CNCF celebrates release of folk music album
Marcia Muttoo (left) and Eziethamae Bodden of the Cayman Islands Folk Singers at the launch party
(CNS Local Life): The Cayman National Cultural Foundation (CNCF) held a launch party to celebrate the release of a double album of Caymanian folk music, featuring the Cayman Islands Folk Singers and North Side Kitchen Band. About 200 people attended the event for the CD, “Come Back Home”, held Thursday, 16 August at Grand Old House.
The Pa’lante Jazz Band entertained during the cocktail reception and the Folk Singers performed throughout dinner.
Acting Minister for Culture Joey Hew said in a press release that the album “showcases the rich heritage of the Cayman Islands and holds true to our oral traditions, by telling the story of the Cayman Islands and its people through music”.
Cayman Islands Folk Singers
He added, “Through this album we are able to honour our past, share the knowledge of our forefathers, foster intergenerational dialogue, and last but certainly not least, highlight and showcase the wonderful talent and creative expression of the arts and culture community.”
Henry Muttoo, CNCF artistic director, spoke of the importance of albums such as “Come Back Home”, saying, “It is necessary to preserve our folk music; we need to remove these songs from ‘behind the breadfruit tree’, where they were being obscured from the imagination of our young people, and bring them centre stage for all to enjoy.
“This album is a collector’s item and a must-have for any person who is a fan of Cayman’s musical culture and history. We celebrate the contributions that these two groups have made to advancing the Cayman story.
Noting the number of dignitaries attending the launch, Muttoo discussed the significance of the work of the foundation and the “need for adequate funding for CNCF and arts, heritage, and culture development and preservation”.
He added, “And I long for the day when those artists, who have proven their worth through works of calibre and who wish to pursue an idea, will receive concessions, in the same manner that businesses receive concessions because, while it is true that businesses and economic development are necessary to grow the country, so are the arts and culture necessary in the building of a creative, disciplined community whose existence is rooted in substance and not rhetoric.”
“Come Back Home” is on sale for $15 at the CNCF office in the Harquail Theatre. For more information call 949.5477 or email CNCF
