A Cultural Renaissance Demanded: Planning Antigua’s Carnival 70 in 2027

By Hon E.P. Chet Greene

After 69 years, Antigua’s Carnival stands at a crossroads. As we look toward the historic 70th anniversary in 2027, we must confront an uncomfortable truth that while the festival markets itself as “the Caribbean’s Greatest Summer Festival,” we risk becoming a generic copy of regional carnivals rather than the authentic expression of our unique cultural identity. The narrative of decline in local musical output and the near erasure of our indigenous Benna music demands urgent intervention.

Benna, our folk music born from emancipation in the 1830s, represents Antigua’s original musical soul, a subversive call and response form that served as oral communication for newly freed slaves. Today, Benna has been relegated to nostalgia while imported sounds dominate. We cannot deny Soca’s international appeal but we must resist the temptation to sacrifice our identity for fleeting popularity.

The 70th anniversary must herald a Benna renaissance. This music with its bawdy, gossip driven lyricism and rhythmic improvisation, offers an authentic Carnival identity that no other destination can replicate. We must centralize Benna in our competitions, integrate it into steelband arrangements and mandate its presence in every major Carnival production.

Trinidad and Tobago has recognized Carnival as a year round industry requiring a data driven business model, sophisticated production systems and global marketing strategies.

We must follow suit, yes, follow suit, formalizing supply chains, monetizing intellectual property, creating licensing agreements and leveraging digital streaming platforms to reach global audiences; all scaled to reflect our realities. The creative and performing arts sectors require scaled up investments and incentives matched to measurable outcomes.

Our 2027 milestone demands an ambitious and visionary approach and while I do not pretend to have all the answers, I propose the following to start a responsible and meaningful conversation.

Firstly, I recommend an expanded celebration with an exclusive Friday evening grand opening featuring floats depicting key elements of the preceding 69 years of the festivities. This will make 2027 an 11 day festival beginning in spectacular fashion.

This would clear the way for an expanded T-Shirt Mas on the following day (Saturday), featuring creatively designed shirts, preferably manufactured right here in Antigua and supporting local industry.

Carnival 2027 demands a Musical Renaissance. DJs must respect our local ownership thrust, creatively producing mixes that showcase 70 years of Benna and Soca music. This is not negotiable.

Our celebration of freedom must remain the festival’s central focus. Amidst all the noises and subtleties undermining our identity, our non-negotiable stance on the hard earned freedoms must always be evident.

With the government’s $25 million Performing Arts Center and plans for a world-class music studio, we now have infrastructure. Facilities without training yield little and as such, we must establish mentorship programs like UNESCO’s Business Angels scheme while providing financing through the government’s Entrepreneurial Development Fund.

Antigua’s Carnival must compete on quality, authenticity and innovation; not just volume. The 70th anniversary in 2027 is our moment to ignite a renaissance that showcases who we are, where we come from and the freedoms we hold non-negotiable. Let us seize it.

The above is by no means exhaustive but rather, is respectfully offered as the beginning or certainty a part of that public discourse needed to put plans in motion for our 70th Carnival celebrations in 2027.