BAJAN SUN
Bajan Sun Magazine
SEPT 2014
TODAY’S SPOTLIGHT
“Imani”
“If yuh see me jamming cross de staaageeee!..”
Faith Petunia Hoyte
By Charmaine J Forde
T
his is a 2014 Soca new release “Bacchanal Road,”
which could be heard all over Bridgetown, Barbados
and as far as Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The voice behind
this song is Faith Petunia Hoyte whose stage name is
“Imani.” This thirty year old Ellerslie Old scholar who
also attended the Barbados Community College was raised
in Deans Village, Hindsbury Road, Barbados. However,
Imani is no flash in the pan; she has been musically
inclined since the age of five, she has been in the business
for more than sixteen years and after winning the “Richard
Stoute Teen Competition” held in Barbados in 1997, this
thirty year old has been working in the studio with the Red
Boyz and Chris Allman singing background vocals for
many prominent Caribbean and British Artists, including
British Reggae vocalists Maxi Priests, Trinidadian Soca
singer Machel Montana and her mentor Biggie Irie. She
was also the lead vocalists for an all-female group called
“Sahara,” and has worked and toured with Jazz/ reggae
saxophonists Arturo Tappin.
When asked who inspires her, this is what Imani had to say
“My mother, she has remained positive through the
toughest of times. Her strength is relentless and her heart is
forever kind. No one else has touched my life more.” She
also sings praises to Scott Galt and Mikey Hulsmeier for
encouraging her to step on the front stage. She is also
grateful to the support she has received from Barbadians.
When Imani is not singing and writing songs, she is busy
swimming, cooking and/or reading horror novels. She is
interested in getting involved with assisting women and
children struggling with abuse.
Imani… we salute you!!!
Charmaine J Forde is a Liberal Arts
Major at Community College of
Philadelphia, and a Soldiers Angel
volunteer.
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