159. Speaking Bahamian Creole, Music & Cuisine with Bodine Victoria 🇧🇸

Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues we’re going back to the roots in The Bahamas with multifaceted Bahamian artist Bodine Victoria. Heralded as one of the most consistent hitmakers in the local music business, Bodine Victoria has turned her gift for communication into a successful multi-faceted business. 

An actress, entertainer, presenter, and entrepreneur with 20-years of broadcast experience, She produces the YouTube series BodinePot and showcases the islands of The Bahamas through the Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas show on ZNS' Fabulous Living Bahamian Style, lifestyle television series.  

She performs on the largest national and regional stages having opened for Patrice Roberts, Bunji Garlin, Kymani Marley and many more.  Bodine Victoria's music is steeped in culture with futuristic elements.  A true renaissance woman, Bodine Victoria Johnson is committed to the culture of education, entrepreneurship and entertainment.

In this episode, we discuss:

🇧🇸 Bodine's linguistic journey, starting with Bahamian Creole & English, and her efforts to learn Haitian Creole to connect with the diverse communities in the Bahamas.

🇧🇸 The diversity of languages spoken in the Bahamas, including the presence of Haitian Creole, and the cultural exchanges that occur in everyday life.

🇧🇸 The unique characteristics of Bahamian Creole, how it differs from Standard English and other Caribbean Creoles, and its deep African roots.

🇧🇸 The influence of Bahamian Creole in music and how artists like Bodine use it to convey cultural stories and messages through their art.

🇧🇸 The culinary delights of Bahamian cuisine, including Bodine's YouTube series "Bodine Pot," where she shares and preserves traditional recipes with a modern, healthier twist.

🇧🇸 The cultural significance of Junkanoo, a vibrant Bahamian festival, and its role in expressing community identity and heritage.

Big thank you to Bodine Victoria for sharing your work, your inspirations and your language with all of us.  If you enjoy this episode of Speaking Tongues, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the Speaking Tongues Podcast on Apple Podcasts and like and subscribe on YouTube so that other language lovers like ourselves can find the show! If you’ve been a long-time listener of the show or a recent listener, you can now pledge ongoing support for the show on Buy Me a Coffee dot com or on Patreon dot com. And as you know, I wrote a book! My food ‘zine of international language and cuisine, Taste Buds Vol 1. is available now for purchase! Check social media for the sneak peek inside of the book and make sure you purchase for yourself and your friends! Links to all platforms are below!

To Connect with Bodine Victoria:

www.bodinevictoria.com

Timestamps:

01:18 Bodine's Language Journey

04:37 Cultural Significance of Bahamian Creole

10:44 Bahamian Dialects and Regional Variations

30:48 Empowering Students with Bahamian Creole

36:29 Bodine's Musical Journey

39:22 Early Career and First Achievements

40:23 Gospel Music Journey

41:01 Transition to Reggae

41:29 Major Hits and Music Videos

44:39 Cultural Impact and Community Work

47:24 Cooking and Bahamian Recipes

48:51 Bodine Pot and Cooking Philosophy

53:21 Food as a Cultural Connection

01:00:09 Favorite Bahamian Dishes

01:03:39 The Coconut Goddess and Versatility

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