Concern has been expressed about a lack of diversity and cultural expression in the Parish Talent shows.
Jennifer Branch-Maloney, public relations manager of Barbados Shipping & Trading (BS&T), voiced those reservations while speaking at yesterday’s presentation of a sponsorship cheque for the Community Independence Celebrations. The $16 000 donation was the eighth of its kind from BS&T, Dacosta Mannings and Super Centre Limited.
“While the Parish Talent shows offer exciting promise for our communities in terms of unearthing talent, there are still one or two areas which can be looked at to ensure its continued growth. Much of the expression at these events is through song but more effort can be made to ensure diversity of talent beyond singing to ensure there is an equal mix of drama, music, poetry and song at the shows,” Branch-Maloney said.
She said there needed to be a greater injection of cultural flair. “Taking a Rihanna song and singing it in their finest voice does not represent cultural expression,” she said. (LK)
