LOOK
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PROOF MAGAZINE
13
Part of the problem is that many of us Bajans,
are not convinced ourselves that Barbados has
a lot more going for it than just its natural,
island charm. And it’s unfortunate because our
culture is so rich, clever and vibrant. It is this
beautiful, unique, delightful blend of tastes,
ideas and innovations, born from a complex
amalgamation of our colonial past, our African
roots and our colourful Caribbean soul.
There is no one in the world like us,
and it’s time we start showing that off.
Road Tennis
Invented in the 1930’s, road tennis is a Bajan
twist on the traditional sport. Unlike lawn
tennis, which is typically seen as a sport for
the elite, road tennis was developed as a sport
that required minimal equipment and could
be played by anyone. Today, road tennis is still
played on the streets but the sport has made
significant strides from its humble beginnings.
What began as “the poor man’s tennis”, where
pieces of wood or hard-cover books were used
in place of racquets, has developed into a major
sporting activity in Barbados. Today, we have a
Professional Road Tennis Association, and the
annual road tennis championships is one of the
most highly anticipated events in the country.
If you’re looking for a “uniquely Bajan
experience”, look no further than road tennis.
It is 100% homegrown and its popularity is
almost on par with other more established sports
in Barbados, which is quite a feat for a sport
so young. It has also started to receive a lot of
positive attention on a global scale, with media
powerhouses such as CNN and Wired.com
publishing lengthy articles on the sport. Adidas
even filmed a feature where Wimbledon and US
Open champ, Andy Murray faced off against our
local road tennis expert, Sylvan Barnett. This
humble Bajan invention, which demonstrates our
resourcefulness and creativity, is growing every
day and it is only a matter of time before it makes
its way across international borders. We need to
make sure that when it does touch down in Lisbon
or Nairobi, and children are playing road tennis
in the streets, they know that it came from the
most easterly island in the Caribbean–Barbados.
‘BRANDING
BARBADOS’
St. Lucy Botanists
The St. Lucy Botanists is a local eco-friendly
company, committed to preserving Barbados’
natural beauty and developing high-quality
luxury products including handcrafted
candles, body care products and essential
oils, using 100% local ingredients.