When Richard “Salief” Smith walked across the stage last July to accept his Crop Over Stalwart Award for his contribution to Crop Over and culture in general, he was quite pleased that finally he had been recognised for his commitment to culture in Barbados.
“It felt good to be recognised for the work I have been quietly putting in for the last 20-plus years, especially as a percussionist,” the 45-yearold told Easy as he reflected on his cultural journey during the past three decades.
Salief, a cultural ambassador, musician and music director who grew up on the outskirts of Bridgetown, was first introduced to music at the age of nine while at the Eden Lodge Primary School. Back then, his role was easy. He was simply turning and holding down the pages of music sheets for his music teacher, Kenneth Keith King, while King played the piano.
At the Garrison Secondary School, Salief studied music in first, second and third form and soon after, completed theoretic studies in music with the Royal Academy of Music in the United Kingdom.
More engrained
By the time he had reached fourth form, at the age of 14, Salief knew he wanted to become more engrained in music. His initial plan was to join the Garrison Secondary School Orchestra and play steel pan. But there were no pans available when he joined in 1996. The school had just brought conga drums and that’s what Salief began to play.
This was a blessing in disguise for young Salief, because to this day, he plays on the very same drums he started playing on at his alma mater. In fact, you will find him performing on those drums during his gig with the Euphony Steel Orchestra at Sandals Barbados Resort each Monday night.
This creative’s baptism into the arts at Garrison Secondary marked the start of a steady climb up the musical ladder that has brought him several group awards at the National Independence Festival of Creative Arts,
widespread professional recognition and taken him to many parts of the world.
While he eventually played pan briefly at secondary school, he went on to learn various forms of conga drums and tuk band instruments, such as the kettle and djembe drums. It was not long before he had mastered all types of percussions, but the djembe drums and conga drums are, to this day, his favourite musical instruments.
As a member of Garrison’s steel band, Salief played at Bridgetown Market and other Crop Over events. When he left the school in 1998, the band became known as The Garrison Ambassadors. In 2000, the name was changed to The Ambassadors Steel Orchestra.
Around this time, Salief was being tutored in percussion by David Headley, who would later introduce him to the Israel Lovell Foundation. From that time, Salief has been a member of this group of dancers and musicians.
With an earnest desire to master his craft, Salief completed workshops in tuk band with Wayne “Poonka” Willock, and was soon taking centrestage as a member of the Mass Tuk Band, which started to perform in Crop Over.
“That’s where my love for tuk band began and when I actually started to take things seriously in terms of African and Afro-Caribbean drumming.”
In fact, a huge part of Salief’s development in playing African rhythms came from studying and playing with Danny Hinds and the Sankofa Dance Company.
when This is also what Salief currently does, in addition to performing his role in the tourism industry as a tour bus driver and tour guide.
“My love for culture and spreading my Barbadian and Afro-Caribbean culture have kept me involved in culture over the years,” he said.
Salief can always be found at major Crop Over events, playing with tuk bands, various groups and traditional bands. He has also been a member of a group of musicians hired to augment the various artistes participating in the Party Monarch Finals and Sweet Soca competitions.
He has represented Barbados abroad in tuk band on many occasions, and at various National Cultural Foundation (NCF)-sponsored events. His travels have taken him throughout the Caribbean as well as to the United Kingdom, Brazil, Canada, Dubai and Japan.
In addition, Salief has been percussionist for the NCF Production Folk Concert Band, and has played the percussion for dance, drama and spoken word events.
Musical director
“I play anywhere where I am needed,” said the current musical director for the company D.L Smith’s Celebrations of Rhythms and founder of Solid Rootz Entertainment, which provides musicians for the musical show.
In addition, Salief has been performing on P&O Cruises for the past three years, whenever this company’s cruise vessel is in the Bridgetown Port. He also lends his musical skills at private functions and various events hosted by the Barbados Marketing Tourism Inc (BTMI), and is part of the 1688 Orchestra.
He believes that young people’s interest in tuk band music is being rekindled, together with their interest in the Barbados Landship, both of which have been introduced at schools across the island.
“The Barbados Landship School Programme and cultural groups across the island are trying to keep tuk band music relevant and as an art form among young people. This is a good thing. It is important that we get young people involved in the arts,” Salief said.
Play the drums
He is pleased that his 19-year-old daughter is both a singer and dancer. She sings with the
Cavite Chorale, together with a local group, and dances with the Christ Church Parish Church Dance Group, the Anglican Diocese Team Dancers and is a member of the Israel Lovell Foundation. He is also happy to see his ten-yearold son play the drums, while currently being tutored by master drummer Ife.
What are this musician’s future plans?
“I want to move into more of an administrative role and introduce the art form to more young people. Everything needs to evolve. I’d like to see how young people can modernise tuk band while still holding on to traditions,” Salief said.
That his life is centred around his musical exploits and everyday work makes this husband and father happy. He has little time for anything else, apart from trying to be the best father he can be to his four children, while embracing life one day at a time. (CH)
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