The Turning Point

The Breakfast Fete reached a turning point in 2008 when the founding fathers and mothers acknowledged that the event had outgrown its original intent. It had simply become too big.  Many were uncomfortable with the all-inclusive model that had emerged outside the scope of the original ‘just for fun for us and our friends’ intention.

The Breakfast Fete’s move to Splash in 2009 included a deliberate approach to blend all ages of Carnival music into the entertainment package.  While Antigua’s music remains at the core, the regional Carnival influence is also accommodated, a blend that delights patrons.

Dr Thwaites, who remains at the core of this now iconic event, reflected his feelings at that time, “If you have something that you are enjoying and other people can enjoy, why not spread the joy around. People just had this natural vibe to Breakfast Fete and I felt this needed to continue”.

The turn of the century rightfully brought a youthful fever.  As the young artists and music made waves by the middle of the first decade of the 2000s, in Baba’s perspective, “it appeared to be an orchestrated attempt to push legends like Short Shirt, Swallow, and even Burning Flames into a tiny space, perhaps imitating a model from other Carnival countries.  The establishment was fuelling the fire to push ‘legacy carnival music’ to the corner alongside the performers.”  

For Dr Thwaites, the Breakfast Fete also represented an opportunity to honour and preserve important Antigua Carnival traditions.  The event model had at its core the music, which was being sidelined at the heart of the festival.  These guys built what you have and where you’re going. And we push them into a corner, and we don’t want to go back and bring them out. We’re going with the new school and the new this and that. I could integrate that into something and propel us into the future. Some of our foundation music, and then combine that with the younger artists. And so that’s what we try to do with the Breakfast Fete.”

The artists enjoy the interplay and exchange of ideas. The morning rolls out with the ‘ole boys’ performing. Many of the younger artists arrive early to observe the early performances and interact with the artists.  Backstage has its own stories when the artists connect.  Farmer Nappy chatting up King Short Shirt, paying homage to Oungku every performance for his role in the early days of Farmer Nappy’s career.  Super Blue shares stories of the impact both Short Shirt and Swallow have had on Trinidad’s carnival and educates others who are unaware of the iconic legacy of King Short Shirt. 

Dr Thwaites dipped into his bottomless memories, “I remember when Shadow was there. He said, ‘I’m not coming on after Short Shirt.’ You want to kill me for audience engagement? Nope.

The Morning Session, yes, the morning session closes with Short Shirt and the event staple, which some consider the anthem – Nobody Go Run Me. No one has ever risen to the challenge of coming after the King to close out the morning. 

And the music never stops, moving into the best of the current carnival artists, the hits, the new classics, and outstanding performers.  Some of the best Caribbean performers cross the stage, as the session pays tribute to our music.

The Breakfast Fete is Antiguan for A Day Fete

Any compilation of Antigua and Barbuda vernacular will reflect that the phrase The Breakfast Fete means an all-day party.  The concept is rooted in the national traditions and style: party long and party hard. Antiguans and Barbudans take partying seriously; it is both a pleasure and a business for us, and we engage in it at every level of society.  Partying is also a common denominator, uniting everyone.

The culture of all-day partying requires music, food, and the company of friends.  There must be opportunities to dance, to sit and chat, to catch up on some ‘nearga’ business, to network, to see people you haven’t seen since when, and there is always room for a scandal or two to break.  All are components of our tradition and culture, the makings of a good session, an all-day event – The Breakfast Fete ticks all of these boxes.

The Entertainment

Within the marque event that is not on the official Carnival calendar but is now a key component of the festival, there is an undefined cultural component that is an indelible part of the day’s entertainment: showcasing the rivalry that has been a critical success factor in the survival of Calypso.  The art form is celebrated through rivalries and collaborations for bragging rights, providing perhaps the only space for calypsonians to perform and earn a return on their investment away from the Carnival stage.  

The Big Three (you better know) and the Birdie, Calypso Joe, Baron Vs Sugar Aloes, Eddie Mello vs Baron, Onyan and Baron, 5-year-old G’Eve (then Baby Eve) and Calypso Rose performing together. The enduring beats of the legacy house band Tonik Band.  The forever presence of the Burning Flames music, be it as 3-Cylinder, as the Original, or the pulsating sounds via the DJs.

Full enjoyment by the patrons: the older ones singing along, the young ones get their music of today blended with the musical stories of yesteryear, and often a piece of the musical history of the land.

The Cuisine

Outside of the Independence Food Fair, The Breakfast Fete is a calendar event where the unique style of food preparation and flavours of Antigua and Barbuda are celebrated and enjoyed.  People, tacked down in their ‘dan dan’ make time to use their fingers and dip fungi in crab back or lick up the fungi or local bread and their preferred relish, be it ling fish, salt fish, red herring, etc., to rip crab apart and dig in.   Comfortable and idle chatter in long lines awaiting a range of local delicacies.

In between the years, talk of ‘me nah go back ina dem long lines’ and yet somehow, a snaking line for some local fried wings or KFC, both of which can be accessed otherwise fairly easily, but are must-haves as part of The Breakfast Fete food traditions.

Name the local food, which will be prepared and presented with local ingredients in a traditional style, catering to all, including those with religious considerations.  No local food is left behind because there are many for whom 

Ode to the Originators

Today, Dr. Thwaites serves as the organising anchor of The Breakfast Fete. There is a joy in his soul that is reflected in his tone as he spoke with me. The original reason, which was something fun to do to ensure that the partying never stops, still drives him.

He insists that the original core people are never excluded from the event. Though production costs have risen and the attendance is now in the thousands, the founding team members are provided with complimentary passes to use as they see fit. They attend, pass on the passes to children, relatives, or friends—it’s their privilege.

He is clear that though he is the visible anchor, it is still a group effort.  A mix of original souls and others who sync and, through a series of communications, get it all done.  Doc says each year, things fall into place, “And you would never believe it. We’ve never had a formal meeting to put together The Breakfast Fete. Every year, my buddy, one of the major planners, would come to me and say, ‘When is the meeting?’ I would say check me on Sunday. And he would laugh because that Sunday is still to come. It just falls into place. Everybody, knows what they got to do, where they got to go, what they have to bring. If I have a problem, I’ll call one of the original members and he will step into place and do what is needed”.

And that is the science behind the organisation of The Breakfast Fete, “You get everybody together. And it’s just an odd machine. I will tell you this, it works, every time”.

Never straying far from the original reason the event exists, it embraces the culture

The Breakfast Fete has retained all the Antigua and Barbuda day fete features honed during the Roving Years and refined to a fine art.

The model works.  The Breakfast Fete is an institution! It has reached beyond the shores of Wadadli; people from all over the Caribbean come to Antigua just for The Breakfast Fete. A key selling point is the variety of music featuring a blend of generational and Caribbean styles. Patrons have a good time!