And We’re Back!
Whew!
Hello readers, subscribers, good people,
For the past few days StudioLafoncette.com went quiet. After many hours of frustration on the phone with my former hosting site (and boy can I tell you something about them!), here we are. I missed you so much. I hope you have a great weekend.
Enjoy
L
Oooh! De Lagniappe! Just because I love you and I do owe you a few
A Throw Back: DC Carnival 2007
Shot from the top of the parade route on Georgia Avenue NW, perhaps near Petworth. So many things have changed in the 5 years since I shot this it’s hard to recognize the spot. See anyone you know?
A masquerader from the Virgin Islands carnival troupe. So since the US Virgin Islands is a part of the US, technically Caribbean culture is United States culture too. Does that give us any traction for the mas? Hmm… just a thought, or maybe a thought experiement.
A king in one of the bands on Georgia Avenue for DC Carnival 2007. Preparations begin many months ahead, sometimes as early as July of the preceeding year. It must be a significant loss to mas men and women that their hard work and considerable expense these past months has been in vain.
A moko jumbie on Georgia Avenue, DC Carnival 2007. As high as the trees that line the parade route. I wonder what the ancestors think of all of this.
DC Jab Jab (DC Caribbean Carnival)
Jab Jab Possee on Georgia Avenue, DC Caribbean Carnival 2010
Hello folks, I’m back! Did you miss me? I’m sorry I’ve left you for so long. No excuse is appropriate, I know. I will try not to do so again. I had looked forward to a series on DC Caribbean Carnival, but it appears it is dead this year. I wonder where the carnival babies will play, where the pilgrims will pilgrimage. The main themes: DC government says the committee owes over $200,000 and they were warned last year that there would be no parade this year if they didn’t pay up. The DC Caribbean Carnival Committee says they were promised funding that was pulled at the last minute and the City has often mandated a show of force that is excessive for this type of event and as a consequence, costly. And The People (that ephemeral but culturally distinctive group that appears in crisis and in triumph) says that the government doh want de carnival, or Caribbean people, or black people anyway, or one can’t trust the committee. Other people say, “we going Baltimore”, “move it from DC altogether”, “who cares, the parade is crap we’ll just have fetes.” I am wondering whether blogging is enough. But for now, less talk, more pictures. I’ll figure out a way to mourn or fight. See you soon.
Enjoy
L
Bdc Lagniappe 2 – Structure
What makes Trinidad mas stand out from some other carnivals is the broad emphasis on masqueraders individually carrying their costumes – large or small – on their person, even children. Floats are non-existent and masqueraders in vehicles – termed lorry mas and comprising (usually) the elite in costume standing in a truck to separate them from the masses - is generally a thing of the past. To this end mas designers and structuralists use light materials and as efficient as possible harnessing techniques to usually create a back pack or harness. This is fitted to the masquerader and the costume is designed around the backpack and ultimately, if done well, covered or disguised (as pictured above).
For the enormous adult king and queen costumes which often extend to over 25 ft in width and higher than 15 ft, rather than a backpack or harness, a mainframe is constructed and supported on large wheels, and the masquerader has to pull the structure. A well-constructed adult king or queen costume can span several feet in height and width and be carried by a backpack; however, these are a rare find, and tend to be smaller. The construction of the costume is a part of judging for the adult and junior individual competitions. Judges inspect costumes and evaluate the construction back stage prior to competition.
This carrying the mas is a continuation from the African tradition of masking where mas is worn on the person. The individual becomes the mas, there is no separation.
Photo of the Week (10/52): Moko Jumbie
They represent the ancestors. I never get tired of seeing moko jumbies (as they’re called in Trinidad & Tobago). They’re an integral part of this African-influenced Trinbagonian festival. Apparently, Moko is traditionally known as a god in the Congo.
