Since Bogles is a community with a well established ‘maroon,’ we all met in friendship at the kind invitation of the villagers to experience a genuine maroon in its natural, home setting. The ritualistic singing, drumming and dancing created a unifying and loving atmosphere for sharing and eating the smoke food; otherwise regarded as the ancestral meal. This further highlighted the ‘maroon’s’ communal and spiritual features all steeped in African traditions. It was an educational treat offered with a kind spirit of togetherness, thanksgiving, neighbourhood and love.

On Saturday night, the Belair Heritage Village otherwise known to be the home of the island’s cultural and social activities was transformed to have a charming and therapeutic atmosphere.

Big drum dancing, Shakespeare mas, quadrille dancing, and other cultural art forms were presented both by local and visiting groups while smoke food was being prepared and served to patrons. The second part of the night entailed a String Band concert featuring five big bands from Carriacou, Grenada, the BVI, Tobago and St. Lucia. It was three hours of the most exhilarating and rapturous music!

Just imagine ten (10) bands on one (1) stage! It was an afternoon of pure, untamed and pulsating string band music with a varied menu of tasty seafood. The setting was the magical Paradise Beach with the perfect backdrop of Sandy Island and Mabouya Island. Performances for the afternoon began at 1pm and ended at 6:30pm with the Festival ending with a ‘Last Strings Jam’ at Coconut Bar in Hillsborough.