CARIFESTA leaves lasting impact

Though CARIFESTA ended nearly two weeks ago, Barbadians are already voicing hopes that the festival will return to local shores in the near future.

Held under the theme Caribbean Roots, Global Excellence, the August 22 to 31 celebration of arts and culture was embraced by young and old alike, who turned out to enjoy an impressive range of events, including music, dance, visual arts, fashion, and theatre.

Beyond the free concerts, mouth-watering cuisine, and inspiring showcases of vibrant Caribbean culture, many are reflecting on the lasting impression the festival—which is staged every two years by a different host country—has left behind.

Barbados TODAY took to the streets to ask: Has CARIFESTA rekindled your interest in the arts in Barbados and the wider region?

Keith Walcott

Yes. A lot of people sometimes don’t understand what art is all about. Some people feel that art is just a painting on the wall. But art is dancing, it’s poetry, it’s all different kinds of things—where you have the visual arts, the culinary arts, you know. So it made people understand and open their minds and their thoughts about the arts. So it was a very, very good idea.

Robert Maloney

Yes, to me, CARIFESTA has definitely boosted the interest in the arts, and it is a positive initiative. We always needed a hub and an outlet for expression, for more culture on the island and the Caribbean as a whole. So I would say it has definitely been an A-plus. There [were] a couple of hiccups as persons with arts and different crafts [were] getting some problems at the airport, and I feel that this is a matter that should be looked into. If we’re dealing with CARICOM, especially when it comes to arts and crafts and different arts expressions, these things should be allowed free movement amongst the Caribbean Community.

Kendra Coombs

I could say yes, because even for me, the little pieces of what I saw I found really interesting, and I feel like they should do it again, or it should be something done more regularly. I think that some of the people who were in charge of the performers should recruit some more teenagers and get them more into it.

Petra

I think, yes, CARIFESTA has rekindled certain cultures and different aspects in entrepreneurial endeavours, because basically, you see different Caribbean people come together, showcasing what their business is all about, and evolving and inspiring others to get into the field of entrepreneurship. CARIFESTA was a very good deal for basically everything. There was a lot of interesting craft, like a lot of paintings that I saw were very interesting—that take you back in history.

Jeffrey Jordan

Yes, I think so. I would like to see it every two years and to have the young people involved deeper, and show them that it really means something. It was great, the performances were solid. All of it.

Kayla Hinkson

CARIFESTA brought more people to Barbados, and people are more interested in the arts. I liked the performances, and I want them to bring back gospel singer Samuel Medas. It is a must. Two years will be too long. We need CARIFESTA again next year.