BARBUDA'S FIRST CARIBANA - Antigua & Barbuda
BARBUDA'S FIRST CARIBANA - Antigua & Barbuda BARBUDA'S FIRST CARIBANA - Antigua & Barbuda
Antigua’s Carnival is different, and that’s good! We cannot even begin to vie with Trinidad and Brazil ’s extravaganzas. But why should we? Our colourful celebration characterised by revelry, creativity, iron bands and steel orchestras, is something that is completely different, or ought to be different. However, the way some of us try to ape or mimic the scanty costumes and questionable mannerisms of foreign revellers, it is obvious that most of us do not know why we differ. What then, is the difference about Antigua ’s Carnival? August Monday makes the difference. Remembrance of that tremendously significant event in our people’s march toward freedom and justice and the recognition of the worth of the black man/woman—and of every other human being, for that matter—is enshrined in the emancipation of African slaves. Surely, this was— and still is—cause for rejoicing and merrymaking. Certainly, we must always celebrate this event—lest we forget! Therefore, as we approach the celebrations marking the Fiftieth Anniversary of Carnival 2007, we must seek for the true meaning behind the celebrations. We need to pause and contextualise those celebrations within the broader picture, namely, the more than one hundred and fifty years of the process of emancipation. And process it is, as Antiguan Fr. Kortwright Davis reminds us in his book, Emancipation, Still A’ Coming! In that same vein, Bishop Donald J. Reece would that the “ghost” of Tim Hector could haunt us! We can remember his ever stimulating and thoughtprovoking articles in The Outlet to keep us focussed on the true meaning of Carnival cum Emancipation. Truth to tell, initially Antigua ’s Carnival was launched as an economic endeavour to attract tourists and other visitors during the summer. However, this Caribbean “Summerfest” par excellence should evolve into a loftier significance by the August Monday observance. Why? The best in human beings is always in search of relevant meaning. It is this search and yearning for a loftier meaning of Carnival that gave birth to the VIITUS MAS GROUP in 1993. VITUS was controversial from the outset, because it had— and still has—the sponsorship and blessing of the Catholic Church and is countercultural in terms of semi-nudity and explicit promiscuous behaviour before a mixed audience including young, impressionable minds. Succinctly put, VITUS’ “merry and moral” focus grew out of continued on p76 come celebrate our golden jubilee
continued from p75 the Catholic Community’s concerns over the declining standards of behaviour exhibited during the island’s annual family cultural festival. Also, there was need to reverse the decreasing or lack of appreciation for local art form: steelband and iron band. Consequently, with a concerted effort to keep local culture alive, the musical accompaniment for VITUS’ street parades has, from its inception, been provided solely by steelbands and an iron band. To this day, VITUS continues to be the only Carnival troupe to utilize these indigenous art forms on the road. To preserve the dying art of stilt walking, VITUS introduced its own corps of Moco Jumbies in 1995, and conducts annual training workshops with Barbadian professional, Ifie Wilkinson. For Carnival 2002, VITUS put nearly 70 stilt walkers on the road - a major accomplishment by any standard, and more so, since VITUS was a “new kid on the Carnival block.” It is interesting to note that, to date, VITUS has won the coveted Band of the Year title on three occasions, and has consistently placed among the top three positions. The junior players have been even more successful, copping the top prize in 7 of their 9 years of competition. By about 1995, requests were pouring in for the group to appear at a variety of events outside of Carnival – church and community functions, Sailing Week activities, Independence and New Year’s Day parades, national functions for the Department of Culture, etc. The same set of performers took part in most of these affairs, so it seemed only logical that they be formally organized into a second, smaller group, VITUS Cultural Performers. Human beings are ultimately searching for the transcendental values: wholeness, truth, and beauty. VITUS’ entry into Carnival reminds us all of those values that bring out the best in a free and liberated people. I propose that Emancipation (150+), which is ongoing, also finds its achievement in those trancendentals. VITUS’ creative costumes and behaviour reflect that one can be “merry and moral” at the same time. This motto re-echoes Marcus Tullius Cicero’s (43 B.C.) caution that is still relevant: “Excessive liberty leads both nations and individuals into excessive slavery.” Neither can we ignore Bob Marley’s caution: “Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery; none but ourselves can free our minds!” May this Fiftieth Anniversary of Carnival take on greater meaning for one and all, men, women, youth and children. Let camaraderie and decency reign! May our perennial struggle for ongoing emancipation become the watchword for calypsonians, revellers and Mas makers. “Fifty” is not greater than “One Fifty plus!” Emancipation gives true meaning to Antigua ’s Carnival 2007. VITUS mediates that meaning!
