“Wha gine on?”

In this post we explore what makes Barbados more than sand, sea and sun!

Keep reading to answer the question from the previous blog and to learn more.

Have you ever heard of the Barbados Crop Over Festival?  It is the biggest festival on the entertainment calendar and attracts huge crowds of locals and visitors alike; but, before we go into the events which take place, let’s look at its origin.

This festival began in the 1780’s and it was an event surrounding the arrival of the last cart of sugar canes (the end of crop season). It was celebrated by labourers and plantation owners through dances, a procession of decorated carts and a labourer announcing the “Crop Over”. To this day the official launch of the Festival begins with a ceremony called “The Ceremonial Delivery of the Last Canes” and here two cane cutters (a male and a female) are crowned the King and Queen of the Crop. http://www.funbarbados.com/crop_over/history.cfm

This festival starts in May and ends on the first Monday in August, with a massive street parade of costumed bands and revellers on what is affectionately known as “Kadooment Day”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaqON9zH1gc

Calypso/soca is the genre of music heard at this time and they are calypso singing competitions such as “Pic-o-De-Crop”, “Sweet Soca”, “Party Monarch” and “Int’l Bashment Soca”.  

Crop over is more than music though, it’s a celebration of culture.

Other music festivals which take place include Barbados Gospelfest and the Barbados Reggae Festival. There are other cultural festivals such as National Festival of Creative Arts (NIFCA), the Holetown Festival, Oistins Fish Festival and the Barbados Food and Rum Festival.

Have you ever been to any Crop Over events? What is your opinion of it? How can it be improved?

Answer in the comments below!

Stay tuned “I gone!”