eLIFE 242 Magazine | Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival

TOP 3 Islands to visit this Summer!

On the INSIDE

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Cracking Corporate \\

Around Town

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Bahamian millennials aren’t having it! When it comes to jobs and careers it seems as if though more and more youngsters are opting to leave their traditional 9 to 5 desk jobs behind to

work for themselves and build their own brands and empires!

The eLIFE 242 photographers were out and about for the last few weeks, capturing some of Nassau’s hottest events.

We are surrounded by breathtaking beaches and friendly faces no matter what part of The Bahamas you turn. Soft, powdery blankets of sand, seas of deep blues, greens and turquoises that brag of dancing crystals as the waves shimmy back and forth.

Somewhere cramped in wooden or alumi-num shacks and warehouses, hardcore junkanooers are already at work: planning, designing, building and maybe even pasting costumes. For centuries now, junkanoo has been the pulse of The Bahamas, the rhythm to which we all sway and the melody to which we dance. It’s a feeling, a part of our genetic makeup and identity.

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editor’s note \\\\\\\\\\Time is flying, I can’t believe we’re nearing the half way mark into 2016, a year most of us would swear just started yesterday. Here we are mid-April with the good part of the year ahead of us. The Bahamas is gearing up to host the second annual Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival and of course there is much debate about whether or not the concept is working, whether it’s making strides or whether it was worth the try to begin with. Bahamians have debated the issue that Bahamas Carnival may be watering down true Bahamian culture to the point of non-existence and who could blame them? I mean if we look at it honestly you cannot throw a decent party without the DJ being begged to play the latest and greatest soca hits. It seems that rake and scrape and junkanoo have taken a permanent spot in the back seat. Bahamians’ longstanding love affair with dancehall and reggae has even seen a great decline, with more fetes and mas parties jumping in the

driver’s seat in what has become our new party time identity. Some see this as troubling but some of my contemporaries may not see this as such a big deal, as in our lifetime Bahamian music (minus junkanoo) has never sat at the forefront of the local pop culture. Do we love traditional Bahamian music? Of course we do! Do we also love the music of our brothers and sisters throughout the Caribbean? Yes, but that does not mean we do not know where our heart lies. The heartbeat of every Bahamian is the rhythm of junkanoo and the tempo of rake ‘n scrape, we can not run from it even if we tried. Many local musicians are now making strides to fuse the new with the old in ways we could’ve only imagined a few years back. This is what growth is about and with growth sometimes comes pain. This is what I believe this phase of Bahamian culture is about and we must open our eyes to see that only good can come from this.

Farreno Ferguson | EditoreLIFE 242 Magazine

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Donald KnowlesCONTENT DEVELOPER: Ianthia SmithCREATIVE DIRECTOR: Lamon BethelDESIGN CONSULTANT: Dahar Butler

FOR SALES/ ADVERTISING CALL (242) 454 0264www.elife242.com

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Contributing Writer: Tia ClarkeContributing Writer: Naye SmithContributing Writer: Jasper Haeward

Bahamians LOVE Buddy Hield:Bahamian dominates the NCAA

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FOLLOW BUDDY ON INSTAGRAM - @BUDDYLOVE242

With what can only be described as the most excitement in sports in The Bahamas since the Golden Boys won the 4x400m relay in London, Buddy Hield has taken the sports world by storm. The wave of support The Bahamas has given to NCAA and soon to be NBA star Buddy Hield is nothing short of amazing. If bringing Bahamians together in ways never before seen was the mission of Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival, the government may want to reconsider calling it ‘The Buddy Hield Carnival’. Now although most of us (Bahamians) were not paying attention to Hield until his senior season with the Oklahoma Sooners, the moment we caught on to the fact that Hield was having the best season of any NCAA player ever, we jumped on board (not band wagon style) and made sure the world knew The Bahamas loves Buddy Hield. Support came in every way possible

from hashtags, to t-shirts, to rap songs, the support was so overwhelming that the international media had to come down to the islands to see where the now NCAA legend came from. Hield himself also became a walking advertisment for these great islands. In every interview it was clear where he was from. No accent was lost and no aversion to ‘bigging up’ his hometown of Eight Mile Rock, Grand Bahama could be sensed. Hield did his best and although he was unable to lead his Sooners to the championship game of the NCAA Final Four, what he accomplished for the country is second to none. Hopefully The Bahamas can see more talent in the field of basketball in the NCAA and then the NBA. Hield’s biggest accomplishment is definitely letting those coming after him know that anything is possible, once you remain focused and consistent.