When I was a child the moko jumbies scared the living daylight out of me. One of my earliest carnival memories is being in Point Fortin, Trinidad for carnival with my great-aunt and crying, hiding behind her skirt as the moko jumbie came near. Now I see jumbies and for some reason it just stirs my spirit and captivates me. I hope you experience something that stirs your spirit and captivates you this weekend.
Enjoy
L
BdC Lagniappe* 1: Mas Camp
Mas Camp
Definition: a place where individuals design, construct, sew, decorate, create mas. Traditionally mas camps would be the nucleus of carnival. Masqueraders go there to view drawings and prototypes, choose the section of the band they’d like to play in, register and pay fees. The mas camp is where one goes to collect the costume and often the meeting/ assembly point for the band. Still today in Trinidad & Tobago there are mas camps where you can enter and see scores of people gluing, welding, sewing, cutting, glittering costumes and all other creative exercises.
Ah Still Here, Just hiding
Just letting you know I’m still here. A follow-up to BdC is coming, we’ll call it a lagniappe, just because 21 days of blogging de ca’naval really wasn’t enough, was it. There’s so much to see and know. In the meantime, I hope this quells your hunger pangs (if, in fact you had any).
Taken on Carnival Tuesday, some call it Mardi Gras. Beautiful, just beautiful – this was not the only shot, far from it, but I like this quirky angle and the effects if over-exposure (it’s sometimes difficult to be overly picky when you’re playing mas yourself, so on Tuesday I switched to program mode and sort of went with the flow, sort of).
Enjoy
L
Nikon D200
f 6.3
Exposure time 1/50 sec
ISO 100
Mardi Gras, De Carnival is Over (BdC 21/21)
This series has come to an end, and so has carnival 2012. In Port-of-Spain the police shut down last lap quite early tonight – at 10:30 pm with the stated reason that there were three violent incidents. Hmm. I questioned an inspector about it given that the law that people fought for allows us to fete until midnight. She said they wouldn’t be able to clear the streets in time (insert side-eye here). Nevertheless, that’s all folks. It has been a pleasure to blog de carnaval with you in tow. Look for more posts in the future, although the beads and feathers of Tuesday will not be that abundant in this blog, I’m quite inclined to give a little lagniappe on other things carnival. In the meantime, a little something from the late calypsonian Lord Kitchner: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bdk4DCyaOLA
Enjoy
L
“J’ouvert baway-o, pa metay la main asou yo”* (BdC 20/21)
3Canal Occupying de Savannah first thing in de morning to wake up de place.
J’ouvert baway-o pa metay la main asou you.
*Title taken from creole line in Trinidadian calpysonian Roaring Lion’s J’ouvert Barrio.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndcyncj0hMc
http://www.amazon.com/Sacred-78s-Roaring-Lion/dp/B000008NYF
http://www.rhapsody.com/artist/etienne-charles/album/kaiso/track/jouvert-barrio
Dimanche Gras: De Hunt is On! (BdC 19.5/21)
Dwayne O’Connor wins calypso monarch competition and MacFarlane’s Queen wins Queen of the Bands 2012.
Panorama 2012 Results: All Stars Takes Prize (BdC 19/21)
Neal and Massy Trinidad All Stars scored highest points to win the first prize in Trinidad & Tobago’s Panorama 2012 competition in the large band category with their arrangement of Play Your Self. Phase II Pan Groove came second with their rendition of Archbishop of Pan.
1st All Stars
2nd Phase II
3rd Silver Stars
4th Renegades
5th Exodus
5th Harmonites
7th Invaders
8th Redemption Sound Setters
8th Fonclaire
10th Tropical Angel Harps
11th Siparia Deltones
For more information see http://www.ncctt.org/home/results.html
Kiddies Mas New Images (BdC 18.5)
Here’s a teaser of images to come. The children played mas in their full glory and splendour today. Even if I get fatigued by some tiring themes or superficiality or whatever nonsense in carnival, this is the thing that always brings back my hope, pride and faith in my culture.
