Barbados Celebrates National Rihanna Day

Since 2008, the ‘Love On The Brain’ singer has served as Cultural Ambassador to promote education, tourism, and investment in her home country, Barbados.

On Feb. 20 Rihanna turned 31 and as a living icon, the Grammy Award-winning singer has solidified her place in pop culture like leading an almost billion dollar cosmetics business empire, Fenty Beauty.

Rihanna has been steadily expanding her empire since she first stepped onto the music scene, from collaborations with Puma to owning partial of Tidal, the singer has earned her own day in Barbados.

 

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on any block.

A post shared by badgalriri (@badgalriri) on Nov 30, 2017 at 12:31pm PST

February 22, two days after her birthday is officially Rihanna Day in Barbados.

In 2008, Barbados Prime Minister, David Thompson, launched the holiday. As a Cultural Ambassador, Rihanna was appointed “Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary” of Barbados. Rihanna flew down to Barbados and performed a special show.

 

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a day my people and I will never forget! all the lessons, running around barefoot, nosey neighbors, braiding hair on the step, playing in the cemetery, walking to the beach, rum shop karaoke keeping the whole street awake til 4am (“only the lonely” by Roy Orbison is playing in my head as I type this) , stealing Sammy pomegranates from his tree, begging my mother to let me walk to Jan’s shop cause she had American snacks, selling plastic/glass bottles to Peter so I could buy those American snacks, getting my hair hot combed for Harvest at church, doing my homework on my front step while Miss Hyacinth yells “ya gon get belly hurt from dat cold step” across from her veranda, watching iFE walk past with her dreads dragging on the floor like a couture gown, all the times I thought Melissa came to hang out with me, turns out she was dating my next door neighbor all along, rushing to do dishes when my mother’s high heels start hitting the pavement as she gets off the bus from work……right here on this street! WESTBURY is more than a community, we’re family!!! Thank you for all that you’ve poured into my life and the woman I am! It takes a village, and I’m glad my village was you!!!! To God be the Glory!!!! #RiRiDrive

A post shared by badgalriri (@badgalriri) on Dec 1, 2017 at 8:42am PST

According to Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, beyond music, Rihanna shows patriotism for Barbados by giving back.

“Rihanna has a deep love for this country and this is reflected in her philanthropy, especially in the areas of health and education. She also shows her patriotism in the way she gives back to this country and continues to treasure the island as her home. She has also demonstrated, beyond her success as a pop icon, significant creative acumen, and shrewdness in business. It is therefore fitting that we engage and empower her to play a more definitive role as we work to transform Barbados,” Mottley stated.