4 www.elife242.com eLIFE 242 Magazine

eListth2016 Movie & Music Summer Picks

by Jasper Hayward | @jasperhaeward | eLIFE 242 Staff Writer

Captain America: Civil War (May 6)The Avengers are back to protect hu-manity! Get ready for high-flying, super power having fun with this third install-ment in the super hero franchise. Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Don Cheadle, Anthony Mackie

Miss Peregrine’s Home forPeculiar Children (September 20)Tim Burton knows how to speak to the child in us all. And his latest film is sure to awaken the weird, quirky…peculiar child we all probably were. Miss Pere-grine takes in kids who all have peculiar, special powers and protects them from the cruel outside world. Jake happens upon the home and has to soon figure what’s peculiar about him. Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Eva Green, Chris O’Dowd

HOMEBOY SANDMAN - KINDNESS FOR WEAKNESS I didn’t know who he was, either. In this new wave of epic rappers and hip-hop artists, it’s easy to find guys like Homeboy Sandman who have the lyrical genius, but not the immense global fame. Homeboy Sandman belongs to the same label, Stone’s Throw, as I’m The Man singer, Aloe Blacc. Just one listen to Problems from 2014 and his latest video Life Support, and I was hooked.

GORILLAZThere has been speculation since Plastic Beach that the Gorillaz are never making new music; unplugging the “brain from the game” (that was a Doncamatic joke). Ap-parently, that’s not true. In December 2015, co-creators Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett told Mic.com that a new album from the virtual band was in “that exper-imentation stage.” Can we expect this in Summer 2016?

LUPE FIASCO - DROGASEvery so often, there is an artist that is so unpredictable that their unpredictability cements them in your mind, regardless of what they do. That is Kanye West. Lupe

Fiasco is the artist that has gone through it to fight for the right to create the kind of conscious and

unwavering content that he knows his fans want. I wonder if he ever went back into Atlan-tic Records? Since the re-release of LASERS, Lupe promised us 3 albums in 2016. Drogas will be the first. Come on, Lupe. Don’t be Frank Ocean.

X-Men: Apocalypse (May 2)Since the end credits scene in X-Men: First Class, I’ve been awaiting Apoca-lypse to reveal his true power on-screen. It’s no small marvel (pun intended) that such a destructive, all-consuming power as his, will be packing a punch against Earth and the X-Men on high-def screens. Action is a timeless genre, and my hope is that this film won’t be-come another time jump in the X-Men film series. Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Olivia Munn, Michael Fassbender.

Barbershop 3:The Next Cut (April 15) Forever a favorite! Barbershop returns for part 3 and this time hip-hop’s favorite female emcee Nicki Minaj joins the cast. Calvin’s barbershop is the place to be this summer for shape-ups, gossip and advice!Starring: Ice Cube, Cedric the Enter-tainer, Regina Hall, Eve

Every summer as a kid there would be anthems and defining movie scenes that stayed with me to this day. Grab your favorite moviegoer and fill up on buttery popcorn, nachos and cheese

(don’t forget the jalapeno) and something sweet to drink as you take in these summer must

see flicks! Pop in your headphones for these bangin’ tunes!

MOVIES

Your Summer Soundtrack

ALSO LOOK OUT FOR:•The Jungle Book (Apr 15) - a remake of the children’s classsic!

•The Darkness (May 13) - a family battles with an evil spirit in their home

eLIFE 242 Magazine www.elife242.com 5

|||| POP CULTURE

CRACKING CORPORATE

Khandise Bain makes faces fabulous

// an eLIFE 242 Magazine EXCLUSIVE

Keron Wood‘lapels’ his way to success!

