The launch of this year’s Oistins Festival was an energy-filled affair as Barbados was again encouraged to “Catch the Culture”.
The annual event began with a parade, featuring high-octane performances from Dancin’ Africa and the Barbados Landship and cheerleaders from primary and secondary schools.
Of particular note was Christ Church Foundation School with its own music truck, though, the groups from Deighton Griffith Secondary School, Christ Church Girls Primary School, Blackman and Gollop Primary School, St George Primary School and the others all represented well.
The parade was led by the Princess Margaret Secondary School Cadet Corps.
It also featured the Oistins Festival mini queens, an adorable group dressed in little pink dresses and wielding pink umbrellas. These melted the hearts of all who watched them daintily step behind the larger paraders.
The large crowd lined the streets of Oistins, many with cameras and cellphones in hand to capture the moment. Tourists and locals were thrilled by the performances from those artistes like Roy “ Jack Fuego” Downes and Amanda “ Ladi J” (this is right) Jones, a pair of fire-breathers who kept the crowd both entertained. There was also no shortage of fun from the stilt walkers, shaggy bears and a Mother Sally who performed a tumble which had master of ceremonies Jennifer Walker enquiring about her well-being afterwards.
Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, Senator Dr Shantal Munro-Knight suggested it was time to get Oistins inscribed as a UNESCO heritage site while also informing the public about an upcoming initiative.
“The Department of Culture, within the next two months, will have the first draft of a study to measure the impact of culture on the Barbadian economy. That is extremely important because Barbados is built on cultural practitioners – it is built on the artists, it is built on the food, it is built on people who make their living much like those in Oistins, practising traditional forms like the fisherfolk.
“We want to be able to measure that impact so that we are then able to say to those cultural practitioners and to Barbadians that this is what is contributed by culture. We’re hoping by the middle of this year to be able to have the first draft,” she said.
In addition, Munro-Knight said she was inspired to spearhead a study to also measure the extent to which communities such as Oistins gave birth to entrepreneurship through generations, which she said contributed to economic enfranchisement.
Marketing co-ordinator
with the Oistins Festival Organising Committee Marissa Alleyne said they were continuing the theme from last year as it embodied the soul of the festival. She said this year would feature the return of movie night which would add to other events such as Pan Riddim in de Bay and the heritage sunset stroll.
“This year also marks a bold leap in our efforts to showcase Oistins to the world. Through a strategic partnership with the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc., we launched our first-ever social media content creator challenge, inviting influencers to create dynamic content about the festival and our island,” she said.
After the opening ceremony, she said the Barbados Police Service Band would be performing under the theme Beats and Brass.
Alleyne said last year’s festival ended with a financial loss but assured they were taking steps to ensure this did not happen this year, with strategic partnerships and bold initiatives.
Following the speeches, Member of Parliament Ralph Thorne cut the ribbon, officially launching Oistins Festival 2025. (CA)
