The Bahamiology Institute of Culture - BIC
The Institute that teachs you how Bahamians live, talk a She introduced me to our rich culture in so many ways.
My grandmother is the inspiration for Mama, the icon of The Bahamiology Institute of Culture. She taught me how to be industrious. I will never forget her nor the lessons learnt as I icon her forever as a brand.
10/08/2019
Are you a true Bahamian???
Then -- fill in da blank.
🎶 Blue hill water dry
Nowhere to wash my clothes
I remember one Saturday night
We had ____________________ cake. 🎶
The Bahamiology Institute of Culture
Preserving our legacy.
15/10/2017
Playtime Bahamian Series
Are you a real Bahamian?
Skill level: basic
Question #7 ~ Fill in the blanks
Famous ring play song:-
a) _________ girl in the ring, tra la la la la ....
She looks like a b)__________ in a c)_________
d) ________ e) _____________.
Show me your f)___________ tra la la la la ...
g) ________ water dry, Nowhere to h) _________ my clothes
I remember one I)__________ night
We had j)_________________ cake.
The Bahamiology Institute of Culture
Preserving our legacy.
15/10/2017
Do you know what the colors of our flag represent or mean?
I thought I knew ... but to my shock and horror ... 🇧🇸
If someone asked you, what does the black mean on the flag, what would you say? THE PEOPLE?? The designer says wrong.. he says when we call black the people, it's political mischief. Yes, he really did say that!
Black [a strong color] represents: the VIGOR and FORCE of a UNITED people.
Triange pointing represents: the enterprise and determination of the Bahamian people to develop and process the rich resources of land and sea.
Gold represents: the land
Aquamarine represents: the sea
According to Dr.mBain.
There was a national flag competition; 51 entries including 5 designs from Dr. Bain.
No entry was adjudged a winner.
Cabinet later approved Dr. Bain's submission on Nov. 14, 1972.
The Bahamiology of Institute of Culture
Preserving our legacy.
Picture taken from:
https://www.pinterest.com/girlsade777/
15/10/2017
The Blue Marlin Story
Have you ever wondered why the Blue Marlin was chosen as one of the supporters for the Coat of Arms of the Bahamas? You're not alone. The message behind this national symbol is profound and it speak volumes ...!!!
"You will find the Marlin in DEEP water... be prepared for a wrestling match... you have to have enough time to spend because he is not going to crawl up near the boat and say pull me in I’m going with you. HE is going to fight you brother. Up and down and around.
The DEEP is his territory ... he is at home. Stay in your territory. Stay where you have control and who come to mess with you ... resist to the end.
The National Fish is indeed the graceful aristocrat of Atlantic game-fish. The Blue Marlin likes plenty of room in which to throw its bulk about. It is not easily hooked and landed.
The Marlin is a fighter and a fighter with style!"
Excerpts taken from Dr. Hervis Bain Jr
Designer of the Bahamas Coat of Arms
Trait: A powerful and aggressive fighter, the blue marlin can run hard and long, sound or dive deep, and leap high into the air in a display of strength.
The Bahamiology of Institute of Culture
Preserving our legacy.
Picture taken from:
http://animalinformations.blogspot.com/2011/04/blue-marlin-fish.html
12/10/2017
Very Grateful ...
This is a picture of Bains Town in 1890..
Who would have thought that this tiny nation, called the Bahamas, the nation others referred to as 'peasants' [UK] would rise to take her stand on the international stage. We have olympians, famous: basketball players, sailors, singers .. dancers.. actors.., highly skilled persons, intellects of the highest order, you name it.
When we look at our past, it should motivate us to be grateful but to also teach and train our children about the faith, fortitude, persistence and strength of our ancestors.
"Never allow another child to go without knowing their rich heritage and the values we held dear that strengthed this Bahamaland and brought us through many many storms."
The Bahamiology of Institute of Culture
Preserving our legacy.
Picture taken from the National Archives UK
Picture date: 1890
Our Catalogue Reference: Part of CO 1069/234
11/10/2017
The Flamingo Story
I was touched to learn the real meaning behind the flamingo on the Coat of Arms besides it's stately nature and resplendent beauty and color. It spoke to something deeper than I ever even imagined. My heart stood proud and my eyes almost got full.
"Flamingoes are found in colonies in Inagua. They are all down south, I’ve seen them in Acklins, Mayguana, Crooked island...
You need to understand that in spite of the beauty of that bird, the female bird lays the egg and she sits on it. But she needs a time when she must go stretch her wings and go perhaps look for food, whatever… and she gets up off that nest and she goes. The male flamingo then sits on that nest and keeps the nest warm until she comes back. When the egg hatches; both male and female are there. They will hang around that nest until that chick is getting up and can be released independently.
WE are caretakers... "
Dr. Hervis Bain Jr, designer of Coat of Arms
Taken from his speech to Toastmasters Club 1600
The Bahamiology of Institute of Culture
Preserving our legacy.
11/10/2017
Two Bahamian children came up with the national motto "Forward, Upward, Onward, Together" inscribed on a scroll on the Coat of Arms?
Melvern Bowe & Vivian Moultrie
What is the Coat of Arms?
A Coat of Arms is a badge, a mark or a sign of identity. It is a legitimate stamp of authority. A National Coat of Arms is a distinction of honor. It is a national symbol.
Taken from: Bahamian Review Magazine p.35
Rev. Dr. Hervis Bain Jr's Speech ~ National Symbols and National Pride
— at Bahamas Department of Archives.
The Bahamiology of Institute of Culture
Preserving our legacy.
05/10/2017
Where did the Coat of Arms of the Bahamas evolve from?
Our Coat of Arms began as a colony badge [1869], then an arm [1959] and finally what you see today as the Coat of Arms of the Bahamas; see photo attached.
'When the pirates were expelled, trade flourished' was the motto used until it's revision in December 7, 1971 to Forward-Upward-Onward-Together.
Trivia: Why did we choose the Blue Marlin as the national fish of the Bahamas?
The Bahamiology of Institute of Culture
Preserving our legacy.
07/09/2017
Are you placing sandbags wrong??? Will they still work???
To my Bahamian family throughout the length and breadth of the Bahamas, hope this video sheds some light on how to fill and the correct placement of sandbags.
https://youtu.be/Tbr9QIrutZ4
You Got Your Sandbags. Now What? Sandbags are great to keep water from heavy rains away from your property. However, there are do's and don'ts when it comes to filling and placing them. Call...
05/09/2017
🙏
The Bahamiology Institute of Culture admonishes everyone to please prepare and pray. May the hurricane continue to shift away from us and may the Almighty of the universe protect YOU and yours.
15/08/2017
The first step in liquidating a people is to erase its memory. Destroy its books, its culture, its history. Then have somebody write new books, manufacture a new culture, invent a new history. Before long that nation will begin to forget what it is and what it was... The struggle of man against power is the struggle of memory against forgetting.
Milan Kundera
The Bahamas. We will not be erased!!!
Photo: The Bahamiology Institute of Culture
(c) 2017
15/08/2017
Yay!!! Yay!!! Hell-llo-ooo somebody!!!
The Bahamiology Institute of Culture's photo was selected and will be featured in the upcoming 2018 Scotibank calendar!! Yay!!
They considered it 'a truly exceptional moment captured'!
Here is the photo... I call it 'Preserving Our Legacy".
Persons in photo: Ms. Eloise Smith and Alexa Hunter.
Passing down a treasured skill of our ancestors; plaiting silver top.