20 Semifinalists of ‘Da Bahamian Ting’ Song Competition To Be Revealed March 3

The Ministry of Tourism will host “Da Bahamian Ting” Happy Hour on March 3 to reveal the 20 semifinalists of its wildly popular song competition.

The “Da Bahamian Ting” Song Competition attracted 138 submissions from across the country.

The Happy Hour, touted as a fun evening for lovers of Bahamian music, will take place at Pompey Square at 4:00 p.m.

Arlene Nash-Ferguson, director of Culture, Heritage and Entertainment in the Ministry of Tourism, said the level of interest in the competition was amazing.   

“We have a very distinguished panel of judges who will be announced very shortly. They will be working before March 3 to produce the 20 semifinalists and then we will announce them on March 3. It’s going to be a fun afternoon and we do hope that everybody will be able to come,” she said.

The deadline for the competition was 5:00 p.m., February 17. Nash-Ferguson said the Cultural and Heritage Department was flooded with submissions that day.

“We want Bahamian music on the map. We want The Bahamas saturated with our own music. We believe that if we are world class in track and field then surely, we can be world class in Bahamian music,” she said.

According to the rules, songs must be in a Bahamian genre, Rake N Scrape, Goombay or Junkanoo, and around three minutes long.

The winner of the “Da Bahamian Ting” Song Competition will receive $25,000 with second place taking $20,000, third place $15,000, fourth place $10,000 and fifth through 10th $1,000 each.

Nash-Ferguson said the ministry hopes to spur growth in the making of Bahamian music and noted the competition will be an annual event.

“That is the whole goal of this competition – to increase the body of Bahamian music,” she said.