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PODCAST

Radio Bimshire Presents

Catch up or listen on-demand with the best of Radio Bimshire - the Voice of the Barbados National Library Service (https://bit.ly/radiobimshire). Radio Bimshire Presents is a selection of short stories, poetry, history, rare audio clips and humour - the sound of Barbadian heritage. Featuring: This Barbadian Life: real voices, true stories, only in Barbados; Off The Shelf: Readings of Barbadian writing; Reparations Revealed; Standpipe: Memories of Wash Day; Sounds of Freedom: Stories of

history

All Episodes

00:20:40

Off the Shelf 10: "Peace and Love" by Timothy Callender

Radio Bimshire Presents ·

2025/10/12

Off The Shelf begins a four-part series celebrating the stories of Timothy Callender, performed by the masterful Alfred Pragnell. Callender, a beloved Barbadian storyteller, artist, and musician who died at October 12, 1989 aged 43, captured the essence of village life with his witty and moving depictions. Alfred Pragnell reads "Peace and Love," a powerful portrait of a community grappling with old rivalries and the promise of harmony. Follow Jasper and Saga Boy, two stick fighters whose

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00:13:02

Off The Shelf 7: The Short Stories of Dorothy Lovell...

Radio Bimshire Presents ·

2025/10/08

"The Shoe" is a captivating mystery by Dorothy Lovell, featuring a young girl who makes a strange and unsettling discovery. Read by Alfred Pragnell, this 1967 broadcast skillfully incorporates elements of Barbadian obeah, bringing a touch of local folklore to the narrative, a particular gift from Dorothy Lovell’s stories. The episode highlights the recent rediscovery and renewed interest in Lovell's compelling work. “This Land is Mine: Barbadian Short Stories” by Dorothy Lovell is now

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00:06:16

Off The Shelf 5: “It So Happen” by Timothy Callender...

Radio Bimshire Presents ·

2025/10/05

The fifth and final episode in our miniseries of live recordings from CARIFESTA XV in 2025 features an excerpt from Timothy Callender’s masterful collection, It So Happen, read by Cherie Jones. Callender, a giant of Barbadian short story writing, captured the voices and rhythms of everyday life with wit, warmth, and sharp insight. Discover “It So Happen” and more literary treasures by Timothy Callender and other Bajan writers, classic and contemporary, at The National Library Service.

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00:15:15

Off The Shelf 6: The Short Stories of Dorothy Lovell...

Radio Bimshire Presents ·

2025/10/01

Time to pull from off the shelf the work of a little known Barbadian author, Dorothy Lovell, whose short stories were published in a collection shortly before her death in 2021 at age 89. This episode features a recently discovered 1967 recording by Alfred Pragnell, who brings to life Lovell’s "This Land is Mine" – a moving tale of Ruben and his profound connection to the land he has cultivated. Discover a forgotten voice in Barbadian literature whose work, reflecting the language and

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00:03:20

Off The Shelf 4: “Lesson for the Day” by Frank...

Radio Bimshire Presents ·

2025/09/28

The fourth and penultimate episode in our series of live recordings from CARIFESTA XV in 2025. This episode features Frank Collymore’s celebrated poem, "Lesson for the Day," performed by Kerry Belgrave. Collymore, a literary giant and mentor to many, exemplifies gentle reflection and keen observation in his work. Discover this and more literary treasures at The National Library Service.

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00:04:45

Off The Shelf 3: “In the Castle of My Skin” by George...

Radio Bimshire Presents ·

2025/09/21

We continue a series of performances at CARIFESTA XV in 2025 where today’s authors explored essential works of Barbadian literature. Among them, George Lamming’s classic, In the Castle of My Skin. This excerpt, from what many consider the Great Barbadian Novel, is read by award-winning writer Karen Lord. Explore this and many more literary treasures at The National Library Service.

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00:06:14

Off The Shelf 2: “Brown Girl, Brownstones” by Paule...

Radio Bimshire Presents ·

2025/09/14

This episode features an excerpt from Brown Girl, Brownstones, the debut novel of Paule Marshall. Born to Barbadian parents in New York, Marshall’s groundbreaking 1959 novel explores themes of migration, belonging, and identity. This excerpt was read by Heather Barker, recorded live at CARIFESTA XV in 2025. Find Paule Marshall's novels at the National Library Service.

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00:09:02

Off The Shelf 1 (SERIES PREMIERE) : Poem - "We...

Radio Bimshire Presents ·

2025/09/07

Off The Shelf - a new series of readings of Barbadian writing - begins with a miniseries of performances recorded live at CARIFESTA XV in 2025 by contemporary Barbadian writers reading from classic Bajan authors. Hear "We Country" by Bruce St. John, performed by Kenneth "Jack" Lewis and Winston Farrell. Discover the works of Bruce St. John in his anthology, Bumbatuk: Poems in Barbadian Dialect, available at the National Library Service.

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00:13:58

Sounds of Freedom 2 - Stories of Emancipation:...