Enjoy
L
You can see more at the Studio Lafoncette Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150670586962246.443035.45398357245&type=1 and if you’d like to purchase prints check here within the next 3 weeks or shoot me an email at studiolafoncette.gmail.com
Photo of the Week: Blasts from the Past (BdC 16/21)
Mas is not entirely the domain of Port-of-Spain. Events take place in almost every town in Trinidad & Tobago. Here are some Midnight Robbers in La-Brea, Trinidad circa 1962. If you recognize any of the masqueraders in this photo shoot me an email.
Enjoy
L
Tradition Lives on (BdC 16/21)
Hey folks, I started this blog because I heard too many myths and strange, inaccurate statements about Trinidad carnival. If we don’t tell our own story it will get kidnapped by people for whom it means nothing, who have a different agenda to historical accuracy and a pride in the knowledge of your own heritage. It won’t necessarily happen because people are malicious, but because that’s just how things are. Ask a Trini child (Trini-American, British or whatever) something about Trinidad carnival. Like ask them “What is a Pierrot Grenade?” or “What is kaiso? Why do men dress up in ladies clothes for jouvert? or even “What does the word mas mean and how do you spell it?” You might be surprised and disappointed at how little they know.*
But tradition lives on. Above are two photos of young people playing “Indian” mas. On Wednesday night there were young moko jumbies, young devils and bats and sailors. And today in Port-of-Spain scores of school children, accompanied by parents and teachers, will cover the city in a parade of traditional mas. In most schools across the country today there will be kaiso and mas competitions with a “jump up” and most of the groups performing in Canboulay are populated by youth. So tradition lives on. But that’s enough chatter from me. If you want more words on mas, check out this young African sister’s blog Zee Speaks! - Alternative Perspectives on Black Cultural & Social Issues: An Anti Master Narrative. She has a 2-year-old series dedicated specifically to carnival called Kaiso.
*Answers to those questions and more can be found by clicking on the links above. For additional reading you can check out Rituals of Power and Rebellion: The Carnival Tradition in Trinidad & Tobago 1763 – 1962 by Hollis “Chalkdust” Liverpool, PhD, or the Trinidad & Tobago National Library System (NALIS).
Enjoy
L
High Tech High Tech! (BdC 15/21)
High tech, high tech! Identifying details have been obscured to protect the innocent (masquerader) 
The National Carnival Bands Association (NCBA) has smart card technology for masqueraders. From what I noticed the masquerader’s card is scanned before they cross the stage and the masquerader waits for a receipt that is generated from another machine after they have passed the judges. High tech mas I say. But I noticed that last night’s event started 2 hours late because they didn’t have a sound system. That might be human error rather than lack of technology. But someone said the cards analogous to investing in Viagra technology when yuh don’t know about penicillin, or getting braces when yuh mouth full of cavities. That’s what happens sometimes when you give a child plenty money. Ah done! And the soundtrack for this post’s title?*
Enjoy
L
*If your not a family member**, and you can email me an answer to why that’s the soundtrack for this title, I’ll award you an 8 x 10″ matted print of any carnival image you choose. First one to email an answer before Ash Wednesday wins.
** Rules:
Family members of this blog’s author are not permitted to enter.
Winner consent’s to her/his image being used to announce prize in a subsequent blog post.
Open to anyone where free contests of this sort are permitted by law.
No purchase necessary to enter.
Baby Doll (BdC 14/21)
Last night was the Traditional Carnival Characters competition at Victoria Square. This masquerader portrayed Baby Doll. The baby doll character originated as a social commentary on privileged men (often European) having born children with women of African descent and never claiming those children, essentially abandoning them. The masquerader would dress in a baby doll dress, or dress as a woman and carry a light-skinned doll, approaching men in the streets and asking (if portraying the baby), “You is my father?”. It eventually evolved to any man who had abdicated his responsibilities, and the masquerader would walk up and say something accusing the alleged father of being very available up to when the child was conceived, but failing to appear or provide support once a baby was in the picture. It was intended to bring light to a societal problem and to embarrass the bourgeois and men in general and is still portrayed with humor and a serious, compelling message.
