Carnival in Trinidad & Tobago

“When you go to Carnival every year, you bound to know the different music that makes it to Carnival in Trinidad. It doesn’t matter about the country you’re from.” [Wyclef Jean – Former Fugees lead Rapper].

It’s that time of the year to free up oneself, and before I forget, I wish all citizens of Trinidad and Tobago and all those visiting our shores a joyous, fun filled, exciting and exotic Carnival! This year, the action is sweet and this Carnival weekend plus Monday and Tuesday promise to be an exciting time. A note of caution- be safe, protect yourself. I know that some of you are inclined to get drunk and have sex on the side of the road- please, if you must, make sure and clean the area, and of course, use a condom- the disease doesn’t take a vacation because it is Carnival. Although it is a time to free up, recklessness must be kept to a minimum!

In writing the column this week, I couldn’t help think about Carnival of years gone by, of the Mighty Sparrow, Lord Kitchener, Calypso Rose and Singing Francine- ah, those were the days. Some of you might even remember the year when Johnny King sang “Wet Meh Down.” This year, we have Machel’s “Scandalous,” Alison’s “Roll It,” Shurwayne’s “Don’t Stop,” and many other pieces out there. Give me the vintage kaiso. I could handle that. Remember Zandole singing his humourous calypsos…

We are a very creative people. Carnival is the product of all the energies of our artistes- calypsonians, mas men, steel bands and craftsmen. Our Carnival in the early stages was influenced by traditions from two continents, Europe and Africa. Some say that the contentment of the Trinidadian slaves led to the exponential growth of Carnival on our island. Carlton R. Ottley stated “Carnival had come to Trinidad sometime in the 1780’s with the arrival of the flood of French immigrants. It is true that the Spaniards did celebrate with disguise balls before that, but the beginning of the festival such as known today may be said to be a product of those early French men and women who sought refuge here towards the close of the 18th century.”

Carnival in Trinidad is something special. As Machel Montano put it during a BBC interview, “The heart and soul of Trinidad Carnival is the music- the people are the backbone of the event and their experiences shape the soundtrack.” Although Carnival has to some degree lost its essence, with the major emphasis now on competition and money making ventures rather than creativity, we have still managed to salvage something of the past.

One thing still saddens me about Carnival and it was the death of Soca Star Onika Bostic in December 2004. To this day, I still miss her. Just a few days shy of her 25th birthday, Onika has left her mark on the hearts and minds of many a people. She was considered to be a mix of brains and beauty, and she demonstrated loyalty and commitment at every turn. Her mother was always there to provide love and guidance, and this shows clearly the need for close knit families if our society is to escape the ravages of a barbaric era, with crime and immorality rampant throughout the land.

As I said before, our Carnival is special. Some were known to describe it as the greatest show on earth. It, however, has a genesis that is common to many other Carnivals across the world. In Germany, they called it Fastnacht, Karneval or Fasching depending on the dialect you used. It was said to be a ritual that resembled the pagan festival at the winter solstice when the forces of evil were chased away by noise.

The Catholic Church is said to have changed the purpose of the pagan ceremonies to become Carnival. The new meaning was to be a last time pig-out, to drink and to eat, to be happy just before the beginning of lent, the traditional Christian fast before Easter. The meaning of fast- [to fast] nacht [night] is “night before fast.” The word Karneval, known as Carnival comes from the Latin Carnevale with the meaning of meat farewell.

Since then, Carnival has come to mean different things to different people here in Trinidad and Tobago. Traditionally for us, Carnival is the last blow-out before lent: a time of excess, when the prohibitions on carnal satisfaction are abolished and popular creative energy is given full expression in the form of costumes, calypso, steel pan etc…

Society is, in normal circumstances ruled by the “head.” During Carnival, hierarchy is not only suspended, but inverted. The village idiot becomes king and the outcasts take part in a revelry that is unique, but inviting. It is a space-time governed by “the grotesque body”- the joyously eating, drinking, screwing and odor-emitting regions of corporal existence, which the mind ignores or otherwise represses. Carnival is a reminder that the Prime Minister’s shit stinks too!

Carnival is not simply the negation of “official” society with all its rules and solemnity. It is the molten core of culture itself! Therefore, if Carnival is now vulgar and even more amoral than times past, we, as a society can be classified as vulgar and amoral as well.

Criticism of Carnival is on some occasions unfounded. It is because of Carnival that Trinidad and Tobago has not experienced any significant political upheavals or revolutions throughout the years. The relative contentment experienced during Carnival acts as a stress reliever, an avenue of escape from the day to day challenges for the ordinary man.

Even though we have much to complain about in our society, let us take this time to enjoy what is truly ours, to relish in things “Trini” and to showcase to the world our very many talents as it pertains to creativity- an explosion of a potpourri of different backgrounds, races and cultures. Let’s celebrate our vintage kaisos, our soca, our chutney and our steel pan. It is time to commit to appreciating what is ours, the beauty and splendour of our magnificence. Carnival is, after all, the great equalizer! Happy Carnival one and all…