THE NATIONAL CULTURAL FOUNDATION
The Central Bank of Barbados
Crop Over Visual Arts Exhibition
DURING THE SEASON OF EMANCIPATION 2024
‘Diffusing Borders in Colour Motion and Form’
A milestone anniversary is always cause to pause and reflect. 50 Years signifies a golden anniversary for Crop Over. The festival falls within our season of emancipation, so this year we wish to reflect on the role that Crop Over has played in our move towards true emancipation. A special celebration is in order which looks back to go forward – Sankofa-, uplifts the present and charts a way forward.
The Barbados of 2024 still battles with concepts of inclusion, acceptance and freedom – the ability to determine our destinies according to our choice. We seek healing modalities for intergenerational trauma, manifesting its self in mental and physical diseases. The schizophrenia of living contrary to our inherent selves in real. This condition is made real through the hybridization of culture. We, the ‘Caribbeans’ have evolved as a means of survival and natural progression. How much of the root culture has been subsumed by an alien culture? How much of the ways of the domineering culture have we assimilated, and no longer read as oppressive but as a way of life. What have we done and continue to do to counter this force?
One of the major aspects of the Crop Over festival is Kadooment day. On this day, in an ‘accepted’ segregated society, we, all races, take part (in some way) in this ritual. This creolized jump up connects us with our ancestral roots regardless of the base of those roots- All members of Barbadian society, African, European, Asian or Indian have ancestor. The history and practice of religion shows that most cultures seek ways to commune with the spiritual world, deities, God/Goddess in whatever form it is construed. All cultures perform rituals.
The revelry of kadooment is part of the ritual. The act of going into trance, reminds us of who we are by stripping us of form, creating one identity in colour and motion.
In reverence, the first border wish to remove is the border to the Ancestral world. This is the role of ritual and so this box is easily ticked.
The next border we wish to address are those that inhibit our mental spaces- those in our minds. This is where true freedom lies, in the regulation of our thoughts and how they manifest in concepts of self and self-identity. In this space of jubilation, we ‘analyze’ ourselves in relation to other. Who is the individual in relation to the whole? We seek to diffuse borders that block our minds from attaining freedom.
Festivals bring out the masses. Crop Over is a National festival and forces us to think on that level. The many events of Crop Over embody a theme of inclusion. All dance on the same floor. We literally are able to taste world culture but somehow spice it up with our own flavours. It helps in diffusing borders across races and creates a platform for the inclusion of all facet of culture.
As we reflect on the changing fashion and costumes over the 50 years we see more and more revelations of flesh, with costumes covering less of our bodies than in previous years. It fuels the debate on body acceptance and body positivity. All sizes are ‘accepted’ on the road. Crop over diffuses borders to our bodies. Size ‘all’ is perfect, all are seen.
We seek to continue on the road to ‘reclaiming our Atlantic destiny’. In this season of emancipation exhibition, we seek to create closer ties with our African brothers and sister through Art. Trade brings us closer to diffusing manmade national borders.
50 years and counting has shown us the core of our common humanity. The festival, generally brings us together as one. Although we may question how long this unity last after the first Monday in August, it is an important part of the unification process. We quite literally see ‘the other’ in the same light or costume as ourselves and on a psychic level this does something to our sense of reality. In a society still very much predicated on if you are ‘X’ you are expected behave in this manner and if you are ‘Y’ you do certain things. Kadooment day challenges us to see outside of the expectations. We all just relax in the good vibes. Maybe, this one annual act endears us to see the common humanity in each other?
Of utmost importance in our reflection is the importance of crop over in diffusing borders to peace. The spirit of Crop Over possesses the island in full for July and August. It is a time to release negative emotions in a positive way. Music, dance, Art, words, drama are our outlets. The energy is felt. Situation of angst and tension are more often than not resolved with compassion and empathy. More people are happier. Crop Over brings joy to some and by extension peace. There may be no quantitative studies on the direct relationship of Crop Over to positivity but we can all attest to a National feeling of joy and jubilation.
