Understanding the value of our beloved Crop Over Festival and why it matters more now than ever

Grand Kadooment?is the?grande finale, scheduled on the?first Monday of August each year. This parade features large bands with members dressed in elaborate costumes to depict various themes.?

Source: Barbados Barbados (2022)

The significance of carnivals and festival celebrations have always held varying benefits among people, and Barbados’ Crop Over festival is no different. For many it is about the intangible cultural engagement and preservation of heritage; for the economy it is about job generation, cultural tourism marketing, foreign exchange earnings and wealth creation; and perhaps the most striking benefit is the role it plays in promoting social integration and the collective joy and euphoric experience shared amongst people from all walks of life.

Worldwide Cancellation of Carnivals and Events

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered the postponement and cancellation of global events such as the Olympic games, cultural festivals, concerts and conferences. The ongoing uncertainty and risks surrounding the crisis sent key stakeholders, event organizers and hosts, into a tailspin as the production and consumption patterns of entertainment began to shift. Adopting new and innovative delivery models such as going entirely virtual or a hybrid of virtual and in-person, seemed like the best solutions. But how were these digital technologies going to replace the in-person collective celebrations that many revelers eagerly looked forward to each year? Though many carnivals provided live-streamed performances and concerts, the announcement of the enforced cancellation of carnivals and of course Crop Over, was a sobering disappointment to many would-be revelers for two years in a row.

The Orange Economy?

Crop Over offers a distinct cultural and social platform that has and continues to gain significance, generating opportunities and an influx of economic activity for various sectors within the economy. The festival is a major contributor to the Orange Economy, also known as the Creative economy, “whose main purpose is the production, reproduction, promotion, dissemination and/or the marketing of goods, services and activities that have cultural, artistic or patrimonial content” according to UNESCO?(2019). Data from the Inter-American Development Bank?(IDB 2017)?indicates that in 2015, the orange economy in Latin America and the Caribbean, sustained a number of jobs comparable to that generated by the entire economy of Costa Rica or Uruguay, making it a pillar for economic diversification and development. Each year the Crop Over season proves to be an extremely lucrative period for a number of creative skills-based services, thereby creating income earning opportunities for musicians, singers, song writers, DJs, choreographers, dancers, kadooment bands, costume designers and make-up artists, to name a few. However, the cancelation of the festival for two consecutive years, served as a devastating blow to the entire creative sector, that is heavily dependent on the season for generating revenue.??

The??Crop Over Economy

Crop Over is without a doubt an essential asset and a catalyst for economic growth and development within the local economy. It is a cultural good that enhances the life and well-being of Barbadian residents and provides benefits to communities, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), corporate organizations and government?(Guanah , et al. 2020). MSMEs make up the backbone of our economy and along with the creative economy, were also hard hit by the inevitable economic consequences of two Crop Over free years. According to Lisa Harding, Coordinator, MSME Development at the Caribbean Development Bank?(CDB 2021), MSMEs represent between 70-85 percent of Caribbean businesses and contribute between 60-70 percent of Gross Domestic Product. Critically, they account for an estimated 50 percent of total employment and are able to create a multiplier effect where businesses spend some of their income on goods and services from their suppliers and other businesses, and by extension employees also spend their wages on goods and services within the economy. This multiplier effect can lead to the creation of jobs and entrepreneurship opportunities, which help to stimulate the economy and engender sustainable economic growth. It also creates a channel for government to collect extra tax revenue from permits, COSCAP fees, hotel and airport taxes, which can be used to finance??improvements to public amenities, infrastructure, schools, and housing to name a few.

The?tuk band?is a truly indigenous form of entertainment, the roots of which lie in West African music brought over by slaves in the 1600s.

Source: The Culture Trip (2022)

Chief executive officer of the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) Carol Roberts-Reifer views the art at the Central Bank of Barbados Visual Arts Exhibition with Minister Dr Shantal Munro-Knight, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office with responsibility for Culture.

Source: Loop News Barbados

The Crop Over Visual Arts Exhibition is?the premier art of the festival. It is now held in three galleries since it first started over 30 years ago.?

Source: The Nation Barbados

Cultural Tourism Product

Crop over is not only a cultural good but it is also a tourism product that has been utilized as a vector to attract tourists through destination marketing tools. Tools that offer the advantage of attracting first-time and repeat visitors. It adds value and a unique appeal to Barbados as a tourism destination, while driving the preservation of our heritage and local traditions. Culturally linked events, visual and performing arts, attractions and activities offer experiences that can both be educational and entertaining for visitors. The influx of travelers also offers a boost to the economy, as there is an increase demand for accommodation, specialty foods, entertainment, retail shopping, guided tours and??transportation. Crop Over has therefore proven to be a viable component of Barbados’ tourism offer and it plays a key role in enhancing the festival experience of visitors.

