CARNIVAL
2015!!!!! “THE STREETS OF PORT OF SPAIN” WHAT AN EPIC EXPERIENCE! LIKE NO OTHER
CARNIVAL ON THE GLOBE. IT’S CERTAINLY A ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE FOR
VISITORS ALL OVER THE WORLD AND FOR CITIZENS OF SWEET TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO!
Carnival
among many other festivities and celebration are one of the top mind-blowing
electrical entertainments of the Caribbean life in the West Indies. Trinidad's
Carnival has spawned similar celebrations around the world, but nothing on
earth can rival the abandon, euphoria and stunning spectacle of our festival.
Carnival one of the most important and anticipated events on the Trinidad and
Tobago cultural calendar results in the culmination of activity within the city
boundaries such as street parades, open air parties, steel pan and calypso
finals. The city is used as a canvas for the population to portray the
culmination of this unique cultural festival.
Carnival activities take place throughout the country however it is the
events that occur in Port of Spain the city that is used to truly manifest this
spectacle of human energy and entertainment. In our globalized world many of
the images of carnival that is broadcast worldwide emanate from the streets of
Port of Spain.
In
Trinidad and Tobago there are no limits to this party and charade of rainbow
coloured costumes adorn on the bodies of its owners. It’s not for a particular
age group, it is for everyone! Young, old, middle aged, children (kiddies
Carnival usually held on the Sunday before carnival Monday). Prior to these two days “carnival Monday and
Tuesday” there are many parties and competitions that are held in Honor of
these two spectacular days. The launching of the bands Tribe, Island people,
Legacy, Dream team TNT just to name a few, Panorama (Ultimate Steel band
Competition), Chutney Brass, Soca Brass, Chutney Soca Monarch, Machel Monday
concert, Kes in Concert “Tuesday on the Rocks”, Beach house Carnival All
inclusive and the list goes on and on, most of which are held within close
proximity to Port of Spain. To really enjoy the real vibes and the real essence
of Carnival, tourist needs to embark on the island at least one month in
advance as for citizens are blessed with the opportunity to experience every
ounce of what carnival have to offer. For most of the population it’s a “Brain
cooler” away from the hassle and bustle of everyday common life, from home to
work to home again, or school.
Carnival only took place in the Central business
Districts (Port Of Spain) due to its accessibility for all citizens and tourists, as the years
passed by the crowds grew immensely thus making it a task for some to get to
the venue without the additional traffic congestion and controversy. Thus the
festivities have dispersed to several smaller towns making it convenient for
all to participate. The bands are much smaller than the bands that are hosted
in the city of Port of Spain and San-Fernando but it is just as much fun.
Within the Port of Spain area itself the parade of the bands are very
extravagant and are now launched from the National Stadium or the Soca Drone
for the safety of members and in fear of the rise in crime levels in the
eastern hemisphere of the city.
2015
carnival in the city of Port of Spain and the streets were illuminated with festivities and endless
partying all of which have economic benefits to the clubs owners, band leaders,
designers and mainly the to the country’s revenue. Port of Spain is the
economic focal point, festivities major source of income generation for city
stakeholders. Carnival has now become a commercialized industry with many
aspects apart from primarily providing entertainment is a major income
generator for all those within its sphere of influence. This has resulted in it
becoming bigger more streamlined and regulated by government agencies. To
maintain control and to seek efficiency in terms confining events to specific
geographical areas, when events are to start and end etc all in an effort to
maintain some order while carnival takes place in the city.
In
preparation for the parade of the bands on the “BIG DAYS’’ a lot of
manufacturing, planning and coordinating are embellished into every aspect to
achieve perfection. Thus with the holistic aspect of globalization, costume
designers are now faced with a changes that can either have a positive or
negative impact. Costume production which is an integral element of carnival
has become a global industry, this as many in the industry has said will reduce
the creativity and credibility of this art form. Band leaders can now import
costumes form China and India at competitive prices. This some say will
compromise the creativity and traditional aspects of mask production. The local
mask industry is now faced with a dilemma of maintain the heritage of the mass
culture while navigating the economic viability of the industry. This is
compounded by the fact that carnival is now a global event, the new wave of
masqueraders and culture is being influenced by festival in Brazil and other
parts of the world this has changed the image of local carnival to be more in
tune to the global standards. This has both negative and positive implications,
as it may result in the decline and eventual extinction of traditional
characters like the Pierrot Grenade, Tan Tan and Saga Boy to name a few. However
a compromise may to be made as indicated by Kenwyn Critchlow, a visual arts
lecturer at the University of the West Indies the demographics of the
masquerader has evolved over the years from initially being predominately male
to female performers this sexualization of carnival has caused the change in
the composition and design of the masquerade element of carnival. Globalization has also impacted on the
music of carnival to merge it with other global music genres. (http://www.gotrinidadandtobago.com/trinidad/carnival/)
On
Carnival Monday masqueraders venture out into the streets as early as 2 am
gathering at their J’ouvert band gathering point. In Port of Spain there are
many gathering sites, from the Hasely Crawford Stadium, the Queens Park oval,
Ariapita Avenue, Woodford Square, St. James. I played with the Band Insomniac
and the gathering point was opposite the Hasely Crawford stadium. Before
journeying onto the road ways members of the band partake in a before party.
The air is filled with the vibration of pumping music, soca with a combination
of chutney, most of which were created and launched for the 2015 carnival
celebrations. This party last for about an hour and is followed by the march
out into the road that is led by a couple of music trucks. On the road masqueraders
dance, whine, jump up you name it, to the beats and the rhythms of the very
upbeat music and participates in dozing their friends in paint, chocolate or
whatever mixture the band provides, this just takes the experience to another
level and added to the enjoyment and fun. J’ouvert goes on until about 7-8am
and the band of people are greeted by an after party at the gathering venue.
Some stays out on the road until the party is done. Others venture back home to
prepare for the Gala day of Carnival Tuesday. Carnival Tuesday is all about the
costumes and the variety of colours, crossing the big stage and surreal climax
of great merriment and gratification. Taking the pictures for this blog allowed
for the experience of being among the masqueraders. Here you see the
harmonising of different races and people locally and from across the border.
There are Indians, Africans, Chinese, Americans, Syrians, Islanders from the
surrounding islands relishing every aspects and experience they can grasp from
that instant time and moment.
Instantly
anyone can say it brings together people! This experience is an experience that
no one can get elsewhere, with such diverse culture and dissipation. The bands
are led by a mascot that represents the title of it. As shown in the picture we
can see the mascot leading the masqueraders along the streets where people are
anxiously waiting to reveal the variety of costumes to the onlookers, with
alleviated excitement and delight chipping down the road until dawn.
