ABOUT US
THE BARBADOS FLAME AWARDS
LIVE PERFORMERS ON PARADISE WEEKEND
BIOGRAPHY
THE BARBADOS FLAME AWARDS
The Barbados Flame Awards scheme was conceived in 2000. The first show was held in 2001. Next year we expect to stage a big week of celebrations and we will want the world to join with us in celebrating this great achievement.
The original rationale concept behind the awards scheme was to offer encouragement to the Barbadian-born artistes and to encourage them to improve their standard of music. As time evolved, we have celebrated many who have made Barbados their home and have contributed significantly to the development of Gospel Music.
We believe that our people are so talented that if given the opportunity they can impact the world. Significantly, forty years ago, no one used to write original music. Today our artistes write 98 percent of their music which is a great achievement.
In our next phase, we want to make an impact in the world of music. We are confident that the majority of our songs can play on many radio stations anywhere in the world. It is also our feeling that people in the Caribbean must learn to respect their own music. In that regard, we welcome one and all to the longest serving Gospel awards in the Caribbean.
THE HISTORY
The Barbados Flame Gospel Awards followed on from the MSC Awards which were held from 1982-1993. Also, during that period, MSC Productions established an event called The Annual Choir Festival. This series ran from 1985-1996. Out of this event it was customary for the choirs to join together for a finale. From this, it was easy for the dream of producing a contemporary recording to become as reality.
With that vision in mind, the most successful of the choir festival series ON FIRE gave birth to the new project. Rev. Jeffrey White was contacted through US-Barbadian Adrian Nurse and wrote the theme song ON Fire while on his way to the island.
After one year, the dream of promoting the album culminated with a team of “baby” singers touring the Caribbean on a successful five island tour. The group of twenty- two singers returned to the island but never flourished having concluded their mission of promoting the recording throughout the Caribbean.
Recognising that the theme “Fire” (and a lest harsh name flame) was working, it was decided in 2000 to restart the awards scheme. During the period of no awards, the gospel scene went dead and needed a spark to wake it up. Through the inspiration of Rev. Lemuel Rawlins, the Pastor of Faith Temple Ministries International Church and Marcia Weekes of Praise Academy of Dance, a fire was lit.
Firstly, while doing some remedial repairs in church one evening, Rev. Rawlins asked “why don’t you start back the awards and to call it something like ”the Fire Awards”. The truth of the matter was that we were considering starting back the awards but we were very hesitant because of the financial risks involved. We told Rev. Rawlins that while “fire” was one our success symbols, we thought that the word “fire” was too harsh a word but remembering we had used “FLAME” for the touring ministry group, FLAME seemed like a more appropriate name to call the awards. Besides, it would be fairly easy to also get a trophy to fit such a name.
Next, two nights later, a prophetic visionary, Marcia Weeks called ‘out of the blue’, while we were in the church’s office and asked why don’t we consider restarting the awards as she had just come to Barbados at the end of the original series in 1993. By this strange coincidence, the Flame awards was started.
As in every enterprise, there have been challenges and many times our spirit was so broken that we could not see a way of continuing. Next year, we would indeed be grateful to God to celebrate our 25th anniversary. For the future, we hope to take our music to the world. As you are aware, the world is literally “On Fire” at the moment but we intend to light a spiritual fire in Barbados that can effect change in our communities and turn lives around to Jesus Christ. In so doing we would be accomplishing our goal and purpose on this earth. Long live the Flame Awards!
PROCESS OF CHOOSING NOMINEES
Nominees are chosen from music performed by Barbadian citizens during a given period (Nov ‘23-Nov ‘24). After they are selected as per category, the winners are then selected by a committee.
While most Awards winners are selected by voting online, the gospel music fraternity in Barbados is at a disadvantage because the radio stations have not reached the stage to offer all of the locally produced songs prolonged air play.
This is something that we are still actively trying to work towards improving. Most of the songs nominated are assessed through a music committee of varying talents.
OUR MISSION
To encourage and reward Barbadian Gospel artistes and practitioners to excel in their artistic expressions for the purpose of giving Glory to God and spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world.
