As we approach another Crop Over season and the culture
warriors take to the streets, the print media and the airwaves, it is perhaps
time that we paused and reassessed what is meant by Barbadian culture and analyzing
the trends of cultural development in this increasingly multicultural world. In
so doing, we must take a wide view of the Bajan culture and all of its aspects
that define our core values and who we are.
The Bajan culture is continuously evolving and changes as a
result of interaction with a complex range of factors such as external
influences, expanded travel and improved economic circumstances. But there are
some fundamental characteristics that we should cherish even as we adapt to
living with an increased velocity of change in an ever more competitive world.
Barbadians from all walks of life have been traditionally tolerant and respectful
of their fellow citizens and visitors to our shores, Their culture of
hospitality is deeply ingrained and has stood us in good stead. I sense
however, an erosion of these values and a change in our cultural norms that
endanger our quality of life and our ability to improve our standard of living.
As Crop Over approaches, we focus on music and dance and the
party till you drop phenomena seemingly believing that this is all there is to culture.
Along with the bacchanal of the carnival spirit of Crop Over there is a growing
disregard for good manners and respect for others that seems to pervade our
every day life the year round. A certain vulgarity has crept into both dance
and music to the point that what would be best done in the bedroom is now on
public display on the street or the open stage. Explicit vulgarity has replaced
the subtle innuendo and double entendre that graced the folk music of
yesteryear in a lyrical dumbing down to the lowest and basest common
denominator.
It seems that the decline of use of the English language,
limited vocabulary and the growing use of garbled utterances that pass for
conversation today have impacted on the modern lyricist and limits their
capacity for expression.
This growing indiscipline and blatant lack of consideration
for others is now spilling over into everyday life where freedom is defined as
being able to do anything at anytime without any regard for anyone else in the
society. An example of this, is flying noise making kites with loud droning
bulls in high density residential areas and tethering them so that they fly all
day and all night. It is an unacceptable form of noise pollution that was
recently defended on a call in program as being part of our culture. Kite
flying is part and parcel of being a child in Barbados, creating loud incessant
noise that disturbs hundreds of people is not.
Barbadian culture is much more complex and enduring than
that. It speaks of Cricket and the old values of the game that promoted fair
play, integrity and true sportsmanship; It speaks of our love for the rule of
law and a sense of fairness in dealing with others. We appreciate good manners
and respect the rights of others as we jealously guard our own. Ours is largely
a civil society where charity is a way of life and we have all been our
brother's keeper in one sense or another.
That is the culture that we need to foster and nurture by
resisting the rude, the vulgar and the selfishness that would destroy much that
is good about Bajans.
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