Grenada’s Carnival Tradition (Hudson George) Pt. 2

Reading Time 1 minsGrenada’s Carnival Tradition (Hudson George) [Continued from August 4] Presently,  the government is getting more involved in our carnival celebration. However, I personally believe that government involvement in the festival is not in the interest of culture but in the interest of getting  financial revenue from the events.  I am saying so because our government officials are trying their best to commit cultural genocide within the rural communities within our tri-island state  by limiting the carnival activities in the villages and trying to influence rural citizens to come to St. George’s and play mas. I believe the government… Read More »Grenada’s Carnival Tradition (Hudson George) Pt. 2

Grenada’s Carnival Tradition (Hudson George) pt. 1

Reading Time 2 minsThe tradition of carnival will always remain, but the big question is: Why do we still play mas, even though the festival has become corrupted with domestic politics, foreign influence,  and some artistes always fighting among themselves for money and prestige during national competition events? During the colonial era, carnival had a vibrant rural influence. Villagers came together and organised themselves;  and play mas. The songs composed by the masqueraders were as political as they are today, but there were less repercussions from the authorities against the artistes, who sung those anti government songs. Today our political… Read More »Grenada’s Carnival Tradition (Hudson George) pt. 1

Caribbean Carnival in Costa Brava, Spain

Reading Time 1 minsThis piece opens our 2015 Carnival Studies. So now it is time to tell the stories of the Grenadian Carnival: our  Grenadian show opens on August 1, 2015. And remember this: “Nothing has happened until it’s  described “ -Virginia Woolf ======================BDN=================== September time is Carnival time in Begur, the small town on Spain’s Costa Brava. The Costa Brava Carnival is a Caribbean Carnival; its roots in Cuba. Spain’s Caribbean Carnival goes by the  name of Fira d’Indians, the Indians’ Fair.    Note: Costa Brava is located in Catalonia; it is a fine time to read Orwell’s Homage to… Read More »Caribbean Carnival in Costa Brava, Spain

Pan! Our Musical Odyssey (Now at Queens Museum)

Reading Time 3 minsOriginating in Trinidad in the late 1930s, the steel pan is the most important acoustic musical instrument invented in the 20th century. Steel pan is the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago but is also one of the cultural icons of the Caribbean region. What is the history of this unique musical instrument?  A new documentary [docudrama] Pan! Our Musical Odyssey produced by Jean-Michel Gibert and Barthélémy Fougea and written by foremost Trinbagonian historian of pan, Kim Johnson, recreates the epic story of pan as it moved from various kinds of steel containers to oil drums, and its central role… Read More »Pan! Our Musical Odyssey (Now at Queens Museum)