Culture

Crop Over 2023 to open in grand style

Crop Over 2023 will officially turn up the heat with the Digicel Ceremonial Delivery of the Last Canes and Vintage Tent at an exciting new location on Saturday, July 1.

The historic former sugar factory at Hayman’s, St Peter, off the Ronald Mapp Highway, with its spectacular view of the West Coast and wonderfully preserved factory machinery, has been chosen by the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) for the festival’s grand launch.

Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley will be present to officially declare the launch of Crop Over 2023, while the evening closes out with the highly-anticipated Vintage Calypso Tent.

Chief Cultural Officer at the NCF Andrea Wells said the NCF is pulling out all the stops to produce a top-notch event.

“Saturday’s event is an exciting mix of colour, drama, music, culinary fare, craft, culture and homage, all taking place at a newly-refurbished location in the north of the island. It is an exciting time as we partner with Digicel to produce this event which signals the official start of the Festival – the Digicel Ceremonial Delivery of the Last Canes & Vintage Calypso Tent.”

New corporate title sponsor Digicel Barbados Ltd, said it was an absolute pleasure to support the festival and cultural development and expression on the island.

“Supporting national events, such as the official opening of Crop Over, holds a special place in our hearts because it allows us to demonstrate our unwavering commitment to the community that supports us and the one we proudly call home. Barbados, with its rich cultural heritage and warm, welcoming spirit, has embraced Digicel as more than just a telecommunications company,” said Digicel CEO Natalie Abrahams.

Festival Events Planner Karen Pestaina, who is also co-producer of the event themed: “Sugar Reimagined”, said the NCF’s team has conceptualised a production that combines a range of Barbadian traditions, interpreted through various artforms, from culinary to the performing arts, all with sugar as the backdrop.

The NCF has promised patrons another packed spectacle to signal the official opening of the national festival. The cultural extravaganza appeals to the entire family and visitors to the island, offering them much to touch, sample, engage, taste, smell, and learn about Barbados’ culture and heritage.

The lengthy driveway to the factory will be the scene of another colourful parade. The procession will be infused with music, dance, and storytelling. Tuk bands, dancers, spectacular dray carts, and the inimitable Sons of God Apostolic Spiritual Baptist Church will be there to bless the last canes.

“Though shorter than last year’s route, it will be equally impactful. The dray carts will be very important to depict our Sugar Reimagined theme,” Pestaina outlined.

A new introduction to this year’s launch will be the Millennial Hub, a mini trade show of some of the island’s most talented and emerging entrepreneurs.

Young entertainers Stiffy, the reigning Scotiabank Junior Monarchs Yahandje and Tae, as well as Mighty Bit Bit, and the Haynesville Youth Group will take to the stage in the Millennial Hub.

For children and adults attending the Digicel Ceremonial Delivery of the Last Canes and Vintage Tent, Hayman’s Factory will be transformed into one expansive, interactive showcase. The list of attractions include: Sip & Paint, demonstrations by the Landship, spoken word performances, historical re-enactments, Chefs’ Corner, the Bajan Taste Buds featuring new twists on indigenous fare, and a grand Bajan Market Place where a range of products and treats will be sold and sampled. There will also be the finals of the Indigenous Cultural Heritage Games at the event.

The Children’s Play Area will include a Masquerade Tent where youngsters and their parents can view Sunshine Snacks Junior Kadooment band costumes and register on site to join a band of their choice.

A big hit since its introduction last year, the 2023 version of the Vintage Calypso Tent will keep patrons jumping with the most popular Road March/Tune of the Crop hits up to 2003.

Road March legends will include cultural ambassadors RPB and Gabby, as well as Edwin Yearwood, Lil Rick, Grynner, Serenader, Blood and more.

Pestaina stated: “This is an event for everyone. It’s free and serves up everything you want to know about Barbados. . . Hayman’s Sugar Factory is the place to be.” (PR)

Culture

BPS Crop Over Do-Flicky Costume Competition Winners Announced

Five winning teams have emerged from the recently held prize-giving ceremony of the inaugural ‘Barbados Postal Service (BPS) 2024 Crop Over Do-Flicky Costume Competition’.

The winners hail from the Post Offices of St. Joseph; St. George; Welches Road; St. Philip and the General Post Office in Cheapside.

The overall winner of the competition is the eight-member team of the General Post Office’s Accounts Section, who each received an Island Safari Tour. Second place went to the Welches Road Post Office, third was the St. Philip Post Office, fourth was the St. George Post Office and fifth place went to the St. Joseph Post Office.