Business: Fab Faces Makeup Artistry Former: Banker

Business: The Pico Brand Former: Banker

eLIFE242: What has been the most rewarding part of being on your own, away from your work desk and the 9 to 5? KB: The most rewarding part of being on my own has to be the fact that I am no longer confined to an office or a desk! At my old job I was surrounded by the same people everyday, now I’m able to meet new faces everyday.

eLIFE242: Have you encountered any challenges, any setbacks or even feelings of regret, fear and uncertainty? KB: I thought about my paid vacations, paid sick days and all the other luxuries that came with being employed, but somehow that didn’t matter and it was more meaningful for me to be doing what I absolutely loved. I have no regrets.

eLIFE242: Tell me about your new business. Why is this some-thing you’re so passionate about?KB: Fab Faces Makeup Artistry! I’ve always loved art, but make-up was the best outlet I’ve found to express myself as an artist. I fell in love with it! The colors, the ability to manipulate the face’s shape and structure, the possibilities are endless.

eLIFE242: Many millennials are saying adios to the corpo-rate world why do you think this is? What was you thought process? KB: Life isn’t so traditional anymore. What our parents may have taught us was “safe” is no longer appealing. The world is teaching us that you can do anything once you open your mind and think outside the box.

Bahamian millennials aren’t having it! When it comes to jobs and careers it seems as if though more and more youngsters are opting to leave their

traditional 9 to 5 desk jobs behind to work for themselves and build their

own brands and empires! From make-up artistry, fashion lines and even

fitness studios, these new Bahami-an businesses aren’t just existing,

they’re thriving! eLIFE242 caught up with three young Bahamian bosses

who are cracking corporate!

eLIFE242: So you’ve taken the leap of faith and quit your job, how has

it been?KW: The leap of faith to quit my job has been one of the best decisions that I’ve ever made. It’s not easy and you’ve got to mentally and financially prepare for such a leap.

eLIFE242: What made you finally say, “to hell with it! I will

be my own boss?!” KW: My breaking point was not be-

ing able to answer my cell phone while at work. That for me was extremely depressing. The thought of disappointing and losing clients didn’t sit well with me. I made the decision to fire my boss.

eLIFE242: Tell me about your new business. Why is this something you’re so passionate about?KW: I’m passionate about The Pico Brand be-cause my love of fashion led me to penetrate the fashion market with a unique line of hand-crafted accessories to enhance every ensem-ble possible, both male and female. The Pico Brand is 100% handcrafted lapel flowers and pocket squares that embody luxury, quality and originality.

eLIFE242: Any advice for anyone else thinking to make it on their own? KW: Do not carry your talents to the grave. 40 hours for 40 years for 40% of your salary as a pension is not going to afford you the lifestyle you deserve.

by Ianthia Smith | eLIFE 242 Content Developer


|||| BUSINESS

Mychal Bryansays Namaste’ is the way!

Money is important. That fact of life becomes all the more clear when you work for yourself.

“Business: Cosmosis Yoga Suite Former: Marketing Manager

LINK UPFOLLOW THESE ENTREPRENEURS FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THEIR GROWING BRANDS!

THE PICO BRAND@thepicobrandFAB FACES MUA@fabfacesmuaCOSMOSIS YOGO@cosmosisyogosuite

eLIFE242: What has been the most rewarding part of being on your own, away from your work desk and the 9 to 5?MB: The arts have always been my passion. I came back home and realized there was a deep need for people to have true touchstones of the yoga practice here in The Bahamas and that is what led me to open the first “Bahamian-based/Bahamian-faced” yoga school in the country. eLIFE242: Have you encountered any challenges, any set-backs or even feelings of regret, fear and uncertainty?MB: Money is important. That fact of life becomes all the more clear when you work for yourself. But being able to do what I love is that much more important, I feel. Working in someone else’s corporate world would never have given me joy.

eLIFE242: Tell me about your new business. Why is this something you’re so passionate about?MB: COSMOSIS is a community of people from all walks of life who join under the unified banner of the practice of yoga. I am so passionate about Cosmosis as a yoga haven of unity

and inclusion because I have been disillusioned by the yoga of segregation that only caters to rich people of a specific eth-nicity. Cosmosis is a space where people hug, they laugh, they cry, they eat together, they dance together, they share deeply. Cosmosis is a space of self love, and that’s why I care about it so deeply. eLIFE242: What’s next for your brand? MB: A lot! We’re planning for the 3rd Annual Downtown Nas-sau Yoga Festival which will be a massive undertaking yet again, but this year we have amazing support from several corporate entities who stand in support of our vision. Beyond that, we are getting ready to shake things up massively in The Bahamas. But you’ll just have to wait and see!

