Trinidad and Tobago Carnival - The Genesis

Trinidad and Tobago are the most southerly islands in the Caribbean, situated slightly northeast of the South American continent. It’s a twin-island country consisting of islands, Trinidad and Tobago. It boasts of breath-taking beaches, an abundance of historical sites, unrivalled biodiversity and a unique mixed culture which brings an extraordinary culinary blend. This, however, is probably not what it’s best known for.

In the Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago top the charts in the carnival category, with the most participants locally and internationally. Commonly known as “the Fete land”, Trinidad and Tobago have set the trend with elaborate and colourful costumes, themed parties and the #1 seller - plenty vibes.

Now one might ask, “where did this festival originate?” and “how did it develop into the biggest street party in the world?”.

It dates back to the 17th century during the influx of the French Catholic planters, their slaves and free coloured from neighbouring islands of Dominica, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Martinique and St. Vincent and the Grenadines during the French Revolution. Though the population remained mostly African, other mass migration of Indians, Syrians, Portuguese, Chinese and Africans dramatically changed the ethnic composition in Trinidad and Tobago.

A wild scene with demons

Sketched by Mr Melton Prior

It was the F r e n c h planters who staged their elaborate festivities (carnival), w h i c h consisted of dinners, masquerade balls and concerts, extending f r o m Christmas through to Ash Wednesday (the start of the Lenten season). The African slaves, who could not take part in the French carnival, developed their parallel festivities around the harvesting and burning of sugar cane, known as Canboulya (from the French cannes brulees, meaning burnt cane). For each group, masking and mimicry was an important part of their rituals. After the Emancipation Bill was passed in 1833, Canboulay became a symbol of freedom and defiance and played an integral part in the development of the music of Trinidad and Tobago.

Calypso music, a precursor to the now dynamic Soca music, is a style of Afro Caribbean music which originated in Trinidad and Tobago during the 17th century. It was developed from the West African Kaiso and Canboulay music and used as a form of communication amongst the slaves and to mock the slave masters. Today Calypso is frequently referred to as a poetic language and sometimes serves as an instrument for political criticism, addressing both political and social issues. It was feared in the 70’s that Calypso was losing its popularity, until Garfield Blackman (aka Lord Shorty later known as Ras Shorty I), revitalized it. With a new up-tempo and a funkier outlook, Lord Shorty brought Calypso into the modern era, creating a form known today as Soca.

A wild scene with demons and costumes

Sketched by Mr Melton Prior

Another successful element of Trinidad and Tobago Carnival is the steelpan. Born to the twin-island country, it is the only major instrument invented in the 20th century. Its genesis dates to around 1833 when repressive acts such as the banning of African drums were enforced in response to the Canboulay Riots. These drums were soon replaced by bamboo, cut to different lengths to obtain different pitches. This provided a rhythm for a percussion band known as Tamboo Bamboo.

In 1935 came the infiltration of metal containers as a replacement for the bamboo instruments. Soon afterwards, after much experimenting, the steel pan was born. Continuous development through the years resulted today in a full range of instruments of the steel orchestra.

With so much rich history behind Trinidad and Tobago’s carnival, it is often considered a privilege to participate in what is known today as the greatest show on earth.

Carnival Band, Trinidad 1950's

Photo by : Dr Ted Hill

Carnival, Trinidad 1950's

Photo by : Dr Ted Hill

Written By: K. Winchester

9JANUARY 2020