There’s a conversation that takes place in Jamaica about Dancehall versus Soca very regularly. And that conversation gets very heated around Jamaica Carnival. It’s a hard conversation for me to listen to, because having lived in Jamaica – I studied at UWI, Mona – I hear the xenophobia in the comments. Too often when Jamaican…
I have it. Jade Gadeon’s Carnival, adult colouring book. Jade has realistically rendered the costumes, colour and music of Trinidad Carnival. You can tell that the book was made by a mas playing Trini. I was surprised by the Minshall costumes that she included in the book. She clearly had access to his work. I…
My new favourite thing for Carnival isn’t new at all. It’s a traditional martial art, or fighting style, that was born in Trinidad to African and Indian parents and seems to be having a revival. It’s called Kalinda or Stickfighting. I first went to Stickfighting last year, and had a blast. My favourite thing are…
Dr. McCartha Linda Sandy-Lewis is back in Trinidad, having arrived safely from Paris. Victoire de Music, we’ve been referring to it as the French Grammy. Her manager says she’s still breaking ground. She is the first Caribbean person to win a Victoire, and to receive a standing ovation at the ceremony for her performance Save…
I had a time at Bishop’s Fete. Kes the Band were amazing. As was the food and atmosphere. I mean, I didn’t even mind it when I got wet by water from Iwer. Here are some of my pictures from the night. On to my next. Save Save
Robert Young’s band Vulgar Fraction’s presentation for 2017 is called the Caribbean Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea. The models were people Robert selected from the crowd. He dressed them and they began twirling. The band has a loose structure, but I was surprised by how I was warming to it. The costumes,…
The Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival tries to showcase Trinbagonian and Caribbean films outside of the traditional festival period. Their Carnival Film Series (to diffrentiate it from its main festival) has been going on for a few years now. This year they decided to take a look back. The Film Series will feature 3 feature…
If you are coming to Trinidad for Carnival bookmark this post because it has the dates of all the must-see, never-been-to-but-want-to, and regional Carnival events for Carnival 2017. This first is from the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and the Arts. The Second is from the National Carnival Commission. This one is the one to…
It’s a Carnival miracle. The blog title is a lie. The feud is over. Machel Montano and Bunji Garlin are together on one track and it’s fire! Heh HA! Fanism unlocked. I lurve eet! My friend Keegan Taylor, soca producer, stick fighter is one of the writers. I heard the song and immediately called him…
Patrice Roberts wants you to know that she’s a big woman now. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9ihFiC_OMw?rel=0] And Voice has released the video for his song Far From Finished. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojPxM54slHk?rel=0] All to usher in the Carnival Jumbie that Christmas and New Year’s Celebrations was keeping at bay.