A first timer pranced away with the top design prizes in Grand Kadooment Monday when thousands of Barbadians thronged the streets to jump and dance in brightly coloured large and really tiny costumes in the culmination of Crop Over.
The finale of two months of Crop Over celebrations is Grand Kadooment, a massive street party where innovative designers come into their own as they create costumes under various themes for dozens, sometimes hundreds, in bands that lead off thousands of followers from Waterford, a location outside Bridgetown, wending their way dancing and jumping along the outskirts of Bridgetown to end up at Spring Garden.
Along the way the costume designs and representation of the stated themes are judged for not only the degree of excellence of the concept but how well the dress-up is displayed by the bands.
The first time winner, Kevin Small, who was band leader and designer of “Fifth Element” copped the Robert Weekes Award for the Best Festival Designer.
In addition he and his band won the top spot in the theme categories of Historical, Topical, Community Costume, Best Individual Male, Presentation of the Year and the HIV Awareness Award.
Among the thousands tramping with locals are overseas-based Barbadians, other Caribbean nationals, and international stars such as Lewis Hamilton, who has become a regular at this annual road fete.
A staple of Grand Kadooment is Barbadian superstar Rihanna whose costume set the Internet ablaze as international media focused on its design, along with its skimpiness which is a standard dress code for most of the revelers.
The most played tune by bands along the route was “Tip and Bend Ova,” a hit from 2017 Bashment Soca King, Stiffy.
This popularity earned him the Tune Of De Crop title.
Red Plastic Bag’s “Boat Ride” was the second most popular and Marzville’s “Give It To Ya” was number three.
