- The Power By Four Band Costumes 2010 - Bajan Fuh Life
On the first Monday of August each year, Barbadians and visitors converge to partake and witness a wonderful spectacle called Grand Kadooment. Also known as Kadooment, it is the grand finale of the Crop Over Festival which officially begins with an Opening Gala. Many elements come together to make Grand Kadooment Day a spectacular event.
Costume and Tee-Shirt Bands
Grand Kadooment is filled with excitement and colour. This colour comes from the the thousands of costumes conceptualized by creative designers. Sequins, beads and feathers adorn swimsuits and headpieces for the ladies and shorts and west coats for the men. Costumes vary from the vary daring and flesh baring two piece outfit to the more demure tee-shirts.
Some of the more popular bands like Power By Four and Baje International are usually sold out within days of their opening. Power By Four is usually the biggest band on the road with over fifteen hundred revellers. Other bands like Contact, Berger Boyz and Radikal have grown in popularity over the past few years.
The National Stadium and Judging
The National Stadium is where it all begins on Kadooment Day. Bands go through the National Stadium ad parade before spectators and judges with the current year's calypso music blaring from large spakers. The bands are judged on originality, colour, best concept and biggest band to name a few of the categories.
There is usually a long wait at the Stadium and the parade, which usually begins at nine in the morning, is not completed until one in the afternoon. Historically, Kadooment Day is a blistering hot day with a sprinkling of rain to keep the revellers cool.
The Jump-Up to Spring Garden
After parading in front of the judges, the revellers then make their way out onto the road to meet their waiting trucks. Each costume band has its own music truck as well as a drinks truck. Music trucks are fully equipped with disc jockeys, live bands with singers and huge, powerful speakers.
There is then a four mile trek from the National Stadium to the Spring Garden Highway. People line the streets along the route, to get a glimpse of the massive parade of costumes. There are stiff penalties for people not registered in the band, intruding into the ranks of the revellers. Bands are usually equipped with private security and bouncer, who keep unwanted characters out and protect the band members.
On Spring Garden, the last stop, the revellers take a long needed rest and partake in feasts povided by their respective bands. Whilst some people do not make the full trek due to tiredness or drunkenness, others make it to Spring Garden and continue to party. Spring Garden is lined with a wide array of stalls selling everything from food and drinks to clothing and plants. Grand Kadooment is the biggest and best event of the Crop Over Festival with the perfect mix of friends, fun and food.
Dannielle Brathwaite - Dannielle Brathwaite is a budding creative writer. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of the West Indies. Ms. ...
