Carifesta: The Caribbean's Celebration of its Artistry

Described as an “inspirational exchange of creative flows,” Carifesta has kicked off in Barbados, celebrating the region's unique artistic expressions, reinforcing unity, diversity, and solidarity between the island nations.

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This year's scheduled events, which will run until Aug. 27, include book launches, symposiums, exhibits by BCC Pop Up Art, Caribbean Wax Museum, a poetry reading by Kamau Braithwaite, among other organizations.

Officially known as the XIII Caribbean Festival of Arts, the event is supported by the Caribbean Community, or CARICOM.

Films, both documentary and fiction, that will be screened at the festival include Bussa I'm Sorry, Medicinal Uses of Plants, Luck Beat Handsome, The Bottle, Where the Whale Sings, The Lion and the Mouse and many others.

Music and dance groups participating in this year's event include Ancestor's Choice Dance, Antigua Creative Dance, Swanky Kitchen Band, Grupo Madera and WH Calypsos and others.

The very first iteration of Carifesta was held in San Juan, Puerto Rico in 1952, which spawned regional and international interest in the region's artistry. It attracted over 1,000 artists throughout the Caribbean and some South American countries who showcased their skills in music, dance, drama, painting, sculpture, folk art, photography, and literature.

“Caribbean Arts Festival, featuring Guyanese and Caribbean artists whose work in poetry, painting and sculpture project our dreams and visions and help us to foster and develop a Caribbean personality,” said Forbes Burnham, the Caribbean leader most credited with the vision and organization of Carifesta.