The 50 th anniversary of Crop Over was officially launched on Saturday with the Digicel
Ceremonial Delivery of the Last Canes. Taking place in the heart of the city, the hive of activities
spanned between Golden Square, Heroes Square, and Independence Square. Geared towards the
entire family, early morning activities included a marketplace which featured local artisans.
Patrons enjoyed cultural displays, such as a stick licking presentation and live demonstrations of
caricature drawing, drum stringing, live painting, and traditional basketry.
A major highlight of the day was the street parade which included the major characters of
Barbadian folklore. Fittingly, there were representations of the historic Barbados Landship. The
cultural extravaganza created a carnival-like atmosphere. The festive procession drew the
attention of curious onlookers, featuring a reimagined interpretation of the traditional Mother
Sally, designed by the famed local designer Pauline Bellamy. Starting at Pelican Village, the
cavalcade traversed the streets of Bridgetown before ending at Heroes Square.
The formal ceremony began with the Sons of God Apostolic Church’s blessing of the last canes,
followed by welcome remarks from Dr. Jasmine Babb, Chairman of the National Cultural
Foundation. Additional remarks were made by Natalie Abrahams, Chief Executive Officer of
Digicel Barbados. Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley delivered the feature address.
Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley delivering the feature address.
During the ceremony, the Most Outstanding Sugar Workers for the season were presented with
their handcrafted awards. Twelve stalwarts of the festival were also honored for their unique
contributions, receiving personalized awards crafted by a selections of the island’s premier visual
artists.
The evening climaxed with a musical production which featured a lineup that crossed
generations. The extensive lineup of artistes performed music that will forever remain in the
annals of history. Some members of the cast had the honor of performing their own memorable
hits. Lil Rick sang Hard Wine, the song that catapulted him on to the local soca scene. Red
Plastic Bag entertained with Ragga Ragga, a megahit that saw him touring worldwide. Krosfyah
fans were thrilled with the inclusion of Edwin Yearwood with his iconic Pump Me Up.
Upcoming soca stars shared in the limelight. They had the chance to perform material that was
popular well before they themselves had ventured into the entertainment arena. Every
performance transported the excited audience back to a different moment in time. Among the
many memorable performances were Alan Sheppard with In De Congaline, Sharkey with
Carew’s Snakes and Reckon Drums with Grandmaster’s Hand on Ya Bumper. When the show
closed three hours later attendees were left eager to see what the rest of the season holds.
During the ceremony, the Most Outstanding Sugar Workers for the season were presented with
their handcrafted awards. Twelve stalwarts of the festival were also honored for their unique
contributions, receiving personalized awards crafted by a selections of the island’s premier visual
artists. ( PICTURED BELOW )