Winning Teams (flanked by BPS management), of the inaugural ‘BPS Crop Over Do-Flicky Costume Competition’, from the GPO; Welches Road PO; St. Philip PO; St. George PO and the St. Joseph PO.

Postmaster General, Joann Busby, in her address to the winners, stated, “We look forward to many more events like this in the future, celebrating both our history and commitment to excellence.”

Concept Creator of the competition, BPS Marketing Officer Neiai Hall said, “This competition aims to showcase the creativity and cultural expression of our staff, through costume design and performance. The theme of the competition is rooted in our rich heritage and the vibrant spirit of Crop Over.

On left – ‘BPS Crop Over Do-Flicky Costume Competition’ 2nd Place Winning Costume, On right – ‘BPS Crop Over Do-FFlicky Costume Competition’ 3rd Place Winning Costume.

“We have encouraged participants to design costumes that not only display their creativity but also incorporate elements that represent the services offered by the BPS”.

The judging criteria consisted of Sustainability; Creativity; Depiction of a BPS Service; Originality; Portrayal; Video Creativity and Originality; Practicality and Inclusivity and Descriptive Write-Up.

Plaques were presented to each of the winning teams and the St. Joseph Post Office also received the Postmaster General’s special award for Outstanding Advertising Video in the competition. (PR/GIS)

Culture

LAST LAP WEEKEND – Ended with Pic-o-de-Crop Finals, Foreday Jump and Kadooment

AN INCIDENT FREE FESTIVAL By David Harris

After two months of activities that included early morning breakfast fetes and late-night parties, the golden anniversary of the Crop Over Festival ended with the Grand Kadooment on Monday.

Over 10.000 revellers in 18 bands danced on the new route which began at the Helipad in Bridgetown and ended in front of Kensington Oval. The street parade was changed its 9 a.m. start to 10 a.m. by the National Cultural Foundation after the Barbados Meteorological Service placed the island under a severe thunderstorm watch.

Eventually, the Blue Box Cart band got the parade moving at 10.07 and the masqueraders began wining and chipping on the streets of Bridgetown.

Only 13 of the 18 bands on parade judged, among the revellers were Barbadian superstar and National Hero, the Right Excellent Robin Rihanna Fenty and former West Indies captain Brian Lara.

Some bands were still heading towards the Mighty Grynner Highway just before at minutes to 9 o’clock. Aura was the last band to reach the highway before the police ended the parade.

The Grand Kadooment ended an action-packed weekend that included the Pic O De Crop Finals at the National Botanical Gardens in Waterford on Friday night, the Foreday Morning Jam which began in Bridgetown in the wee hours of morning and the Grand Kadooment on Monday.

Fans were primed for thrilling contest between the defending monarch IWeb (Ian Webster) and Adrian “AC” Clarke who placed second in last year’s Pic O De Crop competition; but it was AC who captured the crown for the third time after IWeb who appeared to have forgotten the lyrics of the De Village Ram in the second half of the competition.

Clarke performed at number 16 (immediately behind IWeb) and stamped his authority on the competition with an impressive performance of the self-penned Going Fuh Crown, the judges awarded him 133 points, 28 more than Sir Ruel who came second.

Adrian Clarke the 2024 Calypso Monarch

His impressive performance won the first prize of $100,000 or a Nissan E Powe X- Trail valued at $136,000; Clarke told journalists after the competition he had opted to take the vehicle instead of the prize money. Clarke, 52, first won the crown in 2001 and in 2008.

Sir Ruel was the most outstanding performer in the first half with A Single Bullet, he wrote the calypso in memory of his brother Dario Jon-Luc Holder-Branch who was shot to death in February this year. The former Junior Monarch amassed 105 points and won a cash prize of $40,000.

*Sir Ruel, Pic of de Crop, 2nd place winner*

Perennial finalist Chrystal Cummins-Beckles placed third with De Proposal, the multi-talented musician, arranger and composer was awarded 97 points and the $20,000 prize.

Billboard placed fourth for the second consecutive his calypso earned him a cash prize of $15,000; and first timer Tae, the youngest competitor in the final took the fifth position and $10,000 with A Big Cirus.

Calypsonians placing from the sixth to tenth position received $8,000 each, those coming 11 th to 18 th got $6000.

The competition started 51 minutes after the scheduled 8 p.m. due to technical hitches with video presentations, and one contestant (Kid Site) had to start over his song because of problems with the audio. The second half started just after midnight and ended at 2.10 a.m.

In commemoration of the 50 th anniversary of the Crop Festival there were performances by former monarchs the Mighty Destroyer. Red Plastic, the Mighty Gabby and Edwin Yearwood.