Carnivals & Festivals
CROP OVER 22
Sweetest Summer Festival -' its more than a Carnival '
King Quon makes calypso history in Barbados
Quon is the new calypso monarch of Barbados(Picture by Jameel Springer)
July 30, 2022
Quon is the new calypso monarch of Barbados.
Dequon “Quon” Alleyne created history when he was crowned the 2022 Calypso Monarch of Barbados.
He is the first contestant to leave the Scotiabank Junior Monarch competition and go straight to the Pic-O-De-Crop stage, and win on his first year of entry.
Around 2:15 a.m. on Saturday, Quon was named winner of the Courtesy Garage Pic-O-De-Crop competition, beating a line-up of other veterans and four of his counterparts who are also former Junior Monarchs.
The two-time Junior Monarch is also the third person to do so at age 21. He now joins Dr The Most Honourable Stetson RPB Wiltshire who won in 1982 and Aziza Clarke who won in 2016.
“It is difficult to find words this morning after what was the most amazing night of my life, being among one of the legends that is Red Plastic Bag, in being one of the youngest monarchs feels absolutely amazing. Thank you to my managers, firstly Kofi Branch and Wenmar Taylor, who have been by my side even before my first Junior Monarch title,” he said in an interview with the National Cultural Foundation.
Quon, who scored 107 points, is also in his third year of winning an NCF-staged competition having won the Scotiabank Junior Monarch in 2018 with Why I Sing and in 2019 with Smart.
In 2018, when he won it was also his first year making it to the Scotiabank Junior Monarch Finals.
“I think by now everyone can see how developmental the Scotiabank Junior Monarch programme is. As I sang in my 2018 winning song, Why I Sing, this win is a testimony, a testimony to all aspiring youngsters to take that leap of faith and enter the programme because it is undeniably the foundation for where I am now,” Quon said.
The Courtesy Garage Pic-O-De-Crop comprised 18 of the country’s finest calypsonians going toe-toe at Kensington Oval for the coveted title.
The 2022 Calypso Monarch, who has the choice of a driving a Nissan Leaf valued at $92 000 or $100 000 in cash, performed Animal Kingdom which was penned by Water StreetBoyz and arranged by Roger Gittens. His winnings also include $4 000 insurance compliments Cooperators General Insurance and a $1 000 voucher from Henrietta’s Closet.
Quon, who hails from the CO Williams House of Soca Tent, thanked all who supports him.
Mistah Dale is the people’s king again
Mistah Dale is the Starcom Network/ Flow People’s Monarch 2022.
July 30, 2022
He was crowned yesterday in the Hott 95.3 studio by DJ Scott Le Roc after a close battle with Saddis. He narrowly won with 54 per cent of the votes.
An elated Mistah Dale performed a piece of the winning song
Prison Break live on air and also thanked everyone who made Crop Over possible this year, as well as his team, supporters, Scott Le Roc and Saddis himself, whom he said had a tune he loved. He said Prison Break had a late start but surged ahead and did well because it was the people’s song.
“This ain’t really my song, it’s the people’s song. This is the vibe that hit me, this is what we just went through for two long years. It is a blessing but regardless we have to party responsibly because the [COVID-19] numbers spiking again.
“Saddis had a very good tune and his was out for a while but mine get way because of the message. It was the reflection of what most people in Barbados are going through so when you can take that and put it into something positive that people can dance to and celebrate and relate to, I think that was what gave it momentum,” he said.
The win was the third time the artiste walked away with the People’s Monarch crown, winning in 2007 with Soca Junkie and in 2010 with Drop It. (CA)
CROP OVER - The Festival with a difference
'Mauby i's Tune of the Crop for 2022
Bruce Almighty has copped this year’s Tune of the Crop title with his popular hit Mauby.
He will take home the winning prize of $7500.
Almighty finished ahead of Lil Rick with his song Happy Birthday. Lil Rick will receive $5000.
Jagwa with his song, Animal and Saddis with Nothing on You both finished third.
They won $2000 each.
NEWS & HIGHLIGHTS
CROP OVER FILES, by David Harris
August 01, 2022
Crop Over wrap-up
After a two-year hiatus because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Crop Festival ended on Monday evening.
Several events took place over the weekend, the Pic- O- De-Crop Final was held at Kensington Oval on Friday night, Foreday Morning took place in the wee hours of Saturday morning, Soca Rukshun was staged at the Oval on Sunday, and Grand Kadooment took place on Monday.
In addition to the events held under the auspices of the National Cultural Foundation (NCF), there were several fetes and shows for Barbadians and visitors to the island to attend
Quon (Dequon Alleyne) of the C.O. Williams Construction House of Soca created history when he won the 2022 Pic-O-De Crop crown with the song Animal Kingdom.
The 21-year-old monarch is the first competitor to leave the Junior Monarch competition and captured the Pic-O-De Crop title on his first attempt.
“It is difficult to find words this morning after what was the most amazing night of my life, being among one of the legends that are Red Plastic Bag, in being one of the youngest monarchs feels amazing", the new monarch said.
The 2022 Calypso Monarch, who had the choice of driving a Nissan Leaf valued at $92 000 or $100 000 in cash, decided to take the cash, his song was penned by Water StreetBoyz and arranged by Roger Gittens. His winnings also include $4 000 insurance compliments Cooperators General Insurance and a $1 000 voucher from Henrietta’s Closet
Quon, who scored 107 points, won the Scotiabank Junior Monarch in 2018 with Why I Sing and in 2019 with Smart.
IWeb, who placed second with 92 points, pocketed $40 000; while Chrystal Cummins-Beckles who scored 91 points took third place with $20 000 and TC came fourth with 90 points and left with $15 000. All three are from the First Citizens Digicel De Big Show calypso tent. Defending monarch Classic was fifth.
There was a tie in ninth place between Billboard and De Announcer. Fifth to tenth place won $5 000 each, while 11th to 18th won $3 000 each. There was a tie in ninth place between Billboard and De Announcer. Fifth to tenth place won $5 000 each, while 11th to 18th won $3 000 each.
Meanwhile, 14 bands took part in a placid Grand Kadooment parade along a new route which started at Warrens
onto the ABC Highway and ended at the National Stadium. Several revellers expressed their dissatisfaction with the route and called
for the return of the original from the Stadium to the Mighty Gryner Highway.
According to Prime Minister Mia Mottley, this year's version of the Festival was a litmus test.
"We need to allow Bajans to come outside. I see this as a bridge for next year. When we have a full year to plan, we will come back to what we know and what we are good at", Mottley said.
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Mauby sung by Brucelee Almightee won the 2022 Tune of the Crop, Lil Rick’s Happy Birthday placed second. Jagwa De Champ’s Animal and Saddis’ Nothing on You tied for third place
David Harris is a freelance journalist based in Barbados.