Rihanna was plucked from the Combermere Secondary School in 2004 by international recording producer Evan Rogers. Her first release pon de replay was a mega-hit and since then it has been one hit after the next. The one disappointment for most Barbadians is the fact Rihanna has not been able to perform for her fans living in Barbados and in the region.
Based on our usual unimpeachable sources plans are afoot for Rihanna to perform in Barbados at a date(s) between August and October 2011. The location of the concert is likely to be at the Kensington Oval. It is early days yet in the planning of the Rihanna Barbados Tour but indications point to the fact she plans to dazzle Barbadians by laying on a world class produced event. Our sources say the Rihanna Barbados Tour has the full backing of the Barbados government.
Last month Barbados launched the Diaspora Conference geared at enticing Barbadians living abroad to invest in Barbados. The initiative, the brainchild of Prime Minister David Thompson has come at a time when the Barbados economy is being severely affected by the current global economic conditions. To have Rihanna perform in Barbados – who can easily claim to be the most recognizable Bajan on the planet – provides a fillip to the government’s Diaspora initiative.
Rihanna the Bajan by bringing her world class act to the Rock will ensure Barbados is bathed in the glow of the global spotlight. The economic benefits of Rihanna performing in Barbados should easily surpass Tiger Woods’ wedding which was held at the Sandy Lane Hotel in 2004.
No doubt Minister of Tourism Richard Sealy is smiling at the opportunity to market a world class event like Rihanna’s Barbados Tour likely to be held over two days. Visitors from the region and beyond are sure to be lured by the occasion if the planners can satisfactorily negotiate the deal. There is the legacy benefit to be had from successfully staging a Rihanna concert. Many Barbadians even at this stage in her career have not yet fully appreciated the mega-stardom which Rihanna has already achieved in her brief career.
Rihanna has tied a record for most number one hits on the Billboard pop charts. Rihanna joins Mariah Carey, Beyonce, and Lady Gaga who have all had six number one hits since Billboard starting counting sales at retail point-of-sale using Nielsen SoundScan in 1991 – Popjornalism
Rhianna has always been unafraid to wave the ‘yellow blue’ on the world stage. Her decision to perform for Barbadians at a time when the country needs all the help it can get is consistent with that of a true Bajan patriot. The esprit de corps of the Combermerian clan may very well have influenced in her decision to want to perform at this time.
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