Entertainment

Mask No Mas

On Monday 2^nd of August 2021, it is predicable that many people in Barbados will be wearing masks, but it is a fact that no one will be playing mas as per normal on Grand Kadooment Day. Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley revealed the sobering news that there will be no mas events for the 2021 Crop Over Festival.

Within the past few weeks, a Cohobblopot seem to have been heating up and scores of people became hungry for news on the status Crop Over 2021. There is no doubt that the Crop Over Festival which is now in its 47^th year has evolved into a national event. The festival is an economic watershed, boosting of the turning over of millions of dollars annually in diverse sectors both locally and internationally.

It is therefore no surprise that the powers that be will not sit by and allow COVID-19 to totally paralyze the spirit and practice of the Crop Over Festival.

The tempo of Barbados changes in the month of July, summer starts and with it comes a cultural storm. Crop Over is the eye of that storm. This year it appeared that the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) is dragging its feet or not being in tuned with ethos of the people.

In 2020 COVID -19 floored everything in Barbados. It robbed the island of Crop Over. In 2021 there is still respect for the seriousness of the pandemic but there is a resilient and a resolve not surrender what is an integral part of Barbados’ nationhood. Surrendering Crop Over 2020 was the right thing to do back then. In 2021 the right thing to do is not to let go the national festival but to give it a different treatment so that it can survive this period of distress.

Entertainment promoters, tent managers, bandleaders, masqueraders, calypsonians, businesspersons, and fete goers got a little haywire over lack of communication from government. Persons involved in the various sectors of the festival needed definitive answers to questions they were asking.

A recent meeting with government and most of the major stakeholders in the festival appeared to have settled several issues and paved a way towards festive activities which can be done within the limitations of the country’s COVID-19 protocols.

Entertainment

Sagicor Life Inc. Lighting Ceremony This Friday

The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment will host the Sagicor Life Inc. Lighting Ceremony this Friday, November 1, marking the start of the annual community Independence celebrations.

This year’s ceremony will be held under the theme Celebrating Our Communities: Re-engaging, Re-igniting, Re-imagining, and will take place on Friday, November 1, at 5:30 p.m., at National Heroes Square, The City.

Following the Lighting Ceremony, the celebrations will continue with a Bajan Brew at 7:00 p.m., offering an evening filled with spouge, drama, song, and steel pan performances.

The event is free and open to all, providing an opportunity for the community to come together and enjoy the rich cultural heritage of Barbados as we celebrate Independence.

Patrons are encouraged to arrive early and make any necessary transportation arrangements due to expected road closures in the vicinity of Wharf Road and Trafalgar Street. (PR/GIS)

Entertainment

A SEA OF YELLOW AT RISE & RUM BREAKFAST PARTY

Patrons enjoyed a day filled with food, fun, and sun at Rise and Rum, the penultimate event of this year’s Barbados Food and Rum Festival.

Food lovers had an abundance of delicious dishes to savour on Saturday—from roasted breadfruit and seafood boils to various fish delicacies and scrumptious desserts, offering a wide array of options to enjoy.
Of course, there was no shortage of entertain, and local bands Square One and Krosfyah once again teamed up to keep the crowds grooving as they enjoyed their savour foodie treats in fine style.

Entertainment

Let us celebrate Jackie Opel

Tuesday 27^th August was a significant day in the history of local music. It marked the birthday of Dalton Bishop better known as Jackie Opel. The musical icon would have turned 84. Jackie Opel was an outstanding singer, composer, and creator of the Spouge music genre who was born on August 27, 1938, in the inner-city area of Chapman Lane.

*Shantal Munroe Knight, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office*

In 1962 Jackie migrated to Jamaica where he lived for six years. He was influential in the formative careers of some of Jamaica’s iconic entertainers. From Bob Marley to Jimmy Cliff, Ken Hopeton, Alton Ellis, and the early days of the band The Wailers.

On his return to Barbados Jackie Opel was gearing up to take his career and his newly created spouge music to a higher level. Plans were afoot to produce a concert, but fate was not kind, and he died in a car accident on Bay Street on March 9, 1970.

Special Free Concert Yesterday

The National Cultural Foundation (NCF) hosted a special concert, last night, in Freedom Park to honour Jackie Opel.

A cast of some of the island’s top singers graced the stage to perform a wide range of spouge songs. The modest audience can count themselves lucky to have attended an event that will be a benchmark in local music history.

Artists thrilled those in attendance

Performers included the following, Wendy Alleyne, Shadia Marshall, Keisha Christian, Mickey Dee, Mike Grosvenor, Colin Spencer, Desmond Weekes, Jamal Slocombe, Simon Pipe, D J Simmons, Bit Bit, Ishiaka, Romario Greaves, Alix Cage, Adrian Clarke and Edwin Yearwood.

Senator the Hon. Shantal Munro-Knight, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office delivered the opening remarks, and Ambassador to CARICOM David Comissiong delivered the feature address. It was generally felt by those in attendance that a Jackie Opel Birthday Concert should be held annually. (Article and photos by Christopher Williams)