South Jersey Caribbean Festival prez ‘overjoyed’ with ‘overwhelming attendance’

Kylla Herbert, president and coordinator of the South Jersey Caribbean Festival in Camden, says she was “overjoyed” with the “overwhelming attendance” on July 13 at 24th Annual event, at Wiggins Park, at the Camden Waterfront.

“It was a festive day with beautiful weather at Wiggins Park, where people of all ages enjoyed themselves, as they celebrated Caribbean culture,” Herbert, whose late father hailed from Nevis, the sister isle of the twin-island Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, told Caribbean Life on Monday.

“There were many free activities for children, which included face painting, interactive games, arts and crafts,” she added. “There were a variety of food vendors, which allowed participants to taste authentic Caribbean cuisine, as well as local dishes.

From left, Camden City Mayor Victor Carstarphen and Kylla Herbert, president of the South Jersey Caribbean Cultural Organization, organizer of the South Jersey Caribbean Festival. Photo by Soloman Williams

“The South Jersey Chapter of the Black Nurses Association was present, providing health screenings and information,” Herbert continued. “The Camden City Fire Department, charter schools and local organizations were onsite, providing essential information and resources to the community. Art and crafts vendors sold a variety of items, such as candles, jewelry, body butters and cultural wear.”

She said the concert stage was “filled with lively entertainment from start to finish,” with MCs Debbie “Jazzy” Agbessi and TyTy Double Dogz, also known as, “Mr. International”, and DJ Ross keeping “the energy high and the vibes going all day.”

Brooklyn-based We United Band “gave an exciting performance that had the crowd dancing,” and the Kaisokah Moko Jumbies “walked throughout the park,” Herbert said.

In addition, she said there were performances by local artists, including NGR.IAM, Orchestra LA 95 Latin Band, Jewels Afro Caribbean Dance Team, Soca Sakita Fitness, Fantasy Island Masqueraders, Wilson El Divino, and Camden’s Universal Dance and Drum Ensemble.

Herbert said the Philadelphia Pan Stars Steel Orchestra performed on the promenade, with patrons enjoying sweet steel pan music as they entered the park, and while were eating and shopping.

She said there was also a performance by Willingboro, NJ-based, award-winning step team, Getting Better Together (GBE), comprising talented young ladies who “believe in getting 1 percent better every day.”

Herbert said GBE was founded by Indigo Paschal, a young educator and mentor of Trinidad and Tobago heritage.

She said GBE was founded on “God, love, sisterhood and hard work”.

“GBE’s performance was uplifting and energetic,” said Herbert, adding that the Bronx-based Belizean group, Alex Colon and the Garifuna Ensemble, provided “an educational and entertaining Garifuna cultural display, providing storytelling and drumming to the crowd.”

Universal Dance and Drum Ensemble performs at the South Jersey Caribbean Festival. Photo by Soloman Williams

She said Julien ‘Believe’ Thompson, an international artist from Bahamas, also performed.

Herbert said Thompson has “created a reputation for himself by incorporating collaborations, with music powerhouses from throughout the Caribbean into each new music project, creating a hybrid of soca and Bahamian Junkanoo rhythms that has become the signature Julien Believe sound fans intensely look forward to in every song.”

She said the talented creator of the “Junkanoo Pop Sound” was dubbed the “Bahamian Icon Award winner” for the Most Popular Song in 2014 for his hit single, “The Caribbean Slide”.

“Julien Believe’s performance at the 24th Annual South Jersey Caribbean Festival was electrifying and engaging,” Herbert said. “During his performance, he jumped off the stage into the crowd to interact with the crowd and teach everyone ‘the Caribbean Slide.’

“Overall, the 24th Annual South Jersey Caribbean Festival was amazing,” she added. “It was a great day to celebrate Caribbean culture on the Camden Waterfront.

“We were blessed with beautiful weather, and it was joyful to see attendees dancing and interacting with the hosts and performing artists,” Herbert added. “The South Jersey Caribbean Festival’s planning committee invites everyone to join us for our 25th 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 Team International, which coordinates Vincentian athletes at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia – said he was delighted to be an executive member of the South Jersey Caribbean Festival.

“It’s been about 17 years since the father of this vibrant organization transitioned,” he told Caribbean Life. “But he left an amazing array of volunteers and officers led by his daughter, Kylla Herbert, who embraces not only the culture but all things Caribbean.

“We look forward to celebrating 25 years in 2025,” Cordice added. “We plan to add more history and story-telling to the line-up. I am simply appreciative for this opportunity to serve.”

Livingston Benjamin, from Butler’s Village in Nevis, said this year’s festival was “a wonderful celebration of Caribbean music, food and culture.

“The weather was ideal for the event, hot and beautiful like the Caribbean,” he said. “I believe that the 2024 South Jersey Caribbean Festival will be fondly remembered by all who were there.”

Niger Ali, whose father hails from Jamaica, said the 24th Annual South Jersey Caribbean Festival was “fun in the sun – dancing people with sweat and smiles.

“Can’t wait for the 25th Annual,” he said. “Big up the one, Kylla Herbert, for maintaining a well vital tradition, Caribbean vybz live. Massive respect and love for the opportunity to showcase my music.”

Bahamians Julien ‘Believe’ Thompson and Dr. Berdine Gordon Littrean.Photo by Kylla Herbert

Dr. Berdine Gordon-Littrean, whose father hailed from the Bahamas, said the festival was “a vibrant and lively event that brought together revelers and ‘bachannalists’ from all over the tri-state area.

“This year’s festival stood out in a positive light due to the full turnout of attendees who were eager to celebrate Caribbean culture and music,” she said. “The atmosphere and vibes were energetic, with pulsating rhythms and diverse cultural representations adding to the festive ambiance.

“One of the highlights of this year’s festival was the presence of a music artist from my father’s own Caribbean island, representing the Bahamas,” Dr. Gordon-Littrean added. “It was truly a memorable experience to perform on stage with Julien ‘Believe’ Thompson.

“The energy produced as he interacted and captivated the audience with his music, ‘Caribbean Slide’, and sharing his newly-released single, ‘Ain’t Nothing Like Home’, was undeniably memorable,” she continued. “Performing on stage, together with this music artist from one’s homeland, was a blessing and a moment that will be cherished for years to come.”

Agbessi, also known as “Jazzy on Da Mic”, said she has been serving as a volunteer and a planning committee member for the South Jersey Caribbean Festival since 2011.

“The event itself was beautiful,” she said. “The Camden and Caribbean communities from near and far came out, and showed their love and support for our event. We were able to offer a multicultural experience to those who enjoy Caribbean culture.

“The feeling of fellowship is what I believe we all experienced on Saturday, July 13,” Agbessi added. “We have a saying, ‘One Love’ and ‘All ah we is one’. Saturday, we all shared our love for the Caribbean culture.”