Veteran bandleader Betty West has issued another stark warning that heritage bands are fighting for survival amid dwindling sponsorship, plummeting local participation and the rise of “bikini-and-beads” bands.
With judging this year restricted exclusively to heritage bands, in keeping with an agreement between the National Cultural Foundation and the Barbados Association of Masqueraders, West walked away with the top honours.
However, the 81-year-old icon, now in her 34th year of Kadooment, admitted this year was among her most challenging.
“It was a lack of sponsorship and whatnot… But after the hard work, I was really, really overwhelmed by the success,” she told Barbados TODAY.
“Hardly any [locals wanted to jump]…. [A majority of] my people were from overseas. This is the first time in history I see Barbadians not wanting to participate in Kadooment.”
West expressed concern that there was not a lot of support for heritage bands, warning that their presence in Grand Kadooment is “deteriorating” due to declining sponsorship and waning public interest.
She believes the growth of party bands and the “oversaturation” of Crop Over events are undermining the viability of traditional portrayals.
“For the last two or three years, my band has been lacking sponsorship,” West said. “I think because of the party bands…. They want sales and promotion… and then I guess, too, everybody thinks Betty was in it for a long time. But Betty will be here until God says ‘stop, Betty’.”
She walked away with the George Dear Award for Best Band on the Road; Robert Weekes Award for Best Festival Designer for her portrayal, Journey of Excellence; Best Presentation (Heritage); Best Individual (Female) – Heritage – a category in which fellow band member Patricia Moore placed third; the Winston Jordan Award for Best Flag Person courtesy of the ever-energetic Shanice Husbands; and first place in the HIV/AIDS Awareness category with Stop the Stigma.
West argued that the heritage bands, often overshadowed by bikini-and-beads bands, deserve far more respect and visibility, especially as they attract overseas visitors seeking cultural depth.
The bandleader expressed concern about shifting trends in costume design and road culture, pointing out that the level of nudity was worrisome.
“…. We have a lot of nudity now on the street. And I think a lot of young people are going towards that,” she said, lobbying for the return of the King and Queen of the Bands Parade, which has long disappeared from the festival calendar.
“They should do something where if anybody is not coming with a band, they’re entitled to bring a king and queen… to build it up again.”
Through storytelling, cultural symbolism and creativity, heritage bands anchor the celebration in tradition, reminding revellers of the festival’s roots amid the dominance of party-focused groups.
Returning bandleader Quincy Jones of Zenobia Mas attempted to bridge the past and present with his band’s theme, Down to the Gardens.
“We try to mix modern with tradition,” Jones said, referencing the modern-day popularity of garden parties and linking them to the historical harvest-time gatherings of old Barbados.
“We just joined the tradition with modernity and recognised that you can do both. But once you do more structure and more planning, we are good to go.”
Jones, a prospective Democratic Labour Party candidate in the next general election, spoke to the festival’s legacy: “I still have that tradition in me and I want to bring it back, but with a little bit more modern.”
He had a stellar showing this year, taking second place on the road with Down to the Gardens, which also won Large Band of the Year (Heritage). Sharika Bennett’s Going Fah Gold earned her second place in the Best Female Individual (Heritage) category. In the male individual segment, Rashad Goring impressed with Blessing of the Canes, winning the award for Best Individual (Female) – Heritage.
Bandleader Kevin Small of Fifth Element Mas took a deeply reflective route with this year’s portrayal, Ancestors Cry, a five-section band honouring African deities and the messages passed down through ancestral knowledge.
“It’s a theme that I’ve been sitting on for a minute…. Obatala, Shango, speaking to ancestors and how they speak to us and things that they are crying out about,” Small explained. “How we need to fix our Barbados and take care of it, because it’s ours to keep.”
Despite the emotional and physical demands, Small said the decision to push ahead this year was made easier with the support of family and a loyal team.
“Some days I’m like, I don’t know why we decided to make this, it can be tough… but they’re like, ‘No Kevin, we’re doing this, we’re getting there’.”
The heritage element, he insists, is essential to the identity of Kadooment.
“I think that they’re quite relevant to tell stories of Barbados and things that made Barbados what it is. This is another form of storytelling, but in an artistic manner.”
Jason Thompson, leader of the heritage band Soca Spirits and the party band Hijack, developed an intricate portrayal themed History Stage, inspired by We Gatherin’ 2025. His band turned the flag bearer into a symbolic time traveller.
“We asked ourselves, ‘when was the first gathering?’ The first gathering here was with the Amerindians. And we showcased the Amerindians,” he said.
“We showcased colonisation… then we had the African phase with the rebellions…. And then finally, through that rebellion phase with the Africans, we stand tall as an independent nation today. And our final section was our independent section: Craftsmen of our Faith.”
But even with meaningful stories and striking visuals, Thompson noted a worrying trend: low masquerader turnout.
“This year was a very difficult year in terms of masqueraders. I’m not sure why. If it was multiple events, I’m not sure. But in terms of getting masqueraders out this year, it was definitely a challenge,” he admitted.
He suggested formal surveys to understand what’s deterring people: “Let’s get what they want in place…. Everybody’s complaining the sun is hot, but the sun was always hot.”
This year, there were no winners in several categories, including BMA Brands of Barbados Awards, and Small Band of the Year (Heritage).
However, an official statement by the judges noted: “Competing costume bands must present a minimum of 150 members to qualify for prizes in the Grand Kadooment competition. The number of revellers tallied per band at the second designated judging point was the final count used to determine qualification for the competition. Some bands that presented well-constructed costumes, subsequently failed to qualify for prizes as per rule 3.4 of the 2025 Grand Kadooment competition.”
sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb
The post Heritage bands under threat appeared first on Barbados Today.