More to come.
Roots & Wings Exhibit (BdC 12/21)
If you’re in the vicinity of London or Brighton, UK check out Roots & Wings, an exhibit that runs at the Hawth in Crawley, England from tomorrow, February 13 until February 24. Here’s a link to info about the exhibit. http://www.urbanflo.com/rootsandwings-exhibition.php. And if you miss it, the exhibit will be a part of Brighton Photo Fringe Caribbean on show in Barbados from March 23 to April 5.
And if that doesn’t work for you, well we’ll just have to figure something out for Trinidad or the US won’t we.
Enjoy
L
The People’s Competition BdC 11/21
Benjai performing “Trini” at Calypso Fiesta, 2011
Crowd at Calypso Fiesta – Calypso Monarch Semi-finals, 2010
Today is the Calypso Fiesta. The semi-final round of the calypso monarch competition. Held at Skinner’s Park, in San Fernando, southern Trinidad, it is a raucous, buoyant proving ground for those who dare to call themselves calypsonian. Be prepared to be toilet papered off the stage Sandman style if you’re just not good enough. Joanie will raise her umbrella with a roll on top and so goes the crowd. Only one calpysonian has been known to overcome this barrage of boos – Denyse Plummer. The ten best will make it to “The Big Yard.”
Enjoy
L
Photo of the Week 6/52: Blasts from the Past (BdC 10/21) Charlie’s Roots
*See update note below.
De music truck.
Not too long ago it was the norm to have at least two music trucks replete with live bands in any large or even medium band for carnival. By bands I mean a group of musicians and professional singers, maybe even a back-up singer or two, and horns. Larger bands would have at least two live bands, a couple DJ trucks and even a truck dedicated to a rhythm section or tassa drummers. There weren’t any drink or food trucks and definitely not porta-john trucks that appear to now be mandatory with the all-inclusive bands. Independent vendors made more money, and there was a sense that carnival was more inclusive. That not too long ago was as recent as 2002. Pictured above, the legendary David Rudder and Charlie’s Roots accompanying Peter Minshall’s 2002 presentation Picolpat leaving the stage at the Queen’s Park Savannah on Carnival Tuesday.
Enjoy
L
*I’ve been asked to differentiate between a carnival mas band and a music band. In Trinidad a group of people in costume under one organized theme, perhaps in various sections, with the same leadership committee, initiating point etc. is referred to as a band. In Panama they’re called a comparsa, in New Orleans they’re sometimes referred to as a troupe. So every mas band is generally accompanied by a music band and/or DJ. Back in the day it would predominantly be steelbands, and before that, “pan around the neck.” But that’s all for another post. 
L
Red Cross Kiddies Carnival (BdC 9/21)
This Saturday the Trinidad & Tobago Red Cross Society will host their children’s carnival competition. Every year it marks the speeding up of the pace of carnival activities as the number of weekend and week day activities begins to intensify. Two weeks before Carnival Monday, children compete in various categories including couples, floats, age groups and large, small and medium bands.
Enjoy
L
Teaching Themes with Mas (BdC 8/21)
Two youth masqueraders in different depictions of Papa Bois, mythical father of the forest from Trinidad folklore
I heard an interview with a Trinidadian jazz musician who said that before there was modern-day environmentalism as we know it, there was Papa Bois (papa bwa). Among the folklore of Trinidad and Tobago there is a figure called Papa Bois, which is French for Father Forest. Papa Bois is the protector of the forest who is half man, half cloven foot animal. He walks around with a cane and protects the animals from poachers and other maladies that may befall them. I don’t remember this, but the musician said that as a child he remembered being told if you littered Papa Bois would get you, and that was how we learnt to protect and care for our environment.
