Rain a fall, but dutty tuff…

February 8, 2008

by Larnies Bowen

Talk about being thrust into the “real world.” Only a few months after graduating, I pushed aside my fears, swallowed my anxieties and successfully relocated to a foreign country where I’ve secured my first very-own apartment, made new friends, expanded my network of contacts, and delved head-first into a new field of study. In the process, I have learned a great deal about my strengths and weaknesses. One particularly important epiphany was that somewhere along the line I started equating asking for help with relying on people. Since previous experiences have shown me that people aren’t reliable, this asking for help thing is something I’ve been struggling with. However, my circumstances and the nature of my research have forced me to accept the reality that I simply cannot do everything by myself. So while stepping way out of my comfort zone and overcoming many of fears has been extremely empowering, I also feel as if I have been humbled as well.

On the project front, here’s what I’ve been up to:

The same day I moved into my apartment, I had three high-profile interviews: top Spanish Reggae/ton artists La Factoría and Aldo Ranks thanks to a wonderful connect at Panama Music Corp. The following day, I interviewed Reggae Roots band Raíces y Cultura in their studio which actually happens to be a few doors down from my apartment. Earlier this month I interviewed Renato (www.myspace.com/elinmortalrenato), the father of Spanish Reggae, and DJ Black, the king of Panama’s 2008 Carnaval thanks to his hit “C**** su Madre” (translation: “Mutha*****”). (You can expect interview clips, photos, videos, songs, and short bios from these artists shortly!) However, my main focus hasn’t been formal interviewing, but rather expanding my network of contacts in the industry. Luckily for me, Panama is small and all of the artists, producers, DJs, and other industry people know and hang out with each other on a regular basis. Of course, being affiliated with MTV also helps.

A fellow Fulbrighter, Rose Cromwell, introduced me to Dr. Ifeoma Nwankwo and Nyasha Warren of Voices From Our America, a project dedicated to collecting and preserving the oral histories of Panamanians of West Indian heritage. I am excited to collaborate with them as both of our projects have similar goals: recording and increasing awareness of the experiences of Panamanians of West Indian descent. Through my connections at VFOA, I have become involved with the Society of Friends of the West Indian Museum of Panama. I volunteered at SAMAAP’s Toys for Tots, an annual holiday party for lower-income residents of Río Abajo (a traditionally West Indian neighborhood) and attended their annual Feria Afro Antillana (West Indian Fair) earlier this month. I also plan on attending their meetings regularly as a way to meet other Panamanians of West Indian descent whom I hope to later interview.

Despite a rocky start (almost everything that could’ve gone wrong did), I am thankful for this opportunity and being able to start the New Year off right—settled, organized, and with a renewed dedication to my project.

The title of this entry is a line from Bob Marley’s song “Dem Bully Full.” It means that although rain falls, the earth is still tough, resilient.

Check out the slideshow for a glimpse into my life as a Fulbright MtvU Fellow.