A song commissioned by Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley to help Barbadians through the current COVID-19 pandemic has already gone viral after being released just tonight.
The song, This Is Who We Are, which features some of the crème de la crème of the local entertainment industry, was premiered on national television and on social media directly after Mottley addressed the nation about the full reopening of the country next Monday.
Minutes after, thousands of Bajans posted the video on their Facebook and Instagram timelines, as well as via WhatsApp and other social media channels, heeding the Prime Minister’s call to share the song and spread the love.
On Barbados TODAY’s Facebook page alone, the song was seen by close to 23,000 viewers and had more than 271 shares within two hours of posting. There were hundreds of views on YouTube as well.
This Is Who We Are was written by Cultural Ambassador Dr Stedson RPB Wiltshire and Edwin The General Yearwood. It was arranged by ace producer and musician Nicholas Brancker.
When Barbados TODAY contacted Yearwood, he said it was an honour to have worked with “two greats” on such a project.
“It was a lot of fun to sit down and join forces with the likes of RPB and Nicholas Brancker, doing my little part and watching these people work,” he said, adding that every artiste brought energy to the song “because they believed in making it happen for the people to lift spirits in a very tough time”.
From left, RPB, Edwin Yearwood and Nicholas Brancker.
“I believe Bajans stood up and got through it when way bigger countries were losing lives. When fear and panic set in we even took care of others. I truly believe it’s the Bajan spirit and it’s who we are. It’s not over yet but we came a long way,” he told Barbados TODAY.
The PM had earlier reported to the country that she had tasked the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) with producing the song at the beginning of the COVID-19 restrictions.
“Very early in this pandemic, I asked the officials at the National Cultural Foundation to commission a song that would speak to that phrase: This is who we are. A song that would capture our essence as Bajans; a song that could be shared with anyone, anywhere in the world, and lift up their spirits; a song released at the right time to remind us of our humanity, to remind us that we are resilient. To remind us that together we can overcome and achieve everything and anything,” she said.
“You would recall that in almost every speech that I have made I asked you to reflect on the words of our National Anthem, recognising that with God on our side we should have no doubts or fears.”
Mottley said that Government’s responsibility was not just to see after the health of the country but to promote and preserve its spirit as well.
“From the onset of the impact of COVID-19 in Barbados, it was clear that our ability to overcome this scourge would need the commitment, endorsement and effort of every single Barbadian. It would require us to embrace and support Barbadians wherever they are and however we could.
“And while Government’s immediate and urgent response was from a health crisis perspective, we also recognised that we would have to offer inspiration, motivation and respite for all, whether directly affected by it or not. That mental health is important and the ability for people to receive that respite is also important,” the country’s leader said.
The Prime Minister also praised Barbadians for their caring way, especially in the midst of the health crisis.
“This pandemic has brought out the very best of the Bajan personality and I feel so proud when I see people in the quarantine centres praising the workers, all of the people who helped them. I feel proud when I hear visitors who got stranded here talk about how Barbadian families welcomed them into their own homes and took care of them.”
She said acts of kindness and generosity meant that some of the most vulnerable in society could survive.
“We received about $1.7 million in the Adopt A Family programme because 471 individuals and companies chose to donate money to help people sleep easier. The Government has already paid out to more than 2 490 families the $600 per month as well as to those who are benefitting from NIS and to those who are benefitting from welfare. Believe you me, we have worked together as a people. This is who we are – caring, compassionate, resilient Barbadians.”
Mottley concluded: “My friends, we have come a long way. We are not yet where we need to be. But I know that working together and reflecting all that we have reflected in these last five to six months, that if we do so until such time as there is a therapeutic or vaccine as a public good widely available to all of us, that this is our new reality. But, in accepting our new reality I am saying to you: This is who we are.”
