THE CURTAIN WILL come down on this year’s Crop Over Festival in six days and already it is being described as one of the best in recent times.
As part of the last lap activities there will be the Foreday Morning jump-up, Bridgetown Market, Pic-O-De-Crop Finals, Grand Kadooment, and private parties that will create the hype necessary to bring the season to a fitting close.
We have heard Minister of Culture Stephen Lashley say that this year there will be a record high number of registrations for Grand Kadooment and Foreday Morning.
He also said the crowds at this year’s Soca Royale were expected to surpass last year’s.
Some may disagree with the minister that the crowd was as massive this year at Bushy Park for Soca Royale as in previous years.
The numbers that will be on the road tomorrow for Foreday Morning and on the road for Grand Kadooment on Monday are still left to be seen.
What is clear, however, is a definite need to relook the festival.
We know a post-mortem is undertaken each year right after the festival and some serious decisions have to be made regarding its future.
There is a definite need for the National Cultural Foundation to devise a new strategy as it relates to the Cavalcades which dwindled down to just one this year. Before Cavalcades were held across Barbados in a number of parishes and signalled the start of the season.
Now, because of a lack of sponsorship, this aspect of Crop Over is sadly lacking. Despite many appeals for an injection of funds into the festival and for more financial support, there was no budging by corporate Barbados.
Every year, the music of the festival seems to get sweeter, but artistes continue to do themselves a disservice by failing to ensure that they are not only making music for the festival but music that will transcend these shores and hit regional and international markets.
That said, it is incumbent on the NCF to also ensure that it gives our younger people a chance at emceeing some of the national events. It may well be time to hear fresh voices and see fresh faces on stage.
As in any other business, they must be put to the test and be allowed opportunities that will propel growth of the festival.
We know this to be true with some of the young calypsonians who we see moving from the junior monarch competition to the big stage at the Pic-O-De-Crop Finals.
Our Crop Over Festival is too important to this country for us to gamble with its future. For years, there have been complaints about the lack of creativity, particularly when it comes to costumes for Kadooment and the need for the long promised sunset legislation which would help with a smoother flow for the festival and create fewer headaches for party promoters.
These are aspects of the festival that must be addressed if we are to move forward.
It is a worthwhile exercise for the NCF to always analyse the festival to keep it fresh and ensure that it is bigger and better every year.
After all, Crop Over is billed as the Sweetest Summer Festival.