JAMMIN’ JUMPIN’

‘Bigger, better’ Foreday Morning jump-up vowed

By Sheria Brathwaite

As the climax of the ‘sweetest summer festival’ approaches, bandleaders predict a significantly larger turnout for the Foreday Morning jump on Saturday compared to last year, as the nation continues to emerge from a three-year-long pandemic.

The mas’ leaders also sounded upbeat notes for the Grand Kadooment pageant of colour, costumes and characters come Monday, suggesting a more welcome infection – a “trickling down” of enthusiastic support from one event to the next.

Last year was the first year after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted and would-be masqueraders were hesitant to come out, said Jason Thompson, President of the Barbados Association of Masqueraders. “But I’m telling everybody this year, this is the real year. People out, people partying people like, yeah, … it’s time to get out there, the fetes are full and it is trickling down to the bands. The energy is good. It’s way better than last year.”

Thompson said the high degree of patronage at fetes is also contributing to high enthusiasm for Grand Kadooment and Foreday Morning. Logistics and preparations are “running seamlessly” so far, he added.

His band, Hijack, has 400 registered revellers, a 30-40 per cent increase in overseas visitors, he said. An anime theme has been popular, with the Naruto section selling out fast.

“I’m looking forward to having a nice, long jump on the road working well. The police have ensured that all of the information has been brought to them. They know the hotspot areas, things to look out for in terms of dealing with crime. I believe that Crop Over 2023 in terms of Foreday Morning and Grand Kadooment is gonna be a really, really good year.”

At her Maxwell Coast Road, Christ Church band house, veteran bandleader Betty West said she faced supply challenges but support from “good friends and young people” would ensure success. Honouring soca legends like Mighty Gabby and Lil Rick, her ‘I’z a Bajan’ tribute to Lil Rick sold out first. West added that she was going to start preparing for Grand Kadooment 2024 as early as October so she could market her offerings better.

She told Barbados TODAY: “This year has been a challenge, a lot of the materials I had to get I couldn’t get them here in Barbados, so I had to deal with late shipments. But with the help of good friends and young people who are interested in the mass I was able to make it.

“However, I’m looking forward to a very, very good Crop Over and by Saturday everything will be out of here. With the theme this year I am honouring some of our greatest soca artistes, seven of them. The Mighty Gabby, Alison Hinds, Blood, Mikey, The Mighty Grynner and Lil Rick.”

Bandleader Kevin Small called the response to his band, Fifth Element, “very exciting”. His Resilience theme and Struggle section are bestsellers. He expects 150-200 masqueraders, with a strong international presence.

“Come [Kadooment] Monday, you can look forward to seeing a mix of traditional mass, definitely some modern mass in there as well and some interesting fusions that I definitely would have spent some time trying to create to really bring something a little different each time,” he said.

Despite early hurdles, bandleaders are upbeat about showcasing excellent costumes and high energy for Grand Kadooment 2023. “Come next Monday, you can look forward to seeing a mix of traditional and modern mass,” said Small.

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb