National Anthem of Barbados

Lyrics

In plenty and in time of need

When this fair land was young
Our brave forefathers sowed the seed
From which our pride is sprung
A pride that makes no wanton boast
Of what it has withstood
That binds our hearts from coast to coast
The pride of nationhood
Chorus
We loyal sons and daughters all
Do hereby make it known
These fields and hills beyond recall
Are now our very own
We write our names on history's page
With expectations great
Strict guardians of our heritage
Firm craftsmen of our fate
The Lord has been the people's guide
For past three hundred years
With him still on the people's side
We have no doubts or fears
Upward and onward we shall go
Inspired, exulting, free
And greater will our nation grow
In strength and unity

Lyrics by: Irving Burgie

Barbados Flag
The National Flag of Barbados
is composed of three vertical
panels - the outer panels of
ultramarine and the centre
panel of gold. A broken trident
in black is the centre of the flag.
The British standard colour
code numbers for the colours
of the flag are as follows Ultramarine -- BCC148, Gold -BS0/002. The flag is designed in
the proportion 3:2. The
description of the flag - Blue for
the sea and sky of Barbados;
Gold for the sand of its
beaches.

Barbadian dollar

Festival history
The Crop Over summer festival is Barbados' most popular and colourful festival. Its origins can be traced
back to the 1780's, a time when Barbados was the world's largest producer of sugar.
At the end of the sugar season, there was always a huge celebration to mark the culmination of another
successful sugar cane harvest - the Crop Over celebration.
As the sugar industry in Barbados declined, so too did the Crop Over festival and in the 1940's the
festival was terminated completely. However, the festival was revived in 1974 and other elements of
Barbadian culture were infused to create the extravaganza that exists today ..... an event that attracts
thousands of people from across the globe.
Crop Over events & activities

The festival begins with the Opening Gala and Ceremonial Delivery of the Last Canes and the crowning
of the King and Queen of the Festival - the most productive male and female cane cutters of the season.
Bridgetown Market consists of many stalls selling food and beverages as well as local arts and crafts.
Enjoy the calypso and soca music and the live entertainment as you browse through the stalls.
Cohobblopot is a huge carnival-like show with members of the Kadooment bands displaying their
elaborate and stunning costumes. There is also a huge entertainment package with the most popular
calypsonians and bands performing to packed audiences.
The children are not left out as they can participate in the Kiddies Kadooment, donning beautiful
costumes and joining their friends in a band to parade before the judges of the competition.
Folk concerts and art & photographic exhibitions are integral parts of the festival, highlighting
Barbadian history and culture as well as the artistic talents of Bajans.

Calypso is one of the main features of the Crop Over festival. The calypsonians are organised into
"tents" and these tents are sponsored by Barbados businesses. Calypsonians compete for several prizes
and titles, including Party Monarch, Sweet Soca Monarch, Road March Monarch and Pic-O-De-Crop
Monarch. The Party Monarch and more recently the Sweet Soca competition are among the festival's
most popular events! The final of the Pic-O-De-Crop competition is held at Kensington Oval, and this is
followed by the Fore-Day Morning Jump-Up!

The finale of the festival is the Grand Kadooment! This carnival parade features large bands with
members dressed in elaborate costumes to depict various themes. Designers compete for the coveted
Designer of the Year prize while the revelers seem more intent on having a good time! The revelers
make their way to Spring Garden accompanied by the pulsating rhythm of calypso music. When they
reach Spring Garden, the party continues with more fantastic music, lots of food and drink and, for
some, a quick swim at the nearby beach.
oca/Calypso music the predominate type of music in Barbados, therefore this section will consist of
information about Soca/Calypso entertainers.
indivudual band pages include:
WHAT IS CALYPSO?
Calypso is a form of folk music which originated in Trinidad and spread rapidly throughout the West
Indies. Calypso is known to have existed in Trinidad as early as the 18th century. However, Calypso really
began to flourish in the early 1900s. The music originated amongst Trinidad's large population of former
slaves. Its complex, syncopated rhythm clearly reflects traditional African rhythms. The lyrics of the
earliest Calypsoes were sung in Patois (broken French), a remnant of the early French colonization of
Trinidad. However, subsequently, when the British took over, the primary language of Calypso music
became English. Since its earliest days, Calypso has been a music of social and political commentary. Its
lyrics reflect the popular issues of the day--many of which are timeless human issues, such as love,
greed, oppression and the like. In recent times--especially for those residing outside the West Indies-Calypso has been widely associated with the pre-lenten Carnival celebrations and tropical vacations.
WHAT IS SOCA?
Soca is party music which originally emerged as a fusion of Indian and African rhythms. The word was
formed by the combination of the last two letters of the world Calypso with the first two letters and
called it "Soca". However, because Soca has been heavily influenced by American soul music in recent
years, there have been many misunderstandings about its name. Many people now mistakenly believe
the word Soca originated from a fusion of Soul and Calypso. Soca has emerged as the modern "Calypso"
and today very few artists record only traditional Calypso music. Almost all of the newer music
incorporates at least some of the Soca rhythms and flavors.