f Paria - Ins and Outs of Trinidad & Tobago 2013

Carnival
CaféMoka
The 2010 carnival will be on February
15 and 16. But long before the reign of the
Merry Monarch, the Carnival jumbie is at
work in the mas camps and pan yards.
Carnival is now a year-round industry so
production lines, especially in the mas
camps, hum daily.
In the build up to the Carnival, parties
are held throughout the island catering for
all tastes. Over the years, the all-inclusive
parties have enjoyed tremendous
popularity and range in prices from $200–
$400 per person. As the name all-inclusive
suggests, a ticket entitles you to eat, drink
and fete until you’re wet or…collapse with
exhaustion.
However, the Panorama prelims signal
the official start of Carnival. The semifinals
of the Panorama, called the “Savannah
Party,” are one of the major events of
Carnival. This open-air party features
several of the big steelbands in Trinidad
and Tobago. These bands exchange
musical blows leading into the Panorama
final night. Eight bands clash in the
Panorama final, which is a fight for musical
supremacy. The winner collects $1 million.
The Calypso tents swing open their
doors in early January, and calypsonians
report on current events—social, political
or economic. The calypso is a fine tradition
evolved out of the slavery experience. The
Chantuelles were the early calypsonians
who paved the way for exponents of the art
form like Beginner, Executor, King Radio,
Pierrot Grenade
Roaring Lion, Growling Tiger and others.
Today’s Calypsonians like Sparrow,
Chalkdust, Shadow, and Black Stalin, have
held the calypso torch aloof. Kitch, Melody,
Duke and Terror (all deceased) have made
their contributions.
The Dimanche Gras, which is held
on the Sunday just before Carnival
Monday and Tuesday, is the top show
of the season. It comprises the Calypso
Monarch competition, ole time Carnival
and traditional Carnival characters, and
the final of the King and Queen of Carnival
competition.
The J’Ouvert (daybreak) heralds the start
of the reign of the Merry Monarch. It is a
fun-filled event steeped in the tradition of
slavery, and it continues to this day. In the
old days, the slaves mocked their masters
by portraying them in a satirical ways. In
J’ouvert portrayals, events, personalities
and situations don’t escape the biting wit
of Trinis.
Once the fine tradition in which ole mas
was prominent, J’ouvert now gives way to
mud mas and oil mas, but the festivities
haven’t lost their effervescence and spirit.
The steelbands, over the years,
have been at the forefront of J’ouvert
celebrations, thrilling revelers with classic
songs and music played in what is called
the Bomb Competition. There are several
such competitions held at various venues
in Port of Spain.
One of the major Carnival competitions
held the Friday before Carnival is the Soca
Monarch Competition. Started in 1993, the
competition, dubbed Fantastic Friday, has
grown tremendously over the years. Top
soca bands engage in a bruising battle.
There is another arm of this competition
introduced in 2004 called the Groovy Soca
Monarch, where songs are kept within the
theme…groovy.
Before the main event of Carnival
takes place (the Monday and Tuesday
parade), children have their fun in the sun.
There’s the Red Cross Kiddies Carnival
held weeks before the Carnival Saturday
Junior Parade, a popular event. The Port of
Spain City Corporation Downtown Carnival
Committee holds its Junior Parade on
Carnival Sunday at South Quay, Port of
Spain.
Carnival competitions, parades and
street parties are also held in Arouca,
Arima, Chaguanas, Couva, Carapichaima,
San Fernando and Tobago on Carnival
days. However, the Carnival spotlight falls
on Port of Spain.
On Carnival Monday and Tuesday there’s
an explosion of colour, gaiety and good
vibes on the city streets as the major mas
bands parade. Bands parade through the
city, stopping at the various judging points:
Adam Smith Square, downtown at South
Quay, and at Queen’s Park Savannah.
The last few years have seen a return to
full costuming in the Carnival, kept alive by
bands like Masquerade, Trini Revellers and
Brian Mac Farlane and Associates.
Before, “Bikini Mas” (skimpy costumes
of bras, beads and bikinis) ruled the roost.
However, that type of mas is more popular
with women who seem to dominate
Carnival.
All-inclusive bands like Island People,
Legacy, Tribe, Harts and Genesis, add fun
to the Carnival parade. Enjoyment is the
name of the game on both days of Carnival.
There is the growing trend of bands
securing their members by keeping out
non-paying revelers on Carnival Tuesday,
which is the high point of Carnival.
That’s the day when the city comes
alive with colour, and the massive music
trucks pump up the songs of the road.
Masqueraders come out in full regalia.
But the Carnival of today was not won
without struggle. The Canboulay Riots
of 1881 was a result of a rumour that the
Police Chief intended to suppress Carnival
activities, by curbing the Canboulay
procession. All hell broke loose, and
a fierce battle between police and
masqueraders took place. In the end good
sense prevailed. The National Carnival
Commission (NCC) presently manages
Carnival activities.
www.ncctt.org, www.pantrinbago.co.tt
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The Ins & Outs of Trinidad and Tobago