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Rihanna a Youth and Cultural Ambassador for Barbados
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Barbados has formally named its latest Grammy award winning singing sensation, Rihanna, an Ambassador for Youth and Culture, in recognition of the achievement and her contribution to the country.
Prime Minister David Thompson conferred the title on the young R & B singer at a free, open-air music concert in her honour, attended by thousands of cheering fans in the heart of the Barbados capital, Bridgetown on February 21st (2008).
Rihanna, who flew into Barbados hours earlier for the event, made a grand appearance, on a police-escorted yacht, which sailed into the inner basin of the careenage, adjacent to the Independence Square concert venue.
Looking young and fresh in a simple yellow dress (yellow is one of the colours of the Barbados flag), the smiling, waving singing star stepped off the boat to rapturous applause.
Appearing on stage with the Prime Minister, she thanked the government and people of Barbados for their support and declared: "I've never been so proud to be a Bajan; it's great to be home", to loud cheers and screams of joy from the large crowd.
Prime Minister Thompson said that, in addition to the award, the Government and people of Barbados had acquired for Rihanna, "a piece of the rock", a reference to a property in the upscale Apes Hill area of St. Peter, overlooking the island's scenic west coast.
The private sector also got in on the act. Colombian Emeralds, the internationally-known jewelry chain, presented Rihanna with a diamond bangle, vehicle dealers Warrens Motors, gave her a Land Rover and Simpson Motors made a "substantial" contribution to her "Believe Foundation" for the disadvantaged.
It was night Rihanna is unlikely to forget. While on stage, the International songbird, who turned 20 years old the day before, dug into a specially made birthday cake in the shape of an umbrella, in honour of the song of the same name which won her her first Grammy on February 10th, 2008.
The Bridgetown concert, dubbed "Believe" (after Rihanna's foundation) was carried live on local television and recorded for later use by the American TV outfit BET-J (BET-J aired a 30-minute tribute to Rihanna last week).
The rally and show featured a variety of local artistes performing songs in tribute to Rihanna, among them singers Richard Stoute, Shontelle and Paula Hinds, calypsonian Kid Site, songwriter/arranger/musician Nicholas Brancker and saxophonist Arturo Tappin.
On her return home that day she was met by a welcoming party headed by Prime Minister Thompson and hundreds of adoring fans who jammed all vantage points at the Grantley Adams Airport to get a glimpse of the Internationally acclaimed songstress.
Before leaving the airport she was treated to a cultural presentation by Dancing Africa and students from two schools she attended in Barbados, the Charles F. Broome Memorial Primary and Combermere Secondary.
Rihanna's real name Robyn Rihanna Fenty), won her Grammy for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration (with Jay-Z).
She burst onto the international music scene in 2005 with a debut hit "Pon de Replay". Since then she has produced three albums and a string of hits, including the very popular 2007 release "Umbrella.
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Information Assumed Accurate On: Feb 22, 2008
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