BY SHEENA FORDE-CRAIGG | FEB 7, 2023
From left to right – Chairman of the Board of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI), Shelly Williams; Founder of FABA, LaChanda Ricks; BTMI’s US Director, Eusi Skeete; and Senior Business Development Officer, Tenisha Holder, chatting after the launch of FABA Fest at the Limegrove Lifestyle Centre, last Friday. (C. Pitt/BGIS)
Barbados will be the first destination to host HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) “For Alumni By Alumni” (FABA) Festival, from June 15 to 18, this year.
Dubbed the “first of its kind”, and set to be the biggest premier alumni event on the calendar of HBCUs, it coincides with commemorating the end of slavery in the United States, commonly known as “Juneteenth”.
There is specific emphasis on culture, music, philanthropy, scholarship and networking amongst high-net-worth professionals and affluent black travellers.
During the launch of the event last Friday at the Limegrove Lifestyle Centre, Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.’s (BTMI) Director, United States of America (US), Eusi Skeete, spoke about the significance of hosting FABA Fest.
“This really is the continuation of a very strong relationship that Barbados has had not just with the HBCUs, but also with black travellers across the US. This is especially significant for Barbados because as we look to diversify our audiences across the US market, we recognise that the African American traveller, in general, makes a significant impact on travel, whether it is economic impact.
“And when we look at HBCUs alone, if you just isolate HBCUs in the US, they generate economic activity in the US of $14.8 billion.… It really speaks to the opportunity that exists for us as a destination to host this type of a festival,” Mr. Skeete stated.
The BTMI US Director also noted that the realisation of this festival is not a one-off initiative. He said that it will be a continuous area of focus, as Barbados seeks to diversify its target audiences.
The BTMI has been strategic and more intentional in its efforts of telling the island’s rich ancestral story, as more black travellers seek to trace their history.
Founder of FABA, LaChanda Ricks, explained that on a past visit to the island, she fell in love with the country and saw it as the perfect location for the first-ever FABA fest.
“We (HBCU Alumni) strive to do great things. And so, I wanted to kind of capture that spirit, bring it to Barbados, couple it with the excellence here and create a time where we can just all come together and have fun, celebrate who we are, how great we are, how beautiful we are, how bold and fabulous we are.
“And so that’s what this festival will be and I hope that we’re able to capture that culture and spirit of black excellence. There’s nothing quite like the HBCU experience, and there will be nothing quite like this festival,” said Ms. Ricks.
Events during the festival include a college fair, community service initiatives, a golf tournament and a Battle of the Boats.
A portion of the proceeds from the event will provide scholarship funds for HBCU students, and the festival’s college fair will serve as a platform for students in Barbados and neighbouring islands to learn more about HBCUs.
The inaugural event will also highlight the beauty of Barbados and its ties to the Southern United States. Hundreds of Barbadians have attended HBCUs like Howard University, Delaware State University, and Morehouse College, and graduated in areas such as media and medicine.