@ E L I F E 2 4 2W W W . E L I F E 2 4 2 . C O M

Y O U R # 1 O N L I N E S O U R C EF O R E V E R Y T H I N G B A H A M I A N !

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BahamasA LESSON in growing pains

JunkanooCarnivalSomewhere cramped in wooden or aluminum shacks and warehouses, hardcore junkanooers are already at work: planning, designing, building and maybe even pasting costumes. For centuries now, junkanoo has been the pulse of The Bahamas, the rhythm to which we all sway and the melody to which we dance. It’s a feeling, a part of our genetic makeup and identity. “But some people feel that our good old faithful junk-anoo is being threatened, watered down and over-shadowed by the musical cultures and traditions of other Caribbean countries. Some people feel that since the carnival tradition was officially introduced to The Bahamas last year, that junkanoo has been forced to suffer to this global phenomenon. Some think it’s blasphemous to even put the two words side by side in the name, Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival. But we’re forced to ask ourselves if this is indeed the case. As shack rats work tirelessly day in and day out in preparation for the Boxing Day and New Year’s Day festivities, not needing any promotional or marketing tactics to bring the crowds out, those in charge of The Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival are doing some heavy pushing, albeit, not as much as they did last year.

Up to this time last year, The Bahamas Junkanoo Car-nival was everywhere. The people were excited, the

groups were rapidly growing, costumes were being created, it was all over the news, the parties were in heavy rotation and it seemed as if though this festival was here to last. But a year later, all these things have now quieted down, sure the parties are still happening and groups are selling the costumes, but where’s the push, the angst, the excitement that accompanied last year’s inaugural fete? Every kid goes through growing pains so, is The Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival growing up or did it die in the womb?

The Terrible TwoTurning two is hard! Ask any kid who’s forced to deal with feeling like a cuddly baby on mommy’s breast one day to magically transforming into a walking, talking, screaming machine the next. We probably don’t quite remember this phase in life, but it couldn’t have been easy. And it seems to not be an easy feat for our

WORDS: Ianthia Smith | @iamianthiaIMAGE: Farreno Ferguson | @thefdotlife


““carnival either. In its second year, The Baha-

mas Junkanoo Carnival’s growing pains seem to be real. The second time around, govern-ment officials and members of the Bahamas National Festival commission say, they’ve taken a more “strategic approach” to marketing this year’s events. Does strategic marketing mean less local promotion; perceivably less national talk about the event and who and what it will entail? Does strategic marketing mean government officials travelling throughout The United States to Miami, Washington D.C., and Texas to promote our carnival event without the country knowing how many people from each city actually registered during the visit…if any? Even when the controversy erupted during the inaugural event and then again about Machel Montano being the headline performer, at least there was some talk about The Bahamas Juna-knoo Carnival, at least it gripped headlines and was the backdrop of many radio talk shows. These days…not so much. For now it may be under wraps, but less then a month out, insid-ers tell eLIFE242 that it’s indeed a scramble to the finish line. And they say behind the carefully worded quotes, the panic is clear. “I’m concerned that we get the numbers we want for visitors this year for carnival, and so we’re working with the cruise lines,” Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe told The Tribune in a March 8, 2016 publication. “We had a meet-ing with the cruise lines and they have indicat-ed their support for what we want to do. We

want to create an atmosphere where carnival is seen as a season, not an event. We want to make sure that people get a taste of our cul-ture. As I have said before, I want to see more Junkanoo, more Bahamians involved, ensure that the entertainers are properly utilised, and it has to be an event that goes global.” Is The Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival not yet global? Sure, two years is a short time frame to saturate markets and minds. We might need a little more time to get the likes of Amber Rose or Blacc Chyna or even Rihanna to fly here and post to Instagram about their amazing experi-ence at The Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival. But after spending up to $12 million the first time, and around $7 million reportedly earmarked for this year’s events, are we on our way there? How will this event get to global status when the people on the ground, the locals, aren’t really rallying with support?

