Antigua Culture under Threat - Laudat

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Music

Monday, 28 January 2013 02:30

By Carol Williams

Antigua, St. John’s - One of the lead figures in the fight to protect the country’s culture has said the Antiguan identity is under direct threat from other nationalities, the failure of cultural practitioners to take the art form seriously, and a lack of appreciation of many residents.

Gilbert Laudat, Special Events Director in the Ministry of Culture, made the assertions in a candid interview with Caribarena.

He said the fact that the state is multicultural should not lead to infringement on the national culture as is happening now, causing Antiguans to lose their identity.

“Some Antiguans have forgotten their own culture because they’ve adopted other cultures so the Antiguan culture has lost itself. But Antiguan culture should be above the rest,” he said, acknowledging what has been suggested publicly for some time.

Laudat cited as examples, the unpopularity of Antigua & Barbuda’s Benna music, and the preponderance of songs from other countries during Independence celebrations.

The director said the lack of interest in culture is evidenced by the poor showings at dance and singing recitals put on by his department.

He said many cultural practitioners have adopted a laissez-faire attitude by not showing interest in honing their talent or promoting themselves outside of the country.

“Our cultural practitioners sit down in their own little world ... their own zones … and expect you to go to them. I make no apologies for saying that our artistes in Antigua feel that going to a hotel and making a few dollars is it. Our calypsonians feel going to the tent and singing a song about Lester Bird and Baldwin Spencer is calypso. Calypso is more than that,” Laudat said.

This attitude, he posited, has prevented most local performers from taking advantage of the benefits of the free movement regime under the Caricom Single Market & Economy.

Artists are one of the five categories allowed to move hassle-free in Antigua & Barbuda since 2008, but few have applied for the Skilled National certificate that will allow them to benefit from the arrangement.

“I think Antigua is way behind,” he said, when asked if cultural practitioners have taken advantage of this facility.

“You see we go to these conferences, we ask for training but I don’t think training will help because they don’t implement what they learn … I strongly believe that we in Antigua think that culture is a dance troupe, a steel band, a mas troupe. No, culture is bigger than that. It is our everyday life …” he said.

The Culture Department has embarked on a drive to establish a registry of cultural practitioners, in the process helping those who registered to acquire Skilled National certificates.

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