Fun with Fungi

This weekend, the 2nd Annual Fungi Fest will bring holiday cheer to Road Town, Tortola as over a dozen groups perform in a free concert. So, what exactly is fungi? Fungi is the name given to the local musical form of the BVIs. It showcases African and European influences on the culture of the islands in a unique sound. The name "fungi" comes from a local cornmeal dish of the same name which is made of many different ingredients ranging from okra to onions, green peppers and other fusions of different flavors. Similarly, fungi music is a blend of many different instruments (usually homemade) and styles. The main components of a fungi band include the ukulele, the banjo, bongos, guitar, double bass or bass guitar, keyboard, calabash (gourds), washboard, triangle and saxophone. The themes explored in fungi music include love and relationships, current events and social commentary and folk lore - which is the basis of BVI oral history- on topics ranging from church life to rum smuggling. The music is very festive, often humorous and always made for dancing! The Fungi Fest is an effort to keep this special music genre alive. If anyone has experienced the local performances of Lashing Dogs, D'Originals, Four Strong or Leon and the Hot Shots, please share your thoughts on this unique BVI musical sound. - Donna

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Who is Michael Beans?

For those of you that have spent time in the BVI, you may have heard the name, Michael Beans. He is a local singer/songwriter in the Caribbean that performs a nightly pirate show called, "Happy Arrr..." in the Rob White Bar on Marina Cay. For years this charismatic and energetic entertainer has been entertaining cruisers with his show, but there is more to him. Long before his career in entertaining started, Michael was an avid scuba diver. He loved to search for lost shipwrecks famous for the treasures in their holds that lay hidden on the ocean floor. At the age of 19, one such expedition led him to Haiti, where it was rumored the famous Canadian Schooner, Bluenose, had floundered on a reef in a storm. After many months of searching the reefs, the team finally found what was left of the wreck. Unfortunately, the team also discovered the cashflow from their sponsors back in the U.S. had dried up. The rest of the team headed off to determine what the problem was, leaving young Michael to mind the camp in Haiti until their return. They never did....In his loneliness, he wrote songs to pass the time and keep his spirits up. Ten years later, he recorded these songs on his "Bluenose" CD in St. Croix with his band. While abandoned, he was taken under the wing of the locals in the small town of Ile la Vache. He was forever grateful to them for helping him, and has devoted most of his adult life to helping them in return. He formed the "Good Samaritan Foundation" in Haiti to expressly help the children. Since then, almost all the proceeds of the sales of his cds have gone to support his cause in Haiti. Recently, the Tortola Rotary Club decided to help his cause by rounding up a small collection of outboard engines that can be used by the locals in Haiti to help with their fishing. So, the next time you are having a drink up in the Rob White Bar and laughing with the crowd, know there is far more behind the pirate getup of this singer! - Donna

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CSI- St. Kitts?

Attention all you CSI fans. Maybe a new show will be coming soon...just kidding. But, something new and exciting is coming to St. Kitts. Crime scene management, forensics and cyber crime investigation are among areas that have been indentified for training of law enforcement agencies in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis. The training programs will also include establishing Community Policing Strategies, crime detection and prevention, and management and leadership training. Paul Jolicouer, who recently retired from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police will be the training manager for the project. He is a training expert from the Canadian Police College with over 30 years policing experience. The training program will be conducted during the first quarter of 2009. Who knows- maybe one day we can tune into CSI- island style! --Donna

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