The Bands Play On Alas, the carnival parties are still poppin’! Ba-hamians like to party so the foam, powder and early morning fetes will always be popular. Carnival bands use these events as a way to recruit members, sell their product and cre-ate momentum for ‘da road’. More and more, launch parties are becoming social media trending topics with any given group’s costume lineup and DJ being the featured artists. With

no real statistics on how this year’s event is do-ing it’s unclear how the bands are faring this time around. Are they seeing more members sign up? Are international members signing up? Enigma Carnival Group Co-founder and Event Manager Anthony Coakley says they are. “We’ve definitely seen an increase in membership, both internationally and nation-ally. Some people who were with other bands last year decided that they wanted to come with us after they saw the Enigma Experience. Some people who didn’t play mas last year but saw the videos and promotional experience after the road march and some who came out and witnessed it themselves as spectators, definitely were like, “I need to do this!” So we’ve seen an increase in membership very early and people are responding a lot earlier. We have groups coming in from Jamaica, from Baltimore, from Orlando, from Atlanta, Trinidad so we’re feeling really good about that. They’re coming in groups and that’s solid.”

According to the Bahamas Junkanoo Carni-val website, 27 bands will bring crowds to the Road Fever event, a little more than the 24 ac-counted for last year. Critics of carnival have already been attacking the bands from all an-gles: music, cultural display and the costumes. All songs officially affiliated with the event must have some representation of junkanoo or “Ba-hamian music,” there has to be an infusion of Bahamian culture and the costumes must be

We want to create an atmosphere where carnival is seen as a season, not an event. We want to make sure that people get a taste of our culture. As I have said before, I want to see more Junkanoo, more Bahamians involved. - Minister Obie Wilchchombe


less revealing and more junkanoo-like. How is car-nival expected to survive or even have a chance if it’s constantly asked to be what it’s not? It’s not junkanoo so the music shouldn’t be forced to sound like it. It’s not junkanoo so the costumes shouldn’t have to have straw and crepe paper. And the car-nival bands agree. It seems as if though many of the bands see the hypocrisy in it as well and have sought to mimic other international carnival groups that have perfected this craft.

We Need You to SurviveAside from the cloudy ranking of exactly what this event means to Bahamians, if Bahamians at large care about it at all and despite the millions of govern-ment dollars pumped into The Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival over the past two years, many people who have nothing to do with the shoddy and inconsistent promotion of the festivities are riding on its success. Bahamian artists, musicians, food vendors, costume builders, group owners, make up artists, hairstyl-ists, dancers, media and marketing professionals all need The Bahamas Junaknoo Carnival to sur-vive. Its success means their success. The Music Masters competition was a popular feature of last year’s events and has seen significant growth this year. Musicians and singers who once sat quietly in their corners without any local fanfare, are using this platform to get their music out. But weeks out and some of them are still unknown; their music that was

meant for national consumption is still only shared among certain circles. Their images aren’t plastered in newspapers, in news reports and on social me-dia like Machel’s was. Their songs aren’t in heavy enough rotation on the radio stations to the point that we’re getting sick of them. They aren’t being fea-tured prominently on radio and TV talk shows, giving Bahamians a chance to get to know them better. The Carnival Commission has done some media legwork and have put out a round of ‘intro-mercials’ on each artist but…is that it? If these are new, up and coming singers and songwriters who are to be known and celebrated even after the competition, we need more than a 30-second spot in the middle of the newscast. We need saturation, infiltration and concentration on putting their names and faces out there. Have any of them accompanied the government on these carni-val promotion trips to perhaps sing the national an-them or perform? That might actually be cool! After all there are 15 artists and 20 songs vying for the $20,000 grand prize.

