Radio Bimshire Presents

The final episode delivers a powerful warning. Professor Henry Fraser calls the decline a national tragedy that has gone largely unnoticed by politicians and social scientists. He traces the flow of money and power to oil companies and mini-marts and questions why the village shop, once a lifeline, is not part of the solution in modern times. This is a call to action to recognise, document, and pr...

Historian and raconteur Professor Henry Fraser moves from memory to the modern reality: a landscape of closed, burnt-out, and boarded-up village shops across the island. We take a visual tour of once-thriving hubs, like Bascombe’s and John Yearwood’s Gall Hill shop, now standing as silent, empty shells or being engulfed by bush at places like Mapp Hill. This is more than just an architectural loss...

In a fragile plantation economy, how did families survive between paydays? This episode reveals the corner shop’s vital role as an informal bank. Using the childhood memories of former Governor General Sir Elliott Belgrave, Professor Henry Fraser explains the uniquely Barbadian system of “trusting,” where shopkeepers extended credit for weeks or months until the sugar crop season. This system of i...

Step back in time to the childhood world of Professor Henry Fraser. He takes us to PA Clarke’s corner shop in Four Roads, St John—a place that literally sold everything, from kerosene to nuts, bolts, and essential foods. Hear the charming details about the irresistible sweet jars that taught children manners, and the formidable “madam” who ran the shop with gimlet-eyed authority, a reminder that w...

What was the true beating heart of community life in Barbados? Professor Henry Fraser introduces his central thesis: that the village shops were once the social, economic, and cultural centre of almost every village. Discover the critical role they played in building social capital—both the horizontal support between neighbours and the vertical guidance passed from older generations to the young....

Sometimes, the quickest way into history is through melody. Get ready for your "Five Minutes of Folk," as we dive into the stories hidden in old Barbadian songs. Discover tales of a Nigerian king’s exile, the mysterious Ice House fire, bread sellers fighting to make ends meet, and the relentless labor that turned sugar cane into survival. This is the history of an island, sung, not spoke...

Sometimes, the quickest way into history is through melody. Get ready for your "Five Minutes of Folk," as we dive into the stories hidden in old Barbadian songs. Available from February 25.

You know the Salem Witch Trials, but do you know the secret history? The spark that lit the fire was Tituba, an enslaved woman brought from Barbados. Arthur Miller’s play casts her in the shadows, but "Obeah Opera" by Nicole Brooks dares to tell the story in her voice. Discover how the "greatest witch hunt in the Americas" began with a Bajan voice that art is finally helping us to hear. Produced b...

The very first person accused of witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1692 was an enslaved woman brought from Barbados, named Tituba. Available from February 18

This episode sounds like Barbados, literally. Hear the story of the Tuk Band, the unmistakable heartbeat behind festivals and celebrations. Born from African roots and remixed on plantations when drums were forbidden, its rhythm found a way, brought to life with whatever instruments were at hand. Now, the Tuk Band is a powerful symbol of defiance and joy pulsing through the island’s culture. Produ...

In our final episode, we confront the global legacy of slavery and chart a path toward true reconciliation. Writer, lawyer, diplomat and Pan-Africanist thinker Ambassador David Comissiong explores the profound global significance of the Caribbean reparations movement, framing the struggle as a restoration of Africa's central role in human history and a cultural and historical restoration. He r...

We get into about tuk band rhythm, the unmistakable Barbadian heartbeat behind festivals, parades, and village celebrations. Music with roots in Africa, remixed on plantations... Available from February 11

A powerful five-part series with historian and raconteur Professor Henry Fraser, exploring how the iconic corner shop was the essential bank, social centre, and lifeline of Barbadian community life—and what its disappearance means for the island’s social capital.

Step into the heart of Barbadian folklore and masquerade. The story of the Shaggy Bear isn’t about applause—it’s about transformation. Born from the traditions of enslaved people, this iconic character stalks the streets in swirling layers, carrying the echoes of generations. Meet the people behind the masks, including acrobat Stupa Flip and creator Michael “Chatty” Taitt, and trace the Shaggy Bea...

We transform historical pain into a blueprint for justice by exploring the CARICOM reparations strategy—a comprehensive approach that goes far beyond monetary compensation. Ambassador David Comissiong reveals a 10-point plan calling for an apology, support for repatriation, development programs in education, health, and technology transfer, and debt cancellation. He also discusses the multi-genera...

The story of the Shaggy Bear isn’t about applause; it’s about transformation. Born from the traditions of enslaved people, the Shaggy Bear stalks the streets in swirling layers... Available from February 4

We dive deeper into the Landship. This part uncovers how this island tradition, the oldest indigenous organisation in Barbados, doubles as an engine of financial support, savings, and shared identity. Through story, rhythm, and memory, the Landship reveals how a vibrant dance can also be a profound lesson in survival and belonging. Produced by Shayla Murrell of our partner BGIS Radio.

Unpacking the complex legal and historical foundations of the Caribbean reparations movement. Ambassador David Comissiong challenges the fundamental narrative that slavery was ever "legal," exposing the profound legal contradictions of colonial legislation. He argues that slavery was illegal under both the national law of England and international law, detailing how the constant resistan...

Part two of "On the Call of the Captain”, about a uniquely Barbadian institution: a history, a ritual, a performance, but most of all, a community. Available from January 28

The Barbados Landship is more than just a spectacle—it was a crucial support network for Barbadian communities. Part one explores the history, ritual, and performance of this uniquely Barbadian institution. From roll calls and dues to offering real support for illness and funerals, discover the legacy of captains, commodores, and admirals who shaped the Landship’s path through modern change. Produ...

We continue our deep dive into the historical and economic realities of slavery's lasting impact. After laying the groundwork for the reparations claim, Ambassador Comissiong sets down the staggering economic calculations of human suffering and stolen labour. He reveals the human toll in Barbados (605,789 people harmed by the slave trade and born into slavery) and introduces the Brattle Group&...

"On the Call of the Captain” (part one of two) is about a uniquely Barbadian institution: a history, a ritual, a performance, but most of all, a community. Available from January 21

"On the Call of the Captain” is about a uniquely Barbadian institution: a history, a ritual, a performance, but most of all, a community. Available from January 21

Introducing Radio Bimshire’s new oral history and culture strand, This Barbadian Life — real voices, true stories, only in Barbados. Imagine a ship that sails on land. The Barbados Landship is a centuries-old tradition that’s part history, part community, and part performance. In this episode, hear from the people who’ve kept the Landship moving through the decades, and meet Admiral Lorraine Sealy...

Welcome to " Reparations Revealed ". This premiere episode is based on a powerful lecture by Ambassador David Comissiong, a noted pan-Africanist writer, thinker, and diplomat. The episode explores the complex history of slavery, justice, and compensation, as Ambassador Comissiong presents a comprehensive legal and moral case for reparations, tracing the journey from the transatlantic sla...