Radio Bimshire Presents ·

2025/07/07

As full emancipation approached in 1838, the fight for true freedom intensified. Join Dr. Henderson Carter as he recounts the compensation meetings at Apes Hill, where 400 apprentices demanded land, money, and their homes. This episode also covers riots at Belleplaine and Walkers, St Andrew, and acts of defiance challenging planters, revealing the unwavering spirit of resistance. Recommended reading list included!

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00:14:38

Sounds of Freedom 2 - Stories of Emancipation:...

Radio Bimshire Presents ·

2025/06/24

Explore two remarkable moments of rebellion as the end of slavery loomed. In this episode of "Sounds of Freedom," Dr. Henderson Carter details the uprisings that occurred during the Great Hurricane of 1831 and the 1834 New Year's Day conspiracy. Discover how enslaved people seized opportunities for resistance amidst chaos and imminent change.

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00:11:36

Sounds of Freedom 2 - Stories of Emancipation:...

Radio Bimshire Presents ·

2025/06/17

Uncover the layers of resistance hidden within a slave song from the 1760s. Historian Dr. Henderson Carter explores the deeper meanings behind "Massa buy me, he wouldn't kill me all," a song now listed in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register. This episode also delves into Joseph Griffith's 1823 plot, showcasing the constant and creative ways enslaved people fought for their freedom.

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00:17:30

Sounds of Freedom 2: Stories of Emancipation: "Tony's...

Radio Bimshire Presents ·

2025/06/09

Dive into the heart of Barbadian resistance in "Sounds of Freedom." This episode unveils the little-known story of Tony, a man whose extraordinary courage during slavery became a symbol of defiance. Featuring insights from Ambassador David Comissiong, explore the 1675 conspiracy and Tony's unwavering spirit against oppression. Discover how his words echoed through generations, reminding us that the fight for freedom can never be truly extinguished.

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00:09:30

Sounds of Freedom: The Poems of Kamau Brathwaite -...

Radio Bimshire Presents ·

2025/06/08

In this episode, hear Edward Kamau Brathwaite’s tribute to Cuban poet Nicolás Guillén. Recorded in 1976, this poem reflects on the shared Black Atlantic experience and the struggle for cultural affirmation. Brathwaite honors Guillén as a fellow warrior in the fight for social justice, celebrating the power of poetry and solidarity across the diaspora.

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00:07:14

Sounds of Freedom: The Poems of Kamau Brathwaite -...

Radio Bimshire Presents ·

2025/06/08

Edward Kamau Brathwaite reads“Cane” from Islands. This stirring reflection on the role of sugar cane in Caribbean history explores the journey from bondage to freedom. “Cane” symbolises both suffering and survival, reminding us of the resilience that led to liberation.

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00:10:00

Sounds of Freedom: The Poems of Kamau Brathwaite -...

Radio Bimshire Presents ·

2025/06/08

Hear Edward Kamau Brathwaite read three powerful poems: “Mammon,” “Unrighteousness of Mammon,” and “Naming.” Drawn from The Arrivants, these poems confront the legacy of colonialism and the power of language to reclaim identity. Explore themes of profit, memory, and the redemptive power of naming in African traditions.

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00:10:00

Sounds of Freedom: The Poems of Kamau Brathwaite -...

Radio Bimshire Presents ·

2025/06/08

Continue the journey with Edward Kamau Brathwaite as he reads two poems from his collection Islands, recorded in 1973. "Pebbles & Islands" and "Coral" delve into the Caribbean experience—fragmentation, memory, and the search for unity. Brathwaite uses imagery of islands and coral reefs to reflect on shared heritage and resilience.

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00:08:56

Sounds of Freedom: The Poems of Kamau Brathwaite -...

Radio Bimshire Presents ·

2025/06/08

Continue the journey with Edward Kamau Brathwaite as he reads two poems from his collection Islands, recorded in 1973. "Pebbles & Islands" and "Coral" delve into the Caribbean experience—fragmentation, memory, and the search for unity. Brathwaite uses imagery of islands and coral reefs to reflect on shared heritage and resilience.

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00:07:18

Sounds of Freedom: The Poems of Kamau Brathwaite...

Radio Bimshire Presents ·

2025/06/08

We begin the first episode of "Sounds of Freedom" with the late Alfred Pragnell, known for his warmth and connection to Bajan culture, reading "The Dust" by Edward Kamau Brathwaite. This poem explores the legacies of slavery, the resilience of the people, and the beauty in everyday life, capturing both the dialect and the weight of history.

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00:05:00

Standpipe: Wash Day at the spring - G Addinton Forde...

Radio Bimshire Presents ·

2025/05/12

For folk historian G Addinton Forde, who was born in Blades Hill, St Philip, life revolved around the streams that poured out of the nearby Three Houses Spring, one of the oldest water supply sources in Barbados, centuries before water from the island's limestone aquifers was piped to standpipes in communities across the island.

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00:06:00

Standpipe: Wash Day - A standpipe memory - Trevor G...

Radio Bimshire Presents ·

2025/05/12

The late historian Trevor G Marshall shares a story of life at the standpipe, not just a source of piped water to the villages of bygone Barbados but a meeting point - in love and war.

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