BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Barbados has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the US-based Worldwide African American Museum (IAAM), enhancing collaboration on a number of cultural and tourism ventures and initiatives.
A authorities assertion mentioned that the MOU goals to strengthen bilateral cooperation and exchanges in tradition, heritage, tourism, and the artistic industries between Barbados and IAAM.
The doc on cooperation in tradition and tourism was signed on Sunday by the Minister within the Prime Minister’s Workplace with accountability for tradition, Dr. Shantal Munro-Knight, and the IAAM president and chief govt officer, Dr. Tonya Matthews.
“We worth the partnership with the IAAM and the sacrifices made by the crew to journey to Barbados to attach with us and turn into part of the story that we share,” mentioned Munro-Knight.
Matthews expressed optimism concerning the linkages to be shaped because of the MOU.
The IAAM is positioned in Charleston, South Carolina, and was formally opened to the general public on June 27, 2023.
In the meantime, Barbados and the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Hall Nationwide Heritage Space in South Carolina have signed a MOU to advertise enhanced bilateral relations in tourism and tradition.
Munro-Knight signed on behalf of the federal government, whereas govt director Victoria Smalls represented Gullah Geechee.
The MOU promotes exchanging data and consultants in movie, visible arts, audio-visual, trend, family tree, cultural organizations, and heritage. It additionally permits for tourism promotion, advertising, improvement, funding, and planning.
Munro-Knight aids that as Barbados continues to evolve as a brand new republic, emphasis can be positioned on “valuing the artistic energies of our folks” and “charting the trail ahead primarily based on friendship and partnerships.”
“It’s a very poignant second for me as a result of I believe all people who’s labored with me is aware of that I like lots of outputs. And I bear in mind after we have been gathered in one other area in October 2022.
“So, we have now dedicated ourselves to this MOU, and it has occurred rather less rapidly than I might have preferred, however we’re right here maybe one yr later, however it’s nonetheless important for us to solidify our partnership and dealing relationship collectively in a structured method.
“There’s nonetheless extra for us to do…extra for us to chart, and there’s nonetheless extra for us to uncover, and I’m so thrilled that we’re doing this as we speak and collectively as a household,” Munroe-Knight added.
In the meantime, Smalls thanked the Barbados authorities for the partnership and the shared dedication to preserving the tradition and historical past, which she described as a “testomony to the enduring energy of unity.”
“We stay up for a way forward for collaboration, cultural exchanges, and deeper understanding for studying scholarship of the Gullah Geechee folks and the Bajan folks collectively,” she added.
Barbados’ Honorary Consul to South Carolina, Rhoda Greene, famous that Barbados’ place within the Western Hemisphere and the world can’t be underestimated given its previous ties to slavery and spoke to the importance of reaching out to type linkages.
“We have been pressured to shoulder such a accountability to be the stewards of a historical past that modified the world. And little by little, step-by-step, we have now the chance to succeed in out and embrace the connectivity of a individuals who characterize a really, very horrendous, horrific previous. Nonetheless, our ancestors survived, and we’re proof of that.
“Proper now, it’s nice to be in a spot the place we will hyperlink our arms; we will placed on the footwear of our ancestors. We are able to declare the company that has been left and create a legacy for generations to return,” Mrs. Greene mentioned.
America Congress established the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Hall Nationwide Heritage Space to acknowledge the distinctive tradition of the Gullah Geechee folks. They’ve historically resided within the coastal areas and sea islands of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.
Associated
