the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Barbados.
Ever heard the saying “it’s better to give than to receive” well that also applies to time. By volunteering we support an organization or cause and make a great difference in our communities. It’s also a great way to meet new people and learn about the challenges they face daily. Consider giving more than just money, give your time !