Even more interesting is the fact that this year, car-nival organisers say there is no headline perform-er “as a matter of principle” for the Music Masters competition, but they have announced that several international soca and hip-hop artists are on the lineup. Trinidadian soca queen Destra will close out the concert for a handsome $30,000 and Grammy award winning rapper and musician Wyclef Jean will also grace the stage for a cool $70,000,

according to reports. Other international artists on the carnival lineup are Tarrus Riley, Fadda Fox, Bunji Garlin and others as well as Bahamian artists like Visage, Elon Moxey, Willis and the Illest, Funky D and Ira Storr among others. Now, of course there are already rumblings among Bahamians who ar-gue that although the government isn’t designating anyone a headliner this year, the dollars and cents say differently and they say the whole event could be done with less foreign acts and more local per-formances. Last year Bahamians were in an uproar when the carnival commission announced Montano as the headlining act and ruled the move an attack on Bahamian entertainment.

While junkanoo has its undisputable merits and can’t and wont ever be replaced; it must be mentioned that last year’s junkanoo carnival event also scored some aces as it treated Bahamians to a wide range of Bahamian entertainment and acts that no other event does throughout the year. But will this new display of Bahamian culture have enough reach to grasp global attention? Will it evolve in a way that’s no longer seen as a mockery of Bahamian culture? Would the Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival ever be as respected as junkanoo? Is the Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival just going through growing pains, or is it permanently wounded? Maybe the devil is in the de-tails and we’ll all just have to wait and see. Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival is slated for May 5th -7th.

““

While junkanoo has its indisputable merits and can’t and wont ever be replaced; it must be mentioned that last year’s junkanoo carnival event also scored some aces as it treated Bahamians to a wide range of Bahamian entertainment and acts that no other event does throughout the year.


|||| COVER STORY

eLIFE242 Magazine presents

Fun Conversationawesome REAL TALK

Uncensored Television

A new addition to your entertainment fix! Log on to elife242.com every week for new episodes. The best 3 minutes of your life is waiting watch #TheFeed242 NOW!

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Tips for Smooth Summer Skin

Summers in The Bahamas could be brutal! So we’re dishing out some tips for guys and gals on how to beat the 242 heat and keep the biggest organ on your body (your skin) in tip top shape as the temperatures reach for scorching!

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Yes! People often downplay the importance of wearing sunscreen on a daily. This isn’t just something you take to the beach, but something to be worn everyday as it protects the skin against sun damage and even skin cancer. Also use a moisturizer with sunscreen in it to keep the face protected all day long. Try: Oil of Olay Face moisturizer with SPF15

Scrub away those dead cells for clearer, smoother skin! Sometimes soaps and face washes don’t go far enough in removing impurities and dead skin layers from the face. An exfoliator gently removes all that gook! Try: St. Ive’s Apricot Face scrub

None of the above works as good as this one! Yes our mothers and grandmothers were on to something when they forced us to drink that large glass of water! Water hydrates, replenishes, soothes and refreshes the skin like nothing else can. It also helps to remove impurities from the skin, clear the skin of marks and pimples and helps it glow!!!

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You’re not going to always be near a face bowl to wash your face when you want. That’s why revitalizing spritzers are a godsend! You can give your face a refreshing mist at your desk, in the car, at the gym or on the plane! These keep you cool and refreshed when the sun get’s too hot! Try: MAC Fix+ (women) or Nufeel Facial Spray for men.

Wear sunscreen everyday !

Exfoliate,Exfoliate, Exfoliate!

Drink loads of water Mistify!

by eLIFE 242 Staff Writer


|||| LIFESTYLE

Your favorite Bahamian foodie show is back for its

fourth season and we’re ready to continue this

adventure in taste! You’ve seen us sip, slurp and

slather our mouths with the most delicious foods in The Bahamas, but we know there are still some pretty

impressive kitchens we have yet to try. So join Dre for another exciting round of

food tasting, drink sampling and food comparisons as

she digs deeper into local food landscape.

Dre’ | HostA MOUTH FULL

Season 4 Now Availableyoutube.com/amouthfull242

facebook.com/amouthfull242IG: @a_mouth_full242

www.adventureintaste.com

Around TOWN

Enigma DAWN\\\\\\\\\

MasqueradersSAILAWAY\\\\\

Reminiscew/ EDEN

The eLIFE 242 photographers were out and about for the last few weeks, capturing some of Nassau’s hottest events. From food to fashion, this edition of Around Town is a tantilizing sample of a socialite’s dream!

