WELL, THE BIGGEST FESTIVAL in Barbados is over, leaving all sorts o’ people wid all sorts of emotions, some asking questions, some who have all the answers and some who couldn’t care less – dem had a blast and dat is dat.
As far as a lot o’ people are concerned, it was the best; dem had a great time gine from fete tuh fete and doing the dog. Then, gine home fuzz out but looking forward tuh dressing fuh the next one. Dem is the ones who couldn’t care less.
The ones who asking the questions is the ones who, nuh matter what the organizers do, dem does have tuh find something wrong wid something; duh cahn just guh long, enjoy duhselves and accept things the way there are.
And the other set is the ones who cahn do nutten, doan do nutten, nevah lift a finger tuh make nutten happen but got the loudest mout’ ’bout how something should happen or what should or should not be happening.
It brings me tuh this: one time ya used tuh hear a lot o’ people, including some from the calypso industry, lambasting the Crop Over organisers fuh bringing in what they call foreign artist tuh perform at we festival.
Crop Over is we ting and these artistes does come in and carry out all o’ the money dat could be paying the local artistes. A lot o’ dem doan even stop tuh think dat we artistes does be going all ovah the Caribbean performing in these same people’s carnivals, festivals and even competitions. But ya know how um is.
Some o’ o’ dem does only want tuh hear demselves talk because dem doan realise dat by inviting other Caribbean artistes, it does bring in even more people on the island.
But when ya near-sighted, ya near- sighted. I sit down in front o’ my TV and listen tuh all the different accents from the people who was on the island and having a great time. It is the only time when all sorts o’ people from all sorts o’ places wid all kinds o’ accents, colours, shapes and sizes, come together tuh enjoy one common thing: Crop Over!
Congratulations are in order for my boy Classic, who has been knocking at the door fuh years and years but could nevah break through. Well he aint’ only break through, he finally brek down the door.
Fuh all the years now, Classic has been competing in the calypso arena. He has always hit the nail pon the head when it come tuh dealing wid touchy situations. He has always sang about everyday things dat matter, dat hit home. He is a very witty calypsonian and I have followed him fuh years.
Classic is one o’ dem calypsonians who has been consistent, persistent, steadfast and unwavering in duh quest tuh reach the top and it has finally paid off.
He is also one o’ dem nice fellas like the Bag who ya doan see or hear in evah cockfight nor getting heself caught up in the lot o’controversy when things doan work out in he favour year after year.
Muh boy, I always hope dat one day you woulda get the nod from the judges and you would walk away wid the car, the money, the crown, the top spot, the whole hog. Well, ya have it now and ya truly deserve it
Good fuh you muh boy, I am happy for ya Mr Classic. I hope dat this will not be your first and last crown and this winning will give you more drive and passion tuh go on fuh another decade. Congratulations again. Ya truly deserve it!
Betty West is another trouper; she keeps plodding along and coming every single year despite the setbacks and defeats but never giving up. This year she carry away all the top spots. Good fuh you, girl. The old people used tuh tell ya, perseverance seldom fails.
• Mavis Beckles was born and raised in the The Orleans. She has an opinion on everything.
