Gotta Love Bajan Culture...

A sunny welcome from Barbados! I've neglected my posts as every spare minute I have been avidly watching Korean sagueks (historical dramas) and neglecting most other activities - such as posting to this blog.

Of course, I was more than a little disappointed 😞 that my July reflection on the day of National Significance (remembrance of the 1937 riots that served as a catalyst in Barbados' socio-economic development) had minimal views as it highlighted a wonderful comic strip on the 1937 riots that was featured on the webpage of the National Cultural Foundation.  On the bright side, the entry on male purity has been the most read/viewed page to date. I think that is an important message so I am more than pleased about that! 😄

Today, I will share some of the Crop-Over Festival that culminated at the beginning of August. I know there are some new readers/visitors over the last year so you can follow the links highlighted to get some background on the festival. 

Thanks to the excellent photography of a long-standing contact, Troy Barker, who graciously consented to their use...enjoy!

You can strut your stuff 🔥

Or go along for the ride 👍

You can spread your wings😎

Or set the road on fire 💖

You can paint your face 😊

Or paint on abs! 😀

There were bustiers and maillots

Or the ever-popular bikini.

Even Barbados' Cultural Ambassador, Rihanna, came to the party

If it seems like it was a parade of feathers, the "big bands" that cater moreso to international revellers tend to make extensive use of feathers...and they make for really great pictures!

Here is one that is not all about feathers and is equally stunning!

Then there is the music that drives Crop Over. The song that won Tune-O-de-Crop was a huge hit during the season. It is "Sometime". It is a song about a guy who is quite willing to be a "friend with benefits" rather than the steady boyfriend, which is what the girl now wants (although she already has a partner). This song by Leadpipe and Jus' Jay won the People's Monarch (a promotion in which Barbadians can vote by SMS or online for their fave song of the season) as well. The same afternoon of the announcement I was in a department store and when the song began, heads started bobbing up and down, shoulders were shaking, the singers began to sing along under their breath - that is when I realised what a "big tune" (hit) it was. Here is the lyric video...

Leadpipe x Jus-Jay - Sometime "2020 Soca" Barbados (Official Video)

[Credit: Julianspromotv 2019 Music]

This is another song that I liked for the Pic-O-De-Crop competition (calypso monarch competition) from the first time I heard it. It is created around the titles of many of the songs sung by the current Minister of the Creative Economy, Culture and Sports, the Hon. John King M.P. when he used to compete in the national calypso competition. If you think all the singer, William "Classic" Waithe is doing is cursing, he is saying "fuh (for) king" not f**king and "fuh (for) Cree" not f**kery - although in our heads we think the curse words 🙊. 

If you follow the link, you will see the rendition at the finals and the crowd response. Thanks to Chayne Jones of the Water Street Boyz for uploading videos of the final competition's performances. You can autoplay and see the other competitors or subscribe. Very entertaining. 

The 2020 Calypso Monarch of Barbados Classic with One Song

( Classic - One Song [Credit: Trident Barbados 2019])

And so the curtain comes down on another Crop Over season. 🙇