Bob in the Anglican Church? Yessssss please 🙂‍↕️ 🫡

stefanwalcottLeave a comment

The service to commemorate emancipation, held at St Barnabas church, is easily one of the most daring things I have seen in the Anglican church space,

and I am here for it.

Of course I understand the position of the Rastafarian community; the Anglican church as an institution has blessed some of the greatest abuses against black people and been silent on the others. Not least the destruction of Temple Yard in Barbados, and in Jamaica, Bustamante’s 1963 order to “bring in all Rastas, dead or alive” — the Coral Gardens massacre that saw beard men hunted, beaten, and locked away simply for who they were. But this to me represents the new Caribbean Anglican church — the one doing one of the most daring things, proclaiming a God who is also in the image of Caribbean people, a God who stands up for the rights of the sufferah.

I am on this journey too. The same criticisms levelled at this service are the ones that have followed my work on Handel’s Caribbean Messiah — that we are stretching the tradition too far, that we are putting Caribbean bodies and Caribbean God-images where they were never meant to sit.

I wear that criticism the same way this service wears it: as confirmation we are doing something that matters.

May this version of the Anglican church step forward and lead us into a new Caribbean.

I am here for it.

JOHN BOULAY – CHARLOTVILLE OR MARTIN’S BAY?

stefanwalcottLeave a comment

This folk song, John Boulay, is one of the more popular folk songs in Barbados.

I learnt it not from my parents or grandparents, but at primary school from my music teacher, Mr Messiah, and the Bible of folk songs from Barbados, The Folk Songs of Barbados by Marshall, McGeary and Thompson.

However, when I searched for a version of the song I did with the female group, The Tenantry. I came across this. John Boulay, sung by Errol James with the Marionette Chorale. Here it is below:

In the description, it is called a Tobago folk song.

I am really not surprised by this, as songs, even in those days without modern mass media, travelled easily. The journey was made even easier, no doubt by the closeness of Barbados and Tobago. What is interesting, though, is that John Boulay, who is from Martin’s Bay in Barbados, is now from Charlotteville. However, his poor character remains the same.

Shame on you, John!

In short, this song shows me how terribly under-researched English-speaking Caribbean folk songs are, and that the Caribbean as an idea extends beyond small national borders, even if it takes the scoundrel John Boulay to show us.

Bajan musical stories in November – Ragga Ragga

stefanwalcottLeave a comment


“Ragga Ragga” is a song written by Red Plastic Bag and released in 1993. Featuring Mac Fingall and produced by Nicholas Brancker, this parody of dancehall turned into a massive hit and changed Red Plastic Bag’s life. 💥 It also went on to have a whole life of its own in Colombia and Central America. 🌎🔥

Here is a performance from 1994, Congaline.

En Español

✨ Mes de noviembre – educación musical bajana 🎶🇧🇧

“Ragga Ragga” es una canción escrita por Red Plastic Bag y lanzada en 1993. Con la participación de Mac Fingall y producida por Nicholas Brancker, esta parodia del dancehall se convirtió en un gran éxito y cambió la vida de Red Plastic Bag. 💥 También tuvo una vida propia en Colombia y Centroamérica. 🌎🔥

Aquí hay un concierto de 1994 de Congaline.

Carifesta XV – The final days

stefanwalcottLeave a comment

It is not often that Barbados gets to speak to the British Virgin Islands Islands on a cultural level.

Here are some photos from a Jazz workshop at the Errol Barrow Centre for Creative Imagination, where the two territories had that dialogue.

They were joined by other dancers from the region.

This is what Carifesta XV Is about.

Carifesta XV

stefanwalcottLeave a comment

Carifesta is in Barbados, returning after 8 years.

As I continue to explore another aspect of art as part of the media team, here are some of my photos from this year’s parade.

If you are in Barbados, COME OUT!

There is a lot going on!

Happy New Year

stefanwalcottLeave a comment

Today has been a busy year one where I promised more blogging but instead was between the Handel’s Caribbean Messiah and the BFA and BA programs.

Well for those that pass through here, I want to wish you a happy new year from my Cuban as well as Barbadian Handel’s Caribbean Messiah teams.

Happy New Year everyone.

Crop Over Steel Classics – Happy 50th Anniversary

stefanwalcott1 Comment

It is important to continually work with older content; that’s how you build wealth. In that regard, I want to announce my latest offering based on indigenous music, Crop Over Steel Classics, the first release from my new label, 1844 Productions.

https://1844prodcuctions.bandcamp.com/album/crop-over-steel-classics

This album has some of the biggest Crop Over songs of the last 50 years rearranged for steel pan. I have also included a .pdf with the score for all the arrangements.

I want to thank Erica and Gail from COSCAP for helping me with this venture, as they, too, realise the importance of always working with what you have.

Enjoy!