CULTURE
Jamaica Carnival
Help was needed to cut the rough, malodorous, sticky oil drums, heat, and tune them. After the assistance of several knowledgeable individuals, the first pan side emerged.
A RECORD IN TIME Written by: K Winchester
D
1940 - 1989
escribed as a festival of love, togetherness, endless creativity, and total enjoyment, Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago dates back to the 18th century and is symbolic of the emancipation of slaves. Not known for having a Carnival culture and being the domicile of Reggae, Jamaica’s Carnival for many years was deemed an imposition. It was at The University of the West Indies, Mona campus, formerly known as the University College of the West Indies, where Carnival was first sighted in Jamaica, trialled by some homesick Eastern Caribbean students attending in the 1940s. Every year through to the 60’s the event grew as students, especially those from Trinidad and Tobago, recreated the festival to reflect the atmosphere of their elaborate Carnival. The introduction of the steelpan, which forms a significant part of the molecular structure of Carnival, soon occurred as a Trinidad student Arden Williams returned to campus with his steel pan. This encouraged the manufacturing of the percussion instrument by several Trinidadian and Grenadian students, with the launch of a steel band on the horizon. However, inexperience proved to be a severe impediment, not only in playing the instrument but make making it.
Tuning Old Drums - Mid 1950s
Irvine Hall’s Playboys
The social atmosphere on campus was very Trinidadian, with everyone indulging in the events which involved fetes, pan music and the main events, but keeping in mind the Jamaican culture. The event got branded “UWI Carnival,” which became a favourable annual event on campus, which continues today.
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MAY 2020
