by Curlan Campbell

• Carriacou Maroon and String Band Music Festival takes place 24–26 April
• Festival theme is “Honouring the Ancestors, Empowering the Youth”
• Community of Belair to host opening event

The sister isle of Carriacou is preparing to celebrate one of its most important cultural traditions with the return of the Carriacou Maroon and String Band Music Festival, with this year’s staging placing a strong emphasis on youth participation and cultural continuity.

The festival will take place 24–26 April 2026, under the theme “Honouring the Ancestors, Empowering the Youth,” highlighting the importance of passing Carriacou’s rich cultural traditions on to the next generation while celebrating the legacy of those who preserved them.

Speaking at the official launch on Saturday, 14 March, festival chairperson Allison Caton highlighted the importance of unity, preserving cultural traditions and engaging young people in ensuring the festival’s continued growth and success.

Caton told attendees that the organising committee has been working around the clock to ensure the success of the event. “We told each other it would be 24/7 work, because in order for this festival to come out properly in the short space of time that we have left, it needs our full attention,” she said. “At the end of the event, we want to be able to say we did something proper for the island.”

The festival, which began in 2001, is widely regarded as the island’s premier cultural celebration.

“The Maroon and String Band Music Festival is the principal cultural event on Carriacou,” Caton stressed. “It does not belong to a political party — it belongs to the people of Carriacou.”

A key focus of the festival is the preservation and understanding of traditional practices. Caton noted that many traditions risk disappearing as older generations pass on, leaving younger people performing rituals without fully understanding their origins. To address this, the committee has introduced initiatives to document and interpret cultural practices. Grenadian historian Dr Angus Martin will participate in the festival, helping to translate and explain the historical meanings behind various traditions.

The initiative also aims to create a permanent record of the island’s cultural heritage.

“We want to archive this information so that we have a record for the future,” Caton said. “In 100 years, when all of us are gone, our children and great-grandchildren can look back and understand what we did and why we did it.”

This year’s festival will take place across 4 venues over 3 days:

• Friday: Village Maroon in Belair, where the community has welcomed the opening celebration
• Saturday morning: “Strings in the City” in Hillsborough, transforming Main Street into a vibrant cultural space
• Saturday night: Cultural showcase at the Carriacou Botanical Gardens
• Sunday: Closing festivities at Paradise Beach

Caton praised the community of Belair for agreeing to host the opening event and highlighted the importance of participation from local performers.

“Who we bring from outside is fine, but what’s more important is who’s participating from Carriacou,” she said. “We’ve been calling and messaging local groups asking them to be involved — to forget past differences and come together.”

Chief Executive Officer of the Grenada Tourism Authority (GTA) Stacey Liburd also praised the festival as one of the most authentic cultural experiences in the tri-island state. She noted that this year’s theme, “Honouring the Ancestors and Empowering the Youth,” captures the deeper purpose of the festival. “This theme speaks powerfully to the spirit and purpose of the festival. While we gather to celebrate music, dance, culture and community, we are also paying tribute to the generations who came before us — the ancestors whose resilience, traditions and cultural expressions continue to shape who we are today.”

Liburd said the festival reflects the living legacy of African heritage in Carriacou through traditions such as Big Drum dancing and traditional string band music. “Through the rhythms of the Big Drum dance, the melodies of traditional string bands and the communal spirit that defines the maroon tradition, we see the living legacy of our African heritage. These traditions have been preserved and passed down through generations and remain powerful expressions of identity, resilience and cultural pride.”

She also underscored the importance of engaging young people in the preservation of cultural traditions. “Equally important is the second part of the theme — empowering our youth. Festivals like this create opportunities for young people to learn, participate and connect with their heritage. They provide a platform for the next generation of musicians, dancers and cultural practitioners to carry these traditions forward.”

From a tourism perspective, Liburd said the festival represents the unique cultural experiences that visitors increasingly seek when travelling. “For the Grenada Tourism Authority, this festival represents the very essence of what makes our destination unique. Today’s travellers are seeking authentic experiences and opportunities to connect with culture, community and story. Here in Carriacou, those experiences are not staged — they are lived.”

She added that the event not only celebrates culture but also supports the local economy by creating opportunities for musicians, dancers, artisans, food vendors and small businesses.

Meanwhile, the festival lineup will feature a wide range of performers from across the Caribbean alongside Carriacou’s own cultural groups. Participants include performers from Union Island, drummers from Tivoli, the Conception Dance Group, and musical act Solid The Band.

Carriacou’s own big drum groups, folk groups, Maypole dancers, steel pan performers and string bands will also feature prominently.

Regional acts will add an international flavour to the celebration, including the trio Ancestral Voices, visiting group The Lashing Dogs, and Trinidad-based collective Freetown Collective, who will headline Saturday night’s event.

Caton also highlighted the economic importance of the festival, noting that it provides opportunities for a wide cross-section of the community. “When we host the Maroon Festival, everyone has a chance to eat a food,” Caton said. “The financial importance of these festivals to the local economy of Carriacou cannot be understated.”

Accommodation providers, taxi operators, rental companies, supermarkets and food vendors are all expected to benefit from the influx of visitors.

The event is supported by the Grenada Tourism Authority and the Ministry of Carriacou and Petite Martinique Affairs, along with corporate sponsors and volunteers.

Caton concluded by urging residents to support the festival, not only by attending but also by volunteering and offering constructive ideas for improvement. “This festival belongs to all of us,” she said. “Each of us has a role to play in keeping it going and ensuring it grows from strength to strength.”

The Carriacou Maroon and String Band Music Festival remains a powerful symbol of the island’s heritage, bringing together music, storytelling, dance and community spirit while safeguarding traditions for generations to come.

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