Kylla Herbert, president and coordinator of the South Jersey Caribbean Competition in Camden, says she was “overjoyed” with the “overwhelming attendance” on July 13 at twenty fourth Annual occasion, at Wiggins Park, on the Camden Waterfront.
“It was a festive day with stunning climate at Wiggins Park, the place folks of all ages loved themselves, as they celebrated Caribbean tradition,” Herbert, whose late father hailed from Nevis, the sister isle of the twin-island Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, instructed Caribbean Life on Monday.
“There have been many free actions for youngsters, which included face portray, interactive video games, arts and crafts,” she added. “There have been quite a lot of meals distributors, which allowed members to style genuine Caribbean delicacies, in addition to native dishes.
“The South Jersey Chapter of the Black Nurses Affiliation was current, offering well being screenings and knowledge,” Herbert continued. “The Camden Metropolis Fireplace Division, constitution faculties and native organizations had been onsite, offering important data and assets to the group. Artwork and crafts distributors offered quite a lot of objects, equivalent to candles, jewellery, physique butters and cultural put on.”
She mentioned the live performance stage was “crammed with vigorous leisure from begin to end,” with MCs Debbie “Jazzy” Agbessi and TyTy Double Dogz, also referred to as, “Mr. Worldwide”, and DJ Ross preserving “the vitality excessive and the vibes going all day.”
Brooklyn-based We United Band “gave an thrilling efficiency that had the gang dancing,” and the Kaisokah Moko Jumbies “walked all through the park,” Herbert mentioned.
As well as, she mentioned there have been performances by native artists, together with NGR.IAM, Orchestra LA 95 Latin Band, Jewels Afro Caribbean Dance Group, Soca Sakita Health, Fantasy Island Masqueraders, Wilson El Divino, and Camden’s Common Dance and Drum Ensemble.
Herbert mentioned the Philadelphia Pan Stars Metal Orchestra carried out on the promenade, with patrons having fun with candy metal pan music as they entered the park, and whereas had been consuming and purchasing.
She mentioned there was additionally a efficiency by Willingboro, NJ-based, award-winning step staff, Getting Higher Collectively (GBE), comprising gifted younger women who “imagine in getting 1 p.c higher day by day.”
Herbert mentioned GBE was based by Indigo Paschal, a younger educator and mentor of Trinidad and Tobago heritage.
She mentioned GBE was based on “God, love, sisterhood and onerous work”.
“GBE’s efficiency was uplifting and energetic,” mentioned Herbert, including that the Bronx-based Belizean group, Alex Colon and the Garifuna Ensemble, offered “an academic and entertaining Garifuna cultural show, offering storytelling and drumming to the gang.”
She mentioned Julien ‘Imagine’ Thompson, a world artist from Bahamas, additionally carried out.
Herbert mentioned Thompson has “created a popularity for himself by incorporating collaborations, with music powerhouses from all through the Caribbean into every new music mission, making a hybrid of soca and Bahamian Junkanoo rhythms that has change into the signature Julien Imagine sound followers intensely sit up for in each music.”
She mentioned the gifted creator of the “Junkanoo Pop Sound” was dubbed the “Bahamian Icon Award winner” for the Most Fashionable Tune in 2014 for his hit single, “The Caribbean Slide”.
“Julien Imagine’s efficiency on the twenty fourth Annual South Jersey Caribbean Competition was electrifying and interesting,” Herbert mentioned. “Throughout his efficiency, he jumped off the stage into the gang to work together with the gang and train everybody ‘the Caribbean Slide.’
“Total, the twenty fourth Annual South Jersey Caribbean Competition was superb,” she added. “It was an awesome day to rejoice Caribbean tradition on the Camden Waterfront.
“We had been blessed with stunning climate, and it was joyful to see attendees dancing and interacting with the hosts and performing artists,” Herbert added. “The South Jersey Caribbean Competition’s planning committee invitations everybody to hitch us for our twenty fifth Anniversary celebration on Saturday, July 12, 2025.”
James Cordice – the Vincentian-born founder, president and coordinator of the Philadelphia-based St. Vincent and the Grenadines Group Worldwide, which coordinates Vincentian athletes on the Penn Relays in Philadelphia – mentioned he was delighted to be an govt member of the South Jersey Caribbean Competition.
“It’s been about 17 years for the reason that father of this vibrant group transitioned,” he instructed Caribbean Life. “However he left a tremendous array of volunteers and officers led by his daughter, Kylla Herbert, who embraces not solely the tradition however all issues Caribbean.
“We sit up for celebrating 25 years in 2025,” Cordice added. “We plan so as to add extra historical past and story-telling to the line-up. I’m merely appreciative for this chance to serve.”
Livingston Benjamin, from Butler’s Village in Nevis, mentioned this 12 months’s pageant was “a beautiful celebration of Caribbean music, meals and tradition.
“The climate was splendid for the occasion, sizzling and delightful just like the Caribbean,” he mentioned. “I imagine that the 2024 South Jersey Caribbean Competition can be fondly remembered by all who had been there.”
Niger Ali, whose father hails from Jamaica, mentioned the twenty fourth Annual South Jersey Caribbean Competition was “enjoyable within the solar – dancing folks with sweat and smiles.
“Can’t watch for the twenty fifth Annual,” he mentioned. “Massive up the one, Kylla Herbert, for sustaining a properly very important custom, Caribbean vybz dwell. Large respect and love for the chance to showcase my music.”
Dr. Berdine Gordon-Littrean, whose father hailed from the Bahamas, mentioned the pageant was “a vibrant and vigorous occasion that introduced collectively revelers and ‘bachannalists’ from all around the tri-state space.
“This 12 months’s pageant stood out in a optimistic mild as a result of full turnout of attendees who had been desirous to rejoice Caribbean tradition and music,” she mentioned. “The ambiance and vibes had been energetic, with pulsating rhythms and various cultural representations including to the festive ambiance.
“One of many highlights of this 12 months’s pageant was the presence of a music artist from my father’s personal Caribbean island, representing the Bahamas,” Dr. Gordon-Littrean added. “It was really a memorable expertise to carry out on stage with Julien ‘Imagine’ Thompson.
“The vitality produced as he interacted and captivated the viewers together with his music, ‘Caribbean Slide’, and sharing his newly-released single, ‘Ain’t Nothing Like Dwelling’, was undeniably memorable,” she continued. “Acting on stage, along with this music artist from one’s homeland, was a blessing and a second that can be cherished for years to come back.”
Agbessi, also referred to as “Jazzy on Da Mic”, mentioned she has been serving as a volunteer and a planning committee member for the South Jersey Caribbean Competition since 2011.
“The occasion itself was stunning,” she mentioned. “The Camden and Caribbean communities from close to and much got here out, and confirmed their love and help for our occasion. We had been in a position to supply a multicultural expertise to those that take pleasure in Caribbean tradition.
“The sensation of fellowship is what I imagine all of us skilled on Saturday, July 13,” Agbessi added. “We’ve a saying, ‘One Love’ and ‘All ah we is one’. Saturday, all of us shared our love for the Caribbean tradition.”
