2. OUR PEOPLE
July 01, 2015 Page 16
For the first time in eight years,
Grand Kadooment, the always-much-
anticipated finale of the annual Crop Over
Festival, will have a sponsor.
Producer of the colourful costume band
parade, Adisa Aja Andwele, revealed
today at its official launch, that Republic
Bank had committed to sponsorship for
the next three years.
“Grand Kadooment is the biggest event
for Crop Over. It’s the signature event
for (the) international press…. Grand
Kadooment sells Crop Over. I’m really
pleased that the Republic Bank is on
board,” Aja said.
“We are hoping over the next three
years (that) we can shift some of the
attention back to the Stadium. … I am
excited to see how it evolves with the
Republic Bank on board,” he added.
Aja revealed that there will be 24 bands
on the road this year, two more than last
year, comprising an estimated total of 10
000 revelers.
“There is an excitement to Crop Over
which I have never seen before,” he said.
Following the official launch of
Kadooment, being dubbed “the jewel
in the crown” of Crop Over, a group of
costumed revelers paraded along the
street from the Broad Street branch of
Republic Bank to the sister Fairchild
Street branch a short distance away.
The spectacle was meant to give
shoppers and other onlookers a glimpse
of what they can expect on August 2.
(DB)
MINI KADOOMENT
SA
AN
Manager of Administration and Acting CEO of NCF Wayne Webster
(right), sealing the deal with General Manager of Retail Banking at
Republic Bank. Manager of Marketing and Corporate Communications
Debbie Stoute look on.
Producer of Grand Kadooment Aja chipping
up broad street with revellers.
Members of Republic Bank and NCF celebrating the partnership.
It was a mini carnival today on Broad Street.
Blood was in fine voice at Sand Sea & Soca.
8. OUR PEOPLE
July 01, 2015 Page 22
Jah Stone was the stand-out performer
as the Tornadoes Calypso Tent made their
case before the Pic-O-De-Crop judges
on Saturday at the Roy Byer Centre at
Waterford, St Michael.
The veteran calypsonian whose forte has
always been his phrasing and confident
delivery, impressed in the first half with
Kaiso In A Coma, which knocked the
influence of other genres on the calypso
art-form. In essence, Jah Stone simply
believed that calypso had its own identity
and should not be bastardised.
He was equally potent in the second
half with the melodic One For Cecil Ward
which paid tribute to the Barbadian’s
impact on pan music in the island.
Stone could feel justly satisfied with
his night’s work.
Though making his Pic-O-De-Crop
debut, Shirley Stewart is no stranger to
the stage and he was pure class in the
first half with Change. He sang that if
Barbadians wanted to survive they needed
change in several areas. It was a clever
pun on “change” where he brought out
both the monetary element as well as the
necessity for a different path. The song
was also very melodic.
His second selection I Am Bajan was
again very strong on melody but somewhat
inadequate lyrically. One just got the feeling
that it was short on lyrics in emphasizing
the point, or importance for that matter,
of the song’s title. But he generally had a
good night and his overall rendition was
among the best on show.
OB had the fans present paying rapt
attention to his No, Sir which posed
the question: Is this what we voted for?
He then went through a litany of woes
associated with political governance,
mostly directed at those he termed
Deceitful Lied People. He received an
encore for his efforts. Together with his first
half offering Lock Dem Up, his was a night
well spent.
Gregory G was positive in the second
half with I Love Young People which was
a timely reminder that not all of our youth
are thugs and miscreants. His other song
was We Believe. He was one of the few
in the first half whose big booming voice
transcended some of the sound issues
which others had with the system, but
which were corrected significantly in the
second half.
Apollo has great promise and both his
performances of and Utility BillI Want A
Degree were testimony to this. His latter
was especially impressive and rendered
with excellent clarity. He suggested that the
opportunities afforded so many to rise from
their circumstances through a university
degree should not be taken from those of
this generation.
Blank excited the fans with Magic
Moments in the first half and though he
did not reach that height in the second
half with One Song, his potential was
unquestionably apparent.
Veteran Jadu, with his distinctive voice,
offered Government Jobs and Third Party
to the judges, while newcomer Princess
Jan got her feet wet with She KnewLeave
Rihanna Alone and showed
definite potential.
Also making guest appearances
were Tall Boy, Vince and the
inimitable Cutloose.
Emcee was Harvey “Pop” Daniel and
musical accompaniment was provided by
the Up and On Band.
(WG)
TORNADOES
TOUCH DOWN
Apollo singing I Want A Degree.
Jadu putting a case for
a Third Party.
Jah Stone was the star of the night.
OB had some lashes for governance
in Barbados.
Shirley Stewart was impressive
with Change.
