By: Staff Writer
July 16, 2021
A second generation event organiser is taking over where her father left off in organising the South Jersey Caribbean Festival this coming July, Farmer Nappy to perform.
Kylla Herbert, organiser of the South Jersey Caribbean Festival, told Caribbean Magazine Plus about the upcoming SJCF to be held this coming Saturday, July 17 that the festival was the brainchild of her father, “Nkem Tshombe a native of St Kitts and Nevis” as a way to showcase Caribbean culture.
The South Jersey Caribbean Cultural and Development Organisation (SJCCDO) presents the 21st Annual South Jersey Caribbean Festival at Wiggins Park on the Camden, NJ Waterfront next to Adventure Aquarium on Saturday July 17, 2021 from 2pm to 8pm.
Participants will experience the flavours and vibrant colours of the Caribbean. There will be delicious Caribbean foods like Jerk Chicken, Oxtail, Curry Shrimp, Roti, Empanadas and more.
Ms Herbert told us how she is managing to pull off this event considering the COVID-19 pandemic is still lingering. She said that they are “following the current New Jersey State protocols for COVID-19.
“In preparation for this year’s South Jersey Caribbean Festival, we are following New Jersey state guidelines to ensure we have a safe, fun experience in the park. Wiggins Park is spacious which will allow people to space out and enjoy a day of Caribbean food and Culture. Since many people are not able to travel to their favourite Caribbean destinations, we are bringing the Caribbean to them.”
This year’s South Jersey Caribbean Festival will feature the 2021 International Soca Monarch and Road March King, Darryl “Farmer Nappy” Henry from Trinidad and Tobago. Farmer Nappy celebrates over 30 years in the soca music industry and has a rich legacy as one of soca’s top entertainers of all time. He first started building his repertoire as an instrumentalist and songwriter with the band Xtatik, where he formed a brotherly bond with lead singer Machel Montano. He earned the “Calypso of the Year” award for his blockbuster groovy soca hit “Big People Party”. He was voted as MTV Iggy’s “Artist of the Week” in March 2012. At the festival, Farmer Nappy will give an energetic performance singing hits “Back Yard Jam”, “Hookin Meh”, “My House” and more.
“We have been having events for Caribbean people in NJ for 21 years,” she said. This year the festival will also have performing the “Philadelphia Pan Stars, Bodoma Garifuna Cultural Band, Orchestra LA 95 latin band, Haitian Cultural Dancers, Reggae Artist Skilli Bangs, and Mini Masquerade Parade in the Park, and more.”
The South Jersey Caribbean Festival is expected to branch off into much more as it will continue to showcase the Caribbean Food tasting event and hopefully within the next few years they will resume their youth steel pan classes
Last June was the Caribbean Heritage month (CAHM) in the Caribbean, but while the SJCCDO did not host a Caribbean Heritage month event but Ms Herbert was speaker at a Virtual CAHM event in June where she said it was well attended and persons learned a lot.