Former Soca Competition Absence Hinders New Talent Development, Says Barbados Association President

The absence of a former soca competition is hampering the development of new talent and high-quality songs, according to the leading spokesman for soca and calypso artistes.

Sean Apache Carter, president of the Barbados Association of Creatives and Artistes (BACA), told Barbados TODAY that the cancellation of the Party Monarch competition for this year’s Crop Over was “inexcusable”, particularly given it was the festival’s 50th anniversary.

“I think not having a Party Monarch competition this year was a huge disappointment for many artistes,” Carter said. “For your 50th anniversary, you would be hoping that they would have at least brought it back this year, and again when you look across the Caribbean we are probably the only island that does not have Party Monarch competition going on currently.”While acknowledging the season was an overall success, including victories for Brucelee Almightee in the People’s Monarch and Road March categories, Carter emphasised that the absence of a dedicated soca competition is detrimental to emerging performers.

“The Soca 5.0 last night was good as far as the celebrations are concerned, but certainly it can’t take the place of a Party Monarch competition,” he explained. “I think the Party Monarch competition is critical to the development of the soca artistes.”

Carter highlighted a resurgence in power soca this year, praising performances by Brucelee Almightee, Blood, and Mikey, among others. He called on the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) to revisit the format and reinstate a soca competition, regardless of its name.

“It gives the emerging artistes a platform to showcase their talents, and introduces them not only to the nation but to the region as well,” Carter argued. “It gives them that experience of performing on stage under competition conditions which develops you as an artiste.”

BACA expressed satisfaction with the quality of music and competition in the Junior Monarch and Pic-O-De-Crop calypso contests, viewing the interest from younger participants in social commentary as a positive sign for the future.

Looking ahead, Carter suggested that seasoned performers should play a greater role in the NCF’s annual writing and performing workshops in schools.

“What I would like to see more of going forward is a lot of the seasoned calypsonians actually working with the juniors outside of the workshops,” he said, adding that BACA would be “more than willing” to collaborate with the NCF on future initiatives. (SB)