If you can get people to wake up at 5 a.m. for a party, get dusted in blue powder and dance the sun up, then you probably know how to throw a party! Enigma Dawn was the Easter Monday event to wake up to as the carnival group treated feters to breakfast, soca music, fun and of course that Enigma blue powder!

Aint no party like a costume launch party! Eden carnival group unveiled their sexy costumes and sections at a party at Pirates of Nassau. What section will you march mas with? Menage a Trois or Allure? Get ready to jump in da line!

|||| PHOTO FEED

There’s nothing like a good ole holiday sailaway! The Masqueraders took their Easter Monday fete off island and sailed their fans and feters away to Pearl Island! The hot holiday sun, an island all to yourself, food, booze and music? What beats that?


* All Images Courtesy of the respective carnival bands

Is your summer 2016 body on fleek?! As the days grow longer the clothes get shorter and tighter;

the temperatures soar and the beach trips are in high demand, you’re gonna want to make sure that your body is in check this season! We’ve got some sure fire ways to whip your body into shape…fast!

eLIFE242 caught up with personal trainer Johnathan Phillips who dropped some gems on how to obtain

the ultimate summer body…because I want you guys to win. And I want to win too!

#BODYGOALS


FOOD What you put in your mouth matters! The key to weight loss, Johnathan says, is cutting out sweets like soda, candy and cake, yikes! I know what you guys are thinking, I have a major sweet tooth too, but it’s a necessary evil to getting the body you want. He also says it’s important to prioritize meals by ensuring that breakfast is the biggest meal of the day, lunch is the second largest and dinner is the smallest meal of the day. “Eat lots of fruits, veggies and make sure you drink tons of water,” Johnathan adds.

Well there you have it. You’re completely set for your next mission: summer body 2016! Now go on and get that body you’ve always wanted in time for summer!

WORK, WORK, WORKThe next order of business is exercise. Now I know that most of us are restrict-ed on time due to the everyday struggles of school and work but don’t worry you can still manage to get that exercising in. “For those tight on time, do workouts like short sprints, which are super effective for quick toning, shuffles, jumping jacks and squats. You should also do core workouts like sit-ups, crunches and bicycles,” he said. And to make sure you get the entire body worked out, he suggests reverse crunches and planks.

TEAM UPThe summer is all about gathering friends together for some hot sun fun! Johna-than suggests keeping active and joining groups, clubs and teams that will keep you moving. Go skating, join a fitness group, get a running buddy, become a member of a basketball, volleyball or flag football team! Just be active and you’ll see your body transform quickly. Johnathan says he’s planning on starting a fit-ness group in May that you can for sure join.

WORDS: Naye Smith @lifeOfNaye | IMAGES: Online Sources

|||| HEALTH

Summer hasn’t officially graced us with its presence yet but I feel like it’s fair to say this weather isn’t all the way in agreement with that state-ment. HOLY SMITHEREENS...it’s freakin’ hot as an outside oven! We expect this summer to be a flamed broiled Whop-per (sorry for the food refer-ences, we all like to eat, right?) But it’s quite fine, because we’re in a country created for sum-mer.We’re surrounded by breathtaking beaches and friendly faces no matter what part of The Baha-mas we’re in. Soft, powdery blankets of sand, seas of deep blues, greens and turquoises that brag of dancing crystals as the waves shimmy back and forth. We have mountains, island food, animals and creatures that have become a part of the families and the general population, fishing, bon fires, caves blue holes and swimming pigs! This is what days are like in The Bahams, but summers are something special! If you’re looking for the perfect summer getaway here’s a list of islands to hop to:

1. Bimini - There’s fishing, the beautiful Re-sorts World Bimini, a new Hilton Hotel, cracked lobster that’s to die for and the deepest blues you’ve ever seen! For you adventure seekers, take the time to go swimming with the sharks, real free untamed sharks or go bone fishing with the best of them!

2. Long Island – One of The Bahamas’ best islands! Everything about Long Island is

poetic. From the hills that seem to flow into the sky to the dazzling waters everywhere you turn. It doesn’t matter if you’re staying north or south you can never be bored. Check out Dean’s Blue Hole, the Stella Maris salt water pool, the caves in Deadman’s Cay and Cape Santa Maria. Also feast on some of the best mutton the country has to offer!

