Unless you’re from Barbados, you probably learned about the Crop Festival for the first time in your life just this week. 
Rihanna’s appearance at the Festival’s Grand Kadooment and Emancipation Day event resulted in online entertainment headlines all over the internet that introduced the world to the Crop Over Festival. 
The images of the 23 year old R&B/pop/dancehall singer are filled with dancing and celebration alongside her fellow Barbadians. Rihanna has had a stream of hit songs from the start of her career in 2005 with “Pon De Replay” through the present, 2011, with “Man Down” and “California King Bed”. Her significance to Barbados is like Nicki Minaj to Trinidad, Jay-Z to Brooklyn, Wyclef to Haiti, Eminem to Detroit, Gladys Knight to Georgia… (You get the point) – It’s significant to the people and shows them what’s possible if you go for your dreams. She is somone they can immediately see themselves in as they share a common culture that is dear to them.
So what is the Barbados Crop Festival? Find out here. This year it consisted of a series of 
events at various venues from July 2nd through August 1st. On August 5th, 2011, Rihanna graced the stage with a “Home Coming Concert”. There’s a Homecoming Documentary in
the works as well.
Barbados is also one of the inspirations behind Vita Coco’s Tropical Fruit flavors and why Rihanna is the face of this new campaign.
To find out more about the Crop Over Festival visit:
- www.barbadoscropoverfestival.com/crop-over-festival/crop-over-festival-opening-gala.html
- www.nationcropover.com
- www.funbarbados.com/crop_over/history.cfm
- http://www.visitbarbados.org/
Missed the Crop Festival this year? Don’t worry, there are plenty of upcoming events in Barbados including The Barbados Food and Wine and Rum Festival 2011, November 18-21. Tickets on sale now at www.foodwinerum.com.