Look Beneath The Surface
by Gillian Moore, The Trinidad Guardian
Sat 15, Apr

MOKO JUMBIES, fire eaters, jab molasies and midnight robbers were just a few of the mas characters that showed up at the Hilton Poolside on Tuesday evening, to usher in CARIFESTA IX.

The event described as a “soft launch” of the festival, was called A Window to CARIFESTA. But there was no shortage of pomp and flair, with more than a hundred costumed masqueraders, a contingent of pannists from Sagicor Exodus, Jeunes Agape folk choir, a classical Indian dancer and several other performers.

Dr. Carole Bishop opened the formal part of the evening, reminiscing about the very first CARIFESTA Festival of Creative Arts in Guyana in 1972. She recalled the spirit that had united the artistes then and which keeps the dream of the festival alive today.

Caricom Ambasbador Lolita Appewhite gave greetings from the Secretariat.

Earl Lovelace, the artistic director of this year’s CARIFESTA, followed, speaking on the theme of the festival, Celebrating our People: Contesting the World Stage.

Lovelace said it was necessary for Caribbean people to look again at our cultural forms, which have been born of resistance to colonialism and repression. He Said we needed to move away from the idea that these forms are disreputable and to celebrate them and their proponents as the seminal icons of Caribbean resistance and identity.

He said he would like to see the donation of grants to young artist and writers as one aspect coming out of the festival.

Reigning extempore champion Sheldon George introduced representatives of other territories, who came on stage to collect country packages from minister of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs, Joan Yuille Williams, in song.

Next came the unveiling of the CARIFESTA IX logo – three elongated figurers with a drum, a book and a festive CARIFESTA Banner. But instead of showing a flat graphic, the logo was brought to life at the side of the pool, portrayed by three moko jumbies.

The official jingle of the Festival, a soca anthem that asked “Can you feel it ?” was performed by popular boy band Surge, who sang suspended on a cat walk across the pool, the surface of which was made to look like rolling clouds.

Finally came a parade of masqueraders that featured costumes from Brian Mac Farlane and Rosalind Gabriel, fire eaters, the notorious Paramin Devils, sailors and moko jumbies.

CARIFESTA IX will be held in Trinidad from the last week in September to early October.