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237:), and encouraged and promoted indigenous crafts using local materials. In the early 1960s, she originated and ran an annual national Festival of Arts and Crafts, as well as initiating the Dundas Centre for the Performing Arts. In addition to composing music, she wrote poetry, plays and essays – collected in
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However, as she stated in a 1972 interview, her ambitions lay elsewhere: "I couldn't even stand the sight of blood.... I begged my father not to send me because everyone knew me as 'Meta the
Musician', and I loved music." She nevertheless did spend a short time at the university, though often so
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In 1923, she married fellow
Trinidadian Dr Roland Cumberbatch, and after he accepted a post through the Colonial Medical Service in 1926 the couple eventually settled in The Bahamas, helping to build the country and becoming part of the black professional opposition to racism. According to her
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In 2014, at the 41st
Independence anniversary celebrations under the theme "Celebrating our Culture: A Commitment to Peace", Meta Davis Cumberbatch was one of 41 "Cultural Warriors" honoured by the Bahamian government for dedicating their lives to cultural development.
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166:, where she used her talents to enhance the country's cultural development, becoming known as the "Mother of the Arts". At the 2014 Independence anniversary celebrations in
186:. Meta's musical talent manifested itself early and she could pick out a tune on the piano before she could write her own name. After attending Trinity Girls School and
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226:(2010): "There were so many artistic and cultural forms that were not being widely expressed. ...She saw her purpose as developing the arts in the Bahamas."
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Islanders in the Stream: A History of the
Bahamian People – Volume Two: From the Ending of Slavery to the Twenty-First Century
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241:, edited by Peter Maynard – and also helped to form the Council of Women and supported the women's suffrage movement.
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engrossed at the piano that she forgot to attend lectures. So from medical studies she transferred to the
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This article is about the pianist. For the women who allegedly inspired the Beatle's "Lovely Rita", see
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were sent by their parents to
England in 1919 with the intention that they study medicine at
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Davis
Cumberbatch died at home in the Bahamas on 29 December 1978, aged 78.
355:"Tributes pour in following the passing of Zoe, Lady Maynard this morning…"
252:(MBE) "for public services in the Bahamas", and the award was presented by
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Complete Works of Meta Davis
Cumberbatch: Poems, Plays, Music and Essays
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Complete Works of Meta Davis
Cumberbatch: Poems, Plays, Music and Essays
502:, Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, The Government of the Bahamas.
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Trinidad-born pianist, composer and cultural activist (1900– 1978)
387:"Great Cultural Icons to be Celebrated at the 41st Independence!"
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Great
Awakening: Meta Davis Cumberbatch, "Mother of the Arts"
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Great
Awakening: Meta Davis Cumberbatch, "Mother of the Arts"
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Great Awakening: Meta Davis Cumberbatch, "Mother of the Arts"
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in New York, as well as throughout Europe and the Caribbean.
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during her visit to the Caribbean in February that year.
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She taught piano, drama and dance (her protégés included
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Pianist, composer, poet, playwright and cultural activist
584:, National Art Gallery of the Bahamas, 5 September 2015.
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Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
222:grandson Dr Peter Maynard, author of the biography
170:she was honoured as a Bahamian "Cultural Warrior".
653:"Queen Elizabeth to make award to Bahamian Artist"
561:"Who We Are – Our Founder – Edward Clement Bethel"
500:"A History of The Performing Arts in The Bahamas"
295:, edited by Peter D. Maynard, with a foreword by
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316:(Foreword by Nicki Kelly), Rakuten Kobo, 2010,
852:20th-century Trinidad and Tobago women writers
375:"Meta Davis Cumberbatch – Pioneer of The Arts"
614:, University of Georgia Press, 2000, p. 476.
271:Her work is included in the 2019 anthology
822:Members of the Order of the British Empire
599:, Greenwood Publishing Group, 2003, p. 23.
468:"Meta-Davis Cumberbatch's Legacy Lives On"
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158:(4 May 1900 – 29 December 1978) was a
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582:"A mutually beneficial performance"
550:Craton and Saunders (2000), p. 479.
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608:Michael Craton and Gail Saunders,
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420:"Meta Davis, artist of Bahamas",
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563:. The Nassau Music Society
406:(2010), pp. 150, 153, 159.
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847:Trinidad and Tobago poets
837:Immigrants to the Bahamas
751:"New Daughters of Africa"
661:, 10 February 1966, p. 4.
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541:(2010), pp. 42–43, 181.
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377:, Our Culture Warriors.
274:New Daughters of Africa
178:Meta Davis was born in
817:Bahamian women writers
299:, Rakuten Kobo, 2010,
248:, she was appointed a
208:Royal Academy of Music
180:San Fernando, Trinidad
153:Meta Davis Cumberbatch
144:Allyson Maynard Gibson
111:Royal Academy of Music
70:San Fernando, Trinidad
41:Meta Davis Cumberbatch
344:, 2010, pp. 146, 153.
98:Trinity Girls School
490:, by Peter Maynard.
361:. 10 December 2018.
812:Bahamian musicians
802:Bahamian composers
702:The Bahama Journal
340:Peter D. Maynard,
310:Peter D. Maynard,
254:Queen Elizabeth II
200:Bristol University
593:Alan West Durán,
466:Jeffarah Gibson,
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16:(Redirected from
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82:(1978-12-29)
787:1978 deaths
782:1900 births
567:11 December
472:Tribune 242
164:The Bahamas
129:Zoë Maynard
88:The Bahamas
32:Lovely Rita
776:Categories
329:References
66:4 May 1900
62:1900-05-04
56:Meta Davis
670:Maynard,
637:'"M.B.E."
623:Maynard,
537:Maynard,
524:Maynard,
511:Maynard,
448:Maynard,
435:Maynard,
402:Maynard,
174:Biography
135:Relatives
95:Education
484:Synopsis
196:Kathleen
160:Trinidad
141:(sister)
125:Children
320:
303:
263:Legacy
168:Nassau
569:2020
318:ISBN
301:ISBN
246:1966
77:Died
52:Born
658:Jet
244:In
202:.
190:in
156:MBE
45:MBE
778::
749:,
735:NB
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