barbudanGO Hosts Cultural Exchange with Dr. Andrew Martin
By barbudanGO
The night was filled with the beats of African drums and the melodies of steelpan music, creating a vibrant celebration of Barbuda’s musical heritage as Barbuda’s musical heritage took center stage during a recent cultural exchange hosted by barbudanGO, featuring Dr. Andrew Martin of Minnesota. Dr. Martin, an ethnomusicologist and historian, leads the Oral History Project, an initiative dedicated to documenting the journey and development of music in the Caribbean and beyond. The event, held at barbudanGO’s office, provided an engaging platform for a handful of musicians, historians, and community members to share their experiences and perspectives on the evolution of the island’s rich musical traditions and learn about the Oral History Project which is led by Dr. Andrew Martin and funded by the US State Department.
The exchange highlighted Barbuda’s deep-rooted connection to traditional and contemporary music, tracing its influences from African rhythms to European colonial sounds and modern Caribbean beats. Dr. Martin, whose research explores the intersections of culture, history, and music, emphasized the importance of preserving oral traditions and firsthand narratives.
“Our music tells the story of our people—their struggles, triumphs, and identity,” Dr. Martin said during the discussion. “The Oral History Project seeks to capture these voices so future generations can understand and appreciate the significance of their cultural heritage.”
Local musicians and elders shared their insights on Barbuda’s musical past, recounting tales of old-time string bands, and music halls where steelband blazed through the night. Ruthlyn Nedd recounted her childhood years at home with the first-ever steel band in Barbuda, All Stars Steelband, led by her father Peter Frank. Everette Thomas recalled how he got involved from a young age and is currently the leader of the only steelband on the island, Martello Tower Steelband.
Dr. Andrew Martin also contributed recording equipment to barbudanGO, which has been recording the stories of its elders for the past four years. To date, twenty elderly persons have been interviewed with a long term goal of interviewing fifty. From these recordings, two, half an hour, podcast episodes have been created, and barbudanGO is actively seeking funding to complete the series produced by fulbright scholar and journalist Kiernan Dunlop. “This exchange is more than just a conversation about music,” said Asha Frank, Director of Culture, from barbudanGO. “It’s about ensuring that the voices and stories of our people are heard, valued, and documented.”
During his visit, Dr. Martin also spent time at the Sir McChesney George Secondary School, meeting with teachers and students to discuss the project. barbudanGO extends special thanks to Mrs. Marion Byron of the Ministry of Education for making this introduction possible and from the team on the ground Mr Rexford Harry, Principal, Ms Darlene Beazer- Parker and Ms Allyson Trunzer. The organization remains committed to its journey of capturing the history and stories of its elders, reinforcing the belief that “when an old man dies, a library burns to the ground.”
Moving forward, the Oral History Project will continue collecting and archiving musical narratives from Barbuda, ensuring that the island’s legacy remains accessible to scholars, artists, and future generations. Discussions were held about the possibilities of future cultural exchange and additional collaborations, including educational music programs.
As Barbuda embraces the future while honoring its past, initiatives like these serve as a powerful reminder of the enduring significance of music as a vessel of history and identity. Thanks to the efforts of barbudanGO and dedicated researchers like Dr. Martin, Barbuda’s musical and oral history will continue to resonate for generations to come.
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
Wonderful to see efforts to keep Barbuda’s traditions alive—hope more young people get involved!
Dr. Andrew Martin’s insights will be valuable, but will there be follow-up programs to keep the momentum going?
Will there be more exchanges like this in the future?
I hope the event included local voices just as much as outside experts.
Dr. Martin’s involvement is great, but let’s also highlight and support local cultural scholars.
Will there be recordings or materials shared for those who couldn’t attend?