Trini Carnival
Playlist and Article by: Jeahnelle Garcia
“I feel I could run in town again, jump and shake the ground again Wave with all my friend and them, no place like home, home, home”
- Mical Teja, “D N A”
The quote above is from the song DNA by Mical Teja, which can be found in my playlist. This song won Road March (song played most during Carnival Mas) 2024, and rightfully so. This song perfectly encapsulates the passion that not only Trinis have for their country, but anyone who visits the island to celebrate. Trinidad and Tobago is the birthplace of Carnival- it is the biggest, most vibrant and culturally rich festival of the year, bursting with music, dancing, artistry and vibes.
Carnival is a big part of Trinidadian culture, and has been for a long time. Carnival was first seen in Ancient Egypt as a pagan sabbat ushering out the winter spirits to make way for spring. This was later adapted by the Greeks and Romans into what they called a Bacchanal after the god Bacchus. This was celebrated with wine, dancing, drinking and generally excessive behaviour. More relevantly, a Bacchanal today is “a crazed party with drunken revelry, ecstatic sexual experimentation, and wild music”. It was adapted further, by multiple cultures, later with a Christian name “Carnevale” (carne meaning meat and vale meaning farewell) to prepare for Lent. During the years of colonisation and slavery, it was brought to the Caribbean by European settlers who celebrated it with indulgent, elaborate fancy-dress balls, dancing all night in their masks and excessive dresses and wigs.The slaves soon began their own version, a satirical mimicry of their slave owners, creating characters that we see today such as the Moko Jumbie and Dame Lorraine. The festivities included drumming and chanting and, of course, dancing.
“Sweet sweet T and T, Lord how I love up dis country No place in dis world I'd rather be
Lord how I love up me country”
- David Rudder, “Trini 2 De Bone”
Carnival today is just as extravagant and hedonistic. The Carnival season spans from right after Christmas to Ash Wednesday, with Carnival Monday and Tuesday being the peak of celebration. Throughout this time, a plethora of spirited parties and cultural events are held. Many musical artists release music during this time, supplying each season with new and familiar high-energy sounds. On Carnival Sunday, there are King and Queen of Carnival competitions in the Dimanche Gras show, during which gorgeous, dynamic original costumes can be seen crossing the stage of the Queen’s Park Savannah, showcasing the skill and creativity of the creators. Carnival Monday and Tuesday are the height of it all, where residents, returning citizens and tourists flock to the streets of Port of Spain to play mas (short for masquerade). Crowds play mas dressed in opulent costumes from different bands, which are showcased on television as masqueraders make their way to the stage in a sea of beads, feathers and a rainbow of colours, dancing all the while. Carnival is a time of inclusivity and body positivity, with everyone being welcome to celebrate, dance and show off some skin, all having a good time as one.
However, these events are not exclusive to adults, with Kiddies Carnival, where the kids get a chance to play mas (a family-friendly version) and schools participating, with many holding school “jump-ups”, featuring costumes, dancing, competitions and, of course, music.
“Carnival come back to me Cause you know you're my healing I said the Soca is my therapy
It take away all of my anxiety”
- Patrice Roberts, “Anxiety”
Music is the flesh and bones of Carnival. From more traditional calypso, to steel pan, to soca, to more prevalent and popular music choice; there is no Carnival without the music. The steelpan is the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago. It was created in the 1930’s and is the only instrument to be invented in the 20th century. Traditionally, it was crafted from a steel drum container. Winston “Spree” Simon is accredited as one of the inventors, although there are a few names credited as innovators. The annual Panorama competition has been held in Trinidad since 1963, and is typically held during the Carnival season. It features bands with as many as 125 players playing complex arrangements of songs. Calypso, on the other hand, is a form of song characterised by catchy rhythms and lyrics that often serve as social and political commentary. The Calypso Monarch competitions have been held in Trinidad and Tobago since 1939 and considered the most prestigious calypso event. Some noteworthy names include The Mighty Sparrow, Black Stalin and Mighty Chalkdust.
Today, soca is the more popular genre of music heard around Carnival, from some more sentimental songs such as “Come Home” by Nailah Blackman and Skinny Fabulous, to more “wild” songs like “Hard Fete” by Bunji Garlin (which were neck and neck for Road March 2023). Soca was developed in the early 1970s and quickly grew in popularity. Some significant names to mention when discussing soca include Lord Shorty (AKA Ras Shorty I), the Father of Soca, David Rudder, Super Blue and, of course, Machal Montano.
The songs featured in this playlist focus more on today’s soca selection, particularly some of my favourites. It includes some artists mentioned previously as well as the songs quoted throughout the article. More people should be able to experience the transcending emotion of soca music, whether or not they have celebrated before; soca is unity.
“We doh see skin, We doh see colour We see strength, We see power”
- Bunji Garlin, Machel Montano, Skinny Fabulous, “Famalay”