- Page 1 and 2: 38 King Goldie First Caribana King
- Page 3 and 4: 40 I remembered some years ago as I
- Page 5 and 6: AD F/P
- Page 7 and 8: continued from p43 the island eithe
- Page 9 and 10: 46 As far back as I can remember, a
- Page 11 and 12: 48 Calypso is defined as a popular
- Page 14 and 15: Sir McLean Emanuel better known as
- Page 16 and 17: Another great moment in my life was
- Page 18 and 19: Calypso profile A mechanic, father,
- Page 20 and 21: Calypso profile Althea Queen Singin
- Page 22 and 23: In 1997, Scorpion became the first
- Page 24 and 25: When Rupert “Baba” Blaize was i
- Page 26 and 27: In the calypso sphere there are som
- Page 28 and 29: Calypso profile Trevor Zacari King
- Page 30 and 31: Calypso profile Shelly Tobitt Calyp
- Page 33 and 34: 70 Stanley R. Humphreys is one of A
- Page 35 and 36: continued from p71 financial suppor
- Page 40: MasprofilE Colin Wanga Martin Lesro
continued from p75<br />
the Catholic Community’s concerns over the<br />
declining standards of behaviour exhibited<br />
during the island’s annual family cultural festival.<br />
Also, there was need to reverse the decreasing or<br />
lack of appreciation for local art form: steelband<br />
and iron band. Consequently, with a concerted<br />
effort to keep local culture alive, the musical<br />
accompaniment for VITUS’ street parades has,<br />
from its inception, been provided solely by<br />
steelbands and an iron band. To this day, VITUS<br />
continues to be the only Carnival troupe to utilize<br />
these indigenous art forms on the road.<br />
To preserve the dying art of stilt walking, VITUS<br />
introduced its own corps of Moco Jumbies in<br />
1995, and conducts annual training workshops<br />
with Barbadian professional, Ifie Wilkinson. For<br />
Carnival 2002, VITUS put nearly 70 stilt walkers<br />
on the road - a major accomplishment by any<br />
standard, and more so, since VITUS was a “new<br />
kid on the Carnival block.”<br />
It is interesting to note that, to date, VITUS has<br />
won the coveted Band of the Year title on three<br />
occasions, and has consistently placed among<br />
the top three positions. The junior players<br />
have been even more successful, copping the<br />
top prize in 7 of their 9 years of competition.<br />
By about 1995, requests were pouring in for the<br />
group to appear at a variety of events outside of<br />
Carnival – church and community functions, Sailing<br />
Week activities, Independence and New Year’s<br />
Day parades, national functions for the Department<br />
of Culture, etc. The same set of performers took<br />
part in most of these affairs, so it seemed only<br />
logical that they be formally organized into a<br />
second, smaller group, VITUS Cultural Performers.<br />
Human beings are ultimately searching for the<br />
transcendental values: wholeness, truth, and<br />
beauty. VITUS’ entry into Carnival reminds<br />
us all of those values that bring out the best<br />
in a free and liberated people. I propose that<br />
Emancipation (150+), which is ongoing, also finds<br />
its achievement in those trancendentals. VITUS’<br />
creative costumes and behaviour reflect that one<br />
can be “merry and moral” at the same time. This<br />
motto re-echoes Marcus Tullius Cicero’s (43 B.C.)<br />
caution that is still relevant: “Excessive liberty<br />
leads both nations and individuals into excessive<br />
slavery.” Neither can we ignore Bob Marley’s<br />
caution: “Emancipate yourselves from mental<br />
slavery; none but ourselves can free our minds!”<br />
May this Fiftieth Anniversary of Carnival take on<br />
greater meaning for one and all, men, women,<br />
youth and children. Let camaraderie and<br />
decency reign! May our perennial struggle for<br />
ongoing emancipation become the watchword for<br />
calypsonians, revellers and Mas makers. “Fifty”<br />
is not greater than “One Fifty plus!” Emancipation<br />
gives true meaning to <strong>Antigua</strong> ’s Carnival 2007.<br />
VITUS mediates that meaning!
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