Caribbean Compass Yachting Magazine - February 2021

Two Artisans
in Carriacou:
made from mahogany logs, mostly carved with hand
tools such as gouges after hollowing out the log with a
chain saw. He usually uses pigskin for the membrane,
called a drumhead or drumskin. Shaka began making
bongo drums 25 years ago and has been making
necklaces since his schooldays.
Shaka began scuba diving about 18 years ago and
worked for dive shops, as well as selling the fish and
lobsters he caught. About seven years ago he suffered
RONI EVERTON
RONI EVERTON (2)
SHAKA AND LUÍS
by John Everton
Aaron H. Barry’s aliases include Shaka, Zulu and
Bongo. Shaka was born in Grenada in 1980. He moved
to Carriacou when 17 and has lived here ever since. Of
all the West Indians here that I know he has the most
African aspect, particularly in his dress, his bongo
playing and the choice of materials in the necklaces he
makes, which include animal bones and teeth that he
finds when walking. Shaka’s art is more for art’s sake
than profit; however, he will accept presents of value
in exchange for necklaces and the drums he fabricates,
as well as accepting commissions.
Shaka’s bongo playing is certainly African based and
I have seen him pick up the tempo and add zest to
various bands he plays with. On board at night one
can often hear his distinctive drumming drift across
the water from the shore. The bases of his drums are
LUIS SAAVEDRA
a bends accident while diving southeast of Petite
Martinique. He was down to 110 feet and when he
ascended to 90 feet his regulator and mask blew out.
Without being able to see he was able to activate an
emergency regulator on his tank, which unfortunately
proved faulty, so he came straight up to the surface
from 90 feet. He was eventually transported to a
decompression chamber in St. Lucia as at the time
Grenada did not have one. Lucky to survive, he walks
with a limp in one leg and with the aid of a crutch. He
thought I should mention the accident in this article to
warn other scuba divers of potential dangers.
Always colourfully dressed, and usually accompanied
by his faithful dog JJ, Shaka can be seen regularly on
the Tyrell Bay waterfront anywhere between Lambi
Queen and The Old Rum Shop. When he is not out
fishing or at home making bongo drums or creating
jewelry he is listening to music or watching music
videos and you can bet your bottom dollar it is African
singing and dancing.
Aaron - Shaka - Zulu - Bongo H. Barry is a very
spiritual man, an artist who works with nature, in true
touch with his ancestral roots.
Another artisan now in Carriacou who has something
in common with Shaka is José Luís Roman Saavedra,
a native of La Coruña, Galicia, Spain, who arrived in
the Caribbean in January 2020 after an Atlantic
crossing on the 28-foot gaff cutter Sauntress. Sauntress
is the smallest square-rigger sailing and one of the
oldest wooden boats currently sailing in the Caribbean,
having been launched in Cardiff, Wales, in 1913. Luís
has been first mate of Sauntress for 15 years after
joining the boat in La Coruña. When she crossed last
winter, Sauntress called in at Tobago before arriving in
Tyrell Bay, where she soon hauled out in Carriacou
Marine. Back in the water Sauntress was my neighbour
for several months until we moved into the mangroves
for the threat from Tropical Storm Gonzalo. Luís has
been living ashore for the past few months until his
skipper decides to sail on. As the skipper has also fallen
in love with Carriacou, that won’t be anytime soon.
When Luís was 20 years of age he started working for
his uncle on weekends. His uncle was a carver in wood
and stone; Luis preferred working with wood, in which he
became proficient. Boxwood is his favourite for carving
because, as a very slow growing bush, it has virtually no
grain and is almost inert. Old-fashioned chisel handles
are crafted from boxwood. Other woods Luis finds
agreeable for carving include black walnut, black cypress,
olive and lime. Tools Luís uses for carving include
gouges, a magnifying glass and an extremely sharp knife
like a scapel. He usually works with the grain.
An example of motifs used on a knife handle include
Above: Aaron H. Barry — better known as Shaka, Zulu
or Bongo — makes drums from mahogany logs, mostly
carved with hand tools.
Left: Shaka and Luís. When seeing each other’s work
they had an instant rapport and respect for one another.
Inset: Shaka and his friend Santa (at left), creating a
beat. On board at night sailors can often hear drumming
drift across the water from the shore.
Bottom left: Luís will spend many hours, days or weeks
working on one carving.
Below: Luís sketches in his ideas onto the wood
in pencil, and then carves the finished artwork.
leaves, the lighthouse of Hercules (a Roman lighthouse
in La Coruña) a mermaid, a snake, a ship under sail,
fish scales, a crab with a beer in one claw and a joint
in the other, a seahorse drinking brandy — all carved
in intricate detail. He will spend many hours, days or
weeks working on one carving. Luís works from pure
imagination, although sometimes, with a particular
image, he will on draw it on paper, glue it on the wood,
and carve around it.
Like Shaka, for the most part Luis is a noncommercial
artist — art for art’s sake. In place of cash,
he too will accept gifts that he can value. But most of
his work he gives to friends or keeps for himself.
Besides carving for friends and his own private
collection he will accept commissions. He has many
followers on Instagram, which puts him in touch with
carvers all around the world.
Besides carving, Luís is an excellent fisherman, cook
and invaluable crewmember of Sauntress. He has
worked on her in every winter re-fit and races on her
in all the local regattas.
I enjoyed introducing Shaka and Luís, who when
seeing each other’s work had an instant rapport and
respect for one another.
LUIS SAAVEDRA
FEBRUARY 2021 CARIBBEAN COMPASS PAGE 21