THE DISTURBANCES OF 1937 were the large accumulation of explosive matter in Barbados and Clement Payne's deportation was just a detonator. Barbados at that time was an island of economically disenfranchised people, there was very little progress since Emancipation one hundred years earlier. The cost of living had risen significantly during that time and there was deprivation, hunger and general despair with a deep-seated resentment towards the perceived privilege.

AS LONG AS one can remember the SPIRITUAL BAPTISTS have been an integral part of the Crop Over season, blessing the canes and the festival at what was the Ceremonial Delivery Of The Last Canes, now the BNB Crop Over Gala. Known for their rhythmic singing and colourful garb, their participation does not end at the first event of the festival but extends to preparing and selling delicacies at various Crop Over events. See below a brief history of the Spiritual Baptists.

WHEN WAS THE last time you saw a donkey cart, in fact have you ever seen a donkey cart?

The Crop Over Festival is a uniquely Barbadian festival, originating out of the harvest festivals of two cultures - England and West Africa. The English celebrated their Harvest Home Festivals, while the West Africans celebrated various festivals, including the Yam Festival - the yam being a staple food of that region.

For five weeks every summer Barbados celebrates Crop Over, an exciting and vibrant extravaganza of music and masquerade, history and culture to mark the end of the sugar cane cutting season. Festival origins can be traced back to the 1780's, when Barbados was the one of the world's foremost producers of sugar, and a festival was held at the culmination of each sugar season.