A feast for the eyes and ears is set to take place in St. George's this weekend.

Chef Eddie Ming, of BOJO Productions, is hosting a free food and drum extravaganza appropriately titled "Let's eat something soulful''.

"This festival is designed to bring the whole community together through my original poetry and percussion and hard drums,'' Mr. Ming said.

"This is an annual event. I had my last festival in my drum yard in St.

George's two days before the Progressive Labour Party won the election last year.

"During the festival this year, I will congratulate them for their victory and mine as well for being thankful just to be in position to do it again this year.'' The gates to the festival, at the St. George's Community Centre, will officially open at 11 a.m. Show time will start at noon. Lunch will be served from 1.30 to 2.30 p.m. and should end at around 7 p.m.

Mr. Ming has an exceptional cast lined up for the event.

Local talent from across the Island will show off their prowess in their chosen field.

There will be Darran Dowling doing a Tai Chi Demonstration, Tamiko Black and her Percussion quartet will perform their numbers using hand-held Nigerian Coco Bean Shells.

Percussion groups like Moondog, Eddie Ming and Storm, Melvin Martin's Percussion Sextet promise to dazzle the crowd.

In addition, the festival will feature two-year-old drum protege Christen Gibbons plus a special re-appearance of four-year-old drummer Juma Mouchette Storm.

Other talented performances are expected from groups like Joyce Hayden and the Bermuda Boot Scooters, Ed Ming's The Gombey Club, The St. George Original Dancerettes and Devoe Whaley.

Special guest stars Al Woods and Robert Sy Emery will also grace this event with their talent.

The menu, was chosen with health in mind, featuring whole wheat sesame honey pizza, garbonzo bean stew with cornbread, broken lasagna, cabbage pie and falfalle (bow tie pasta) casserole.

"People say my pizza is the best in Bermuda,'' Mr. Ming boasted. "For dessert there will be Babas (small cakes) soaked in fresh orange juice and cinnamon, finished with an apple jelly glaze.'' "The menu will be 95 percent vegetarian,'' Mr. Ming stressed. "For the festival, I will use all original recipes, like the music, the menu will be original. The food is for people who are serious about their diets.'' For drink, there will be an herbal tea bar featuring local Wayne Mouchette's three-blend herbal tea as well as Mr. Ming's lemon lime citrus cooler.

The instruments that will be used for the festival have a special significance.

"The Donno or `Talking' drum comes from Africa,'' Mr. Ming explained. "It has two heads and is laced with tension string.

"The large coco bean shells come from Nigeria. These come in different sizes and types, and can be used strapped around the ankles or waist of dancers.

"They can also be hand-held as in Tamiko Black's percussion quartet called Tuesday.'' Mr. Ming explained that the Ching Ring Dumbegs (drums) were from Egypt. They have been imported from Israel and custom designed in New York especially for Melvin Martin and his ensemble Tattoo.

"There are four percussion ensembles that will be housed in two locations at my percussion schools,'' he added. "One will be in Hamilton at the Burnaby Street location and the other will be on Old Road in St. George's.'' Extra buses will be provided by PTB and furnish transportation to and from the event.

Soulful chef: Musician Eddie Ming gears up for his upcoming festival to be held this coming Saturday in St. George's.