We is We
What happened, what’s to come, when it coming, and who’s doing it.
For most of us growing up on island, the diaspora has been a constant visible extension of the Bajan community worldwide, and We Gatherin is the perfect opportunity to remind us, and them, that they are still and will forever be, family and neighbors even if miles apart.
For the whole of 2025 so far, we’ve had reason to engage with different groups and individuals representing Bajans worldwide and it’s been an absolute joy. Seeing Barbados through the eyes of people with Bajan heritage feels like you are seeing it for yourself again for the first time. They never take for granted what the rock has to offer. The community around family, the community around food, the community around even going to the beach. You are not alone in Barbados, everywhere you move you just switch from one group of lovely people to another. Barbados through their eyes is a refresher in what makes this place so special.
We’ve celebrated, explored, volunteered, and worshipped through four parishes from January to April; as the year picks up towards the summer and winter holiday seasons, We Gatherin is going to ramp up and the celebrations will become epic.
Now Let’s talk “We Is We”; where we collect and curate stories to connect you to what’s happening and everything else Bajan for the rest of this year. Our newsletter sections will feature:
Parish Spotlight: Highlights from past events and plans for upcoming events in each Parish. We’ll also share a brief history of each, along with historical facts and profiles of some notable residents and must visit spots.
Homecoming: Where we feature stories about our cousins in the diaspora; all your stories are interesting to us, especially hearing how your identity has shaped the person you are. This time around we chatted with US based boxer Tyrone Brown; Britain’s Kurt Morlese; tell you about the 140 members of the Grant family from Belair St. George – they came home in April for a 65th birthday party and of course WE IS WE, so we wanted all the details; and you have to watch the HomeDrums Podcast episode featuring Brooklyn-based actor Marcus Calendar, Marcus is a story teller and took us on a journey that I’m sure would be familiar to all.
We Cooking is everything food, where you’ll find recipes, good Bajan food spots all over the island, and sometimes we’ll chat with the cooks feeding our communities. We had a chat with Richard Lowe who is keeping a family tradition live at the family shop in St. Joseph and we get a recipe from Chef Javon Cummins – come see how to make Curry Breadfruit Soup. If you can read, you can cook. So try this recipe.
Culture Corner is a dive into local customs, even some folklore and traditional events. If you forgot what things like “one smart dead at two smart door” means, you might find the answer in here too. As well as features on the artists and performers who keep our rich creative culture alive. Check out our feature on Sheldon Hope, educator, musician, mentor, and proud son of the soil. His story is one of giving back through service, music, and the kind of mentorship that changes lives.
Link Up – Link Up. Where should you go? What’s happening? You can find it in this section.
Many Hands – Light Work: Listen, the best way to get it done as a community is if everybody plays a part. We’ll feature people putting in the work and highlight opportunities for everyone to get involved. We don’t like to admit it because it feels selfish, but one of the best returns when you help is that you feel really good about yourself after. We feature our Come Long Home and bring a book literacy initiative in this edition.
Travel Deals: Coming Home? We already have quite a few offers from some of our hotel and attraction partners, that you can take advantage of. Every time we get something new, we’ll share it with you.
Back In De Day speaks for itself, we’ll share snippets of things from the past, reviving some good memories and hopefully get you to smile with us as we look back.
And that’s it! Every issue of the newsletter is about bringing everything Bajan to you and everything We Gatherin for 2025.
WE IS WE, so what we know and what we have, we’re going to share with all of you.
Anderson King
Editor