3. Exuma - Ahhh, Exuma! Certainly a jew-el in these 700 islands and cays! Over the past few months Exuma has caught the world’s eye for the cute and adorable swimming pigs! Arguably the best tourist attraction there, swimming with the pigs is Exuma’s new signature! Exuma has also been blessed with some of the best beaches in the world!

Pack your swimsuits, sun block, headphones, sunglasses and cameras and soak up the sun on one of these majestic islands this sum-mer…your body will thank you!

SAPONA SHIPWRECK

Bimini, Bahamas

DEAN’S BLUEHOLELong Island, Bahamas

SWIMMING PIGS

Exuma, Bahamas

Top3Islands to Visit This Summer! by Tia Clarke | eLIFE 242 Staff Writer


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\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\Krizia Bethel host of the Reggae Roots Countdown says her love for the regga culture started from a very young age!

FB: Reggae Roots CountdownIG: Reggae Roots CountdownYT: Reggae Roots CountdownTW: ReggaeCountdown

I hold Reggae Musicto my soul, especially conscious reggae...

WORDS: Farreno Ferguson | IMAGE: Jeff Major

REGGAE RooTS COUNTDOWNset to bring reggae culture to

Bahamian television

Tell us about the inspiration behind The Reggae Roots Count-down (RRC)? Reggae music has been a love of mine since childhood. My father blasted ‘”The Heathen” from the Great Bob Marley every morning and always told me to listen to the words. The message of reggae music is what first grasped my attention from youth. Reggae music is music of liberation, strength and power. It uplifts the spirit while teaching you knowledge in the greatness that we possess as a people. My inspiration for RRC came from not being able to find a countdown like that of the famous “106 Park” on BET, but in a reggae version. So I decided to create my own. There was nowhere on the internet that I could click play and see a video listing or countdown of the hottest reggae videos today. I wanted a conscious reggae music channel, which inspires.

Where do you air / distribute the show?Currently I only air on YouTube at the moment, and I use the social media pages

to promote the channel.

Where and when do you produce episodes?We produce new episodes everywhere! I love to be on the scene, especially at concerts and shows. This gives my audience more of an indepth feel of the music. The first count-down was produced in studio in Freeport, Grand Bahama because that’s where my pro-ducer/camera man/ editor lives. He does everything and is the talent behind the scenes as far as production. (Big up Qilla Fang/ Sharp Toof Productions). A countdown is re-leased once per month but interviews are dropped in between via the YouTube channel.

Who have been some of your most memorable guests so far?Well it’s so hard to separate which artist was more memorable than the other because each one has their own unique characteristics. Other than the Morgans and Gramps Morgan’s son Jemere Morgan I would have to say Tarrus Riley. He has supported the show from the beginning. He never misses a post of himself by liking and commenting. I was humbled when he agreed to an interview and exchanged management contacts and commended my work. I am genuinely a huge fan of his so he stuck out for me the most. Jah Nyne (Bahamian reggae artist) as well made quite a bit of an impression on me and I truly believe he has the potential to be a substantial force in the industry! Under rated is an understatement for the ratings he receives.

Is reggae something you hold near and dear to your heart?I hold reggae music to my soul, especially conscious reggae. From the rhythms, to the Af-rican drums and the power it has to change one’s self perception is part of the reason. The way conscious reggae exposes the truth of the times with no apologies and pushes for a cleaner livity is what we need today. For example, “Everything inna my pot real”, meaning no cancer infested foods that we so commonly eat, “When you start bleach then you stop real.” Meaning love your melanin and stop diluting your power! I am not opposed to other genres but a lot of the lyrics are wasteful to the mind, body and soul. This is reggae, and that is what reggae music is all about. Unity! Peace and Love! Black empowerment! Principle! Reggae music I love thee.

What’s next for the Reggae Roots Countdown?Next for RRC is hopefully to be picked up and aired on a local television channel. We are currently in the process of working with a PR company out of New York and Jamaica. This will add more Caribbean wide traffic to the show as reggae music has no geographically boundaries.

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