NCF celebrates Barbados’ 60th Anniversary with a magazine of Festivals.

The National Cultural Foundation (NCF) has launched its 2026 edition of its BANJA magazine in celebration of Barbados’ 60th Anniversary of Independence, offering readers a vibrant journey through the festivals that have shaped the nation’s cultural identity over the past six decades.

The 60-page publication, subtitled Sweet 60: Six Decades of Festivals, is an interactive digital flipbook that explores the evolution of Barbados’ festivals through photographs, historical featurettes, and cultural references. It is available for public viewing at www.ncf.bb.

The original BANJA magazine, first published by the NCF in the late 1980s and early 1990s, became a landmark publication in Barbados’ cultural landscape. Conceived by the Foundation’s first Director, Elombe Mottley, it provided a platform for artists, writers and cultural practitioners whose work was often overlooked by mainstream media, celebrating the richness and diversity of Barbadian creative expression.

Chief Executive Officer of the NCF, Carol A.M. Roberts, said the publication reflects both the nation’s cultural journey and its continuing evolution.

“As we celebrate 60 years of Independence, this publication reminds us that the evolution of our festivals mirrors the evolution of our nation itself.

“Our festivals tell the story of a society that has never been culturally homogeneous. Alongside the festivals that have become national institutions are celebrations rooted in the religious and spiritual traditions of our diverse communities. Holi and Phagwah, Ramadan and Eid, Rastafari commemorations, Kwanzaa and numerous Christian observances, each contribute to the rich tapestry of Barbadian cultural life.

“Their increasing visibility in the national landscape reflects a modern Barbados that continues to embrace diversity, promote inclusion and recognise that the many cultural traditions represented here strengthen our collective identity.”

Editor of the publication, Roxanne Brancker, acknowledged the challenge of documenting six decades of festivals within a single volume.

“While it was impossible to include every festival that deserves recognition, we sought to capture as many as possible through photographs, short features and references in the glossary.”

She added that the publication is intended to inspire readers to reflect on the vibrant traditions that continue to define Barbados and its people.

Prime Minister The Honourable Mia Amor Mottley, S.C., M.P. commended the NCF on the publication, encouraging readers to look beyond its colourful pages.

“Let us see courage: the courage of artists in the 1970s and 1980s who pushed back against colonial identity; the visionaries who opened Barbados to Africa, the Caribbean and the world; and the young creators now carrying Bajan excellence into new spaces.”

She added that the publication invites readers to protect that cultural inheritance and continue creating space for every Barbadian voice to be heard, respected and celebrated.

Produced and managed by the Research Desk at the NCF, the Sweet 60: Six Decades of Festivals issue of the revived Banja magazine stands as both a tribute to Barbados’ cultural heritage and a celebration of the festivals, traditions and communities that continue to shape the nation’s identity.

The digital publication is available free of charge at www.ncf.bb. Limited printed copies will be made available to libraries as well as cultural and research institutions.

For further information, contact Research Officer Michelle Springer at michelle-springer@ncfbarbados.org or 4176628.