Cohobblopot finale set to cap incident-free Crop Over

The National Cultural Foundation is looking to Cohobblopot on Tuesday to close out an incident-free Crop Over festival and set the tone for early planning for 2027.

Chief executive officer Carol Roberts said on Tuesday that once the event at the National Botanical Gardens concludes, the NCF will immediately begin reviewing this year’s festival in preparation for the 2027 season.

But this year’s festival lived up to expectations, she said.

Roberts told Barbados TODAY: “This year’s Crop Over Festival lived true to the elements we said we would be incorporating from early on. The minister would have indicated that Cohobblopot and Party Monarch would be returning. Again, we were able to produce Party Monarch successfully, out of which we had Mikey winning both titles and going on to win Road March yesterday. So, it’s been an epic year for him.”

The foundation has been working “very” closely with private promoters responsible for producing Party Monarch and Cohobblopot and is confident that Cohobblopot will be a fitting climax to this year’s festival, she added.

“In terms of numbers, what I am hearing from private promoters is that the numbers, by and large, have been very healthy; a lot of them reporting increases at their private events.”

Roberts said the foundation went into schools promoting its junior costume programme, resulting in the production of several Junior Kadooment bands from schools and communities that did “very” well when they paraded before the judges.

Roberts also reported three visual arts exhibitions during the Season of Emancipation, which also went “very” well.

She noted that training was conducted for junior calypsonians, and that a rubric for judging senior calypsonians was developed.

New members joined the National Youth Steel Orchestra following training in schools, which headlined the Pandamonium steelband concert, she said.

“And then, of course, we commissioned six large costumes which debuted at the opening gala; they were on the road yesterday for Grand Kadoomkent and they are going to be lit up magnificently as we culminate with Cohobblopot,” Roberts added.

The chief executive expressed gratitude to residents for helping to keep the festival largely incident-free so far.

“We have one more event to go, and my fingers are crossed; and I hope that we will continue to comport ourselves in a manner that will allow us to have a great old time, but also be responsible for ourselves and for each other.”

She disclosed that the NCF will meet with all involved parties from as early as next week to review this year’s festival and begin planning for the 2027 season.

“As you move around from event to event, people make comments, people make recommendations; and then of course, we immediately meet with all the stakeholder groups after the fesrtival; probably as early as next week, and to begin to get their thoughts and their ideas and their recommendations and to put it into a format then, to send up to the powers that be approval.”

She expressed gratitude to all partners who contributed to the success of the festival, including critics.

“It is the criticism that will keep you on your toes and ensure that the festival is always fresh. We are not the only festival in this part of the region, furthermore the world; so we constantly have to be refreshing and ensure that, first and foremost, that the festival is endorsed by our compatriots; and then secondly, that we have a product to sell to the world. That’s always a delicate balancing act.”

She said the foundation is committed to ensuring that the authentic elements of Bajan culture remain alive and well, while incorporating innovation that appeals to locals and visitors.

The CEO noted that while private partners will have their own approach to the festival and conduct their own reviews, all involved share a commitment to making Crop Over the best it can be. (EJ)