Rihanna's Concert For Bajans A Roaring Success

Despite some setbacks, Rihanna’s LOUD Barbados concert was a huge success. The superstar’s performance was dynamic and her vocals were superb, putting many Bajan critics to rest.

Rihanna

Kensington Oval was packed with over 25,000 patrons from Barbados and other corners of the world. Unfortunately, the organisers of this event may have oversold the grounds tickets because many people were packed together like sardines, some even passing out from the excessive heat and not being able to buy water. What made this more jarring was that the VIP section on the grounds was spacious.

Many of the patrons at LOUD Barbados showed some patriotic spirit.

The opening acts included Bajan band Cover Drive, DJ W of Brooklyn, and rapper J. Cole. Although Cover Drive and J.Cole’s performances were commendable, the highlight for me was the DJ who did a great job warming up the crowd with Caribbean music from Barbados, Trinidad and Jamaica as well as some hip hop.

After the warm up acts, there was an hour long wait for Rihanna to perform. This left many people restless and there was even a rumour circulating that she had come down with gastro.

Thankfully, after the torturous wait, the Bajan diva made her appearance, coming out of a large orb clad in a blue trenchcoat and opening with her recent hit ‘Only Girl In The World’.

Rihanna makes her entrance

Rihanna’s two hour long performance was a wonderful reminder of how many hit singles she has had in the past six years. She did an amazing job of adding Bajan touches to the show – having blue and yellow lights onstage, being accompanied by a guitar that had the Barbadian flag painted onto it and speaking to the crowd in Bajan dialect. She worked up the patrons by saying, “Y’all being real bougie, nuh? We doan geh on so!!”

A truly touching moment came close to the end of the show when Rihanna said a few words about growing up in Barbados and the support she has gotten from Bajans over the years. “I travel everywhere in the world and nothing feels like this place. It all started about two streets away from here, in Westbury Road, where I grew up, singing in the shower and annoying my neighbours. Now I’m back home doing a concert for my own country. I owe it all to you. Thank you, Barbados.”

She ended the show with her first Grammy-winning song ‘Umbrella’ and rained confetti on the crowd. This was truly an unforgettable experience for many Bajans and hopefully Rihanna will be able to follow this up in the not too distant future. 

Rihanna's show frequently displayed blue and yellow motifs

Photos by The Nation Barbados