Masquerading traditions secure as Junior Kadooment has record band numbers

Barbados TODAY as a record 27 bands paraded in front of judges at the Sunshine Snacks Junior Kadooment 2023 on Saturday, she lauded the work being done by bandleaders and schools to keep the indigenous culture of Barbados alive. “It’s just wonderful to see the little children outside, to see the work of the teachers, the parents, the principals, the band leaders and designers and their teams. It’s just amazing. We have a record number of bands this year, and dear to my heart would have been the opening presentation- the tribute to the Barbados Landship, where 200 little children from schools all across the island, through six months of work, would have been trained in the performing arts and visual arts, including costume development,” she said. [caption id="attachment_393644" align="alignnone" width="650"] Chief Executive Officer of the National Cultural Foundation Carol Roberts-Reifer.[/caption] The program is piloted by the NCF, the Barbados Landship Association and the Ministries of Education and Culture and, according to Roberts-Reifer, is the precursor of a sustained Landship in Schools programme. “It also shows our commitment, not just the NCF, but our national commitment to preserving the authenticity of our masquerade. Party bands have their place. Oh, absolutely they do, but the underpinning of what is authentic and indigenous to Barbados masquerade is also important, and where else can you inculcate that and nurture it than in the primary and secondary schools and communities,” she stressed. And that authenticity was on full display throughout the event, which returned to the Crop Over Calendar for the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019. The 30-minute delay to the scheduled 9 a.m. start had no impact on the close to 3,500 boys and girls crossing the stage between the National Botanical Gardens and the National Stadium as they aptly showed off their energy throughout the lengthy parade, which saw the last band wave goodbye to the judges just minutes before 4 p.m. Creativity and imagination ruled throughout the presentations from the bandleaders and designers of the bands from schools and community groups. The blazing sun aptly showcased the dazzling kaleidoscope of colours across the assembled juniors, with themes ranging from the impact of climate change to the whimsical storytelling of well-known fairy tales to  scenes of traditional Barbados. NCF Chairman Dr Jasmine Babb was very pleased with the turnout, saying, “It is good to have the traditions of the masquerade starting from young.” Noting that Crop-Over was in full swing, she added that the record numbers for the juniors’ festival set the stage for a massive Grand Kadooment. “Everyone wants to get out and enjoy, and we have Pandemonium tomorrow, which is always well-attended, and we have Junior Monarch tonight. So I am asking everyone to come out, have a good time and be safe,” she said. After the parade, patrons headed to the Party Zone to enjoy live performances from Thierry, Raanan, Keresa, Cherish, Yahandje, Reniece, Quon, RPB and LeadPipe and Saddis, where the children participated in various activities and rides. jeniquebelgrave@barbadostoday.bb  ]]>