BARBADOS NAMES RIHANNA A NATIONAL HERO

On Monday Rihanna was named a national hero by her home country Barbados in an event where the Island celebrated its transition into a republican nation. The announcement was made during the inauguration of the first president of Barbados in Governor Sandra Mason was sworn is as the first ever president of Barbados.

“On behalf of a grateful nation, but an even prouder people, we therefore present to you the designee for national hero of Barbados, Ambassador Robyn Rihanna Fenty. May you continue to shine like a diamond and bring honor to your nation by your works, by your actions and to do credit wherever you shall go.” Said Barbadian prime minister.

Rihanna was appointed as Barbadian Ambassador back in 2018. In a separate ceremony which was held on Wednesday 1st of December 2021, Rihanna was officially honored, here she received a large medal which was then place on her neck, the joy on her face was evident.

“This is a day that I will never, ever forget. It’s also a day that I never saw coming,” she said in a brief speech in which she encouraged the youth to continue pushing Barbados forward. “I have traveled the world and received several awards and recognitions, but nothing, nothing compares to being recognized in the soil that you grew in.”

The last person to be bestowed as national hero in Barbados was former cricket player Garfeild St. Auburn Sobers, which was 20years ago. Rihanna now makes it a total of eleven people who have been honored in such a way since 1998, this list includes a slave who led a rebellion and the first person of African descent to serve in parliament.