The Social Aspect

Crop Over has become a truly symbolic festival that is intricately woven into the very fabric of Barbados’ heritage, with the ability to provide a social and psychological outlet through a diverse range of events. Besides providing diverse sensory stimulation from the displays of pageantry, vibrant costumes, mouthwatering smells of local dishes or groundbreaking bass from sound systems playing sweet soca music, Crop Over is a truly unifying spectacle of culture. It appeals to people across generations, various socio-economic backgrounds, distinct cultural taste, and offers the opportunity to bring them together for a collective experience. People who may not meet otherwise or believe they have anything in common?(UKRI 2021). Social interactions generated at events can create a sense of belonging and foster life-long relationships and life-changing memories.

Having originated from Trinidad,?Barbados now has many of its own steel bands and some schools have added steel pan bands to their curriculum.?The sound of a full steel band is unlike any other musical experience and it conjures?up the laid back Caribbean lifestyle perfectly.

Source: Tropic Breeze Ltd. (2021)

Measuring the Cultural Value

We’ve acknowledged the economic significance of our Crop Over festival and the positive contribution it makes to Barbados’ growth and development, but how do we begin to evaluate the importance of cultural engagement? It is difficult to capture the intangible value of the energy, excitement, and euphoria associated with our symbolic festival. Assessing and measuring its distinct value could be the key to unlocking its full potential, particularly in a post-pandemic world. After back-to-back cancellations, we can appreciate the need to observe and fully understand the immaterial impact.

Why It Matters More Now Than Ever

The pandemic has undoubtedly exposed our pre-existing weaknesses and vulnerabilities?—?high indebtedness, lack of economic diversity?—?and it has also made us aware of the urgent need to build a more resilient economy. Following two cancelled Crop Over festivals, we are now presented with the opportunity to hit the reset button and explore ways in which we can unleash its full potential. Though this year may be a scaled down version to what we are accustomed due to ongoing health concerns surrounding the pandemic, it is critical that its importance is not overlooked in the context of destination competitiveness. This is a major issue for small islands like Barbados who are price uncompetitive and as a result, lose ground in the global tourism market?(Craigwell 2007). Crop Over increases our visibility, which at the end of the day, contributes to our economy. Following prior years of unsustainable debt and then two years grappling with the economic fallout brought on by the pandemic, our economy is in desperate need of a boost. Though more extensive research and analysis can be conducted to get a true sense of the economic impact of Crop Over, it is widely accepted that this impact is indeed positive.?

According to the legendary Greek philosopher Aristotle, human beings are inherently “social animals”, and two years spent mostly in solitude and isolation, has adversely affected their mental health and physical well-being.?Several studies conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic indicated that social interactions?play an important role in promoting resilience and momentary well-being.?There is profound symbolic value in the opportunity to experience something together as communities.?Beatriz Garcia?(2021),?Associate Director, Centre for Cultural Value, University of Liverpool?says that “festivals offer such a platform by condensing our exposure to cultural activities over a specific time and place. This means that festival participants must be there (present) and engage in culture simultaneously with others”. This, in turn results?in meaningful?experiences and?often life-defining shared memories?that creates lasting ties between participants and the festival.?Memories and experiences we need now more than ever.

References

CDB. 2021. "MSME sector’s big impact on economies."?Caribbean Development Bank.?February 04. https://www.caribank.org/newsroom/news-and-events/msme-sectors-big-impact-economies.

Craigwell, Roland. 2007. "Working Paper: Tourism Competitiveness in Small Island Developing States."?United Nations University - World Institute for Development Economics Research.?April. https://www.wider.unu.edu/publication/tourism-competitiveness-small-island-developing-states.

Guanah , Jammy Seigha , Eseovwe Emakunu, Loveth Okowa-Nwaebi , and Stella Omedomero Egbra . 2020. "Carnivals as Catalyst for Economic Development: Strategic Role of Newspapers."?International Journal of Humanitatis Theoreticus.?December. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/349086717_Carnivals_as_Catalyst_for_Economic_Development_Strategic_Role_of_Newspapers.

IDB. 2017. "Orange Economy; Innovations you may not know were from Latin America and the Caribbean."?Inter-American Development Bank.?July 13. https://publications.iadb.org/publications/english/document/Orange-Economy-Innovations-you-may-not-know-were-from-Latin-America-and-the-Caribbean.pdf.

UKRI. 2021. "Why festivals and special events matter now more than ever."?UK Research and Innovation.?August 2. https://www.ukri.org/blog/why-festivals-and-special-events-matter-now-more-than-ever/.

UNESCO. 2019. "What do we Mean by the Cultural and Creative Industries?"?United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization.?March 7. https://en.unesco.org/creativity/sites/creativity/files/digital-library/What%20Do%20We%20Mean%20by%20CCI.PDF.