(This article was first published in The Anguillian in the year 2000.)
“A little while I am with you, and then I go” and will come again. So says Carnival. It has come and gone. But its colour, glory, splendour and music will live on. Carnival has come and gone and will be remembered for its excellent shows. The Teenage Pageant was one of them. I congratulate Amber Woodley for a commendable performance which won her the title of Miss Talented Teen 2000. Amber, who is tall and elegant, looked regal in her flowing lemon green evening gown. Her talent was great. The All Ah We Theatre group, which took part in the show, thrilled the crowd with its dancing skills. This group of talented young people is improving with its every act. It is growing from strength to strength.
I cannot say the same about the Calypso Monarch Competition which was won by the Mighty Springer with two lovely tunes: Raise Holy Hands and Pray and Who is Watching the Children. He was followed by the Mighty Gossip and then Darwin. There is still a lot of talk about who should have placed and who should not have. What I do know is that Springer deserves his place. Whether or not some people like him, there is no doubt that he is a damn good performer. He knows how to reach out to the audience and get it all worked up the moment he hits stage. Springer performs with pizzazz and panache. The Master of Ceremonies (MC) for the night’s show was from Trinidad. He was excellent. He kept the people awake, unlike Kelsick who puts them fast asleep as if he is some magician. When Kelsick is MC the most you can hear is people snoring all around you. But not the Trinidadian MC, who spat out joke after joke. One was that Mrs Bobbitt and Monica Lewynski were planning to open a beauty saloon specialising in cut and blow only. Incidentally, it was just last week that I saw President Clinton on television lamenting his flirting with Monica. I can imagine him saying to himself better Monica than Bobbitt.
A most impressive show was the Leeward Islands Calypso Monarch Competition. It was a great – of high standard – and must have reminded Anguillian calypsonians that they have a long way to go if they are to raise the standard of their calypsos. I say this despite the fact that Springer and Gossip, our local heroes, placed first and second runners up respectively. The competition was a tremendous display of talent from all across the islands with good lyrics, tempo, melody, harmony and whatever one looked for in genuine Caribbean calypso. Congratulations are in order for King Beaubeau, who captured the coveted crown with Society Have Dem So and Brokes Again. There were good renditions from Cepeke of Montserrat, Whadablee of St Thomas, King Happy of St Croix, Ayatollah of St Kitts, Martino Mark of Tortola and Springer from Anguilla and others. The Ayatollah’s first rendition, Caribbean Blackman, was an earthquake of a song which called for unity among the region’s people. Both of Cepeke’s songs reminded me that Montserrat’s volcano was still belching fire. They were fire-spitting social commentaries with lyrics and melody. His first song, Mother, was a critique of British colonialism and the second, Pay Off, a condemnation of corruption throughout all levels of Caribbean society.
When five, young Anguillians beauties appeared on Landsome Bowl’s stage for the Miss Anguilla Queen Show, carnival had reached one of its highpoints. Hyacinth Snaggs walked away with the crown. Congratulations. Shauna Connor and Sherline Richardson, were first and second runners up respectively. Hyacinth’s performance was one that was expected of the beautiful and confident young lady she is. She was exceedingly charming and her singing of Jah Jah rocked Landsome Bowl heavily. It was simply stunning. I believe she will make Anguilla proud. One disappointing aspect of the show was the interview. None of the girls really answered the questions and this is an area that needs to be addressed, through pre-Queen Show training etc., if Anguilla is to be properly represented abroad by our queens.
The show was fun-filled. King Beaubeau and his Beaubettes put on some astonishing displays. His girls could dance. Their movements, I believe, raised many deads – caused several resurrections. The young ladies certainly thrilled the audience with an array of body movements and body splits. I chuckled when I heard a chap telling his friend: “Boy wid dem, yer don’t need Viagra!” The Beaubettes were good. So too were the young ladies of the V.S. Dance Company from Antigua. Their dances were first class. The practice of bringing in foreign artistes will pay off in the long run. We can learn a lot from these artistes and in so doing develop and improve our own skills.
The sounds of the Mussington Brothers also contributed much to making the night a memorable one. This year, there is a noticeable richness in their music. Desiree, one of its lead vocalists, continues to be a crowd favourite. She challenged me to join her on stage for a corn-grinding showdown but I chickened out. I did not want to be taken off the stage on a stretcher and then wake up in the Princess Alexandra Hospital. I love life and will not allow Desiree’s mill to shorten it. No way! Everywhere I go people are calling me a coward. But I don’t mind because “coward dog keep whole bone.” By extension, coward man keep whole corn and does not end up like Kelsick who, I understand, may be suffering with hernia after coming in contact with Desiree’s mill. I hope he has learnt his lesson: cow got no business in horse gallop. Or, if you can’t stand the grinding, keep out of the mill.
Friday, last, The Valley was a mass of colour moving to the pulsating sounds of our local bands. The troupes were in motion. The parade of troupes, as far as I am concerned, is the apex of carnival. It is in fact the closing act without which carnival would be incomplete. When people from all walks of life, from every corner of the island, converge en masse on the streets of The Valley to see the various troupes perform, carnival has reached its zenith. In recent years, the troupes have become expressions of our society’s conscience – expressions of the mood of our society by depicting those things that concern us most.
This year there has been a fall in the number of troupes. However, what we saw was of good quality. Sheila Davis’ Birds of Paradise was adjudged the best for 2000. I was very impressed with the Heroes of the Revolution and Calf’s troupe. By the way, Governor Johnstone was so taken up with the colour and revelry that he could not resist “wining” to the music as the troupes passed his viewing point. We all know that the English can’t “wine” so the Governor had some difficulty moving to the beat of the music. I would have liked to see him try the Backshot with Darlene, Angela or Neeta. What is significant, though, is that he is the first Governor to participate in our carnival festivities. I trust that he suffered no pain in the back or hip joint from “wining” down Anguilla-style. Right now my friend Andrea is complaining about pains in her toes and hips, and she is young and spritely.
For some unknown reason nobody says a word about Calf’s troupe. For years now, his one-man troupe never missed a parade. Calf should be awarded for appearing on the streets of The Valley more than any other troupe. This year, he appeared with a string of about eight rum bottles around his waist. I do not know if he started the parade with all of them filled, but when I saw him he still had rum in two of the bottles. I like Calf. He performs all by himself. The ring in his nose amuses me. A lady who admires his troupe said to me: “Calf too sweet. But poor fellow, he doesn’t even know if he is existing. A good thing though, he doesn’t get in trouble with a soul.” But that is Calf. He is a humble fellow who works hard for a living and gets in trouble with no one.
Calf may look stupid, but he ain’t foolish. For example, the lady went on to tell me that last year when her son was seriously ill at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, Calf comforted her with these words: “Lady, don’t cry. Everything is in the hands of God. If yer son needs blood, just call on me and I would give him some.” Calf, a heavy drinker, was willing to give someone whatever little blood he had left. He “too sweet.”
Incidentally, one year Calf participated in a Males Queen Show but I do not recall if he won the title. Nor do I recall seeing him in the last lap jam on Saturday morning. However, those I saw certainly worked up a sweat to sounds of the Mussington Brothers with Desiree singing The Miller and to the sounds of the Better Band with Sherma Hughes singing Misbehave, which has made her famous and which won the road march title. People of all walks of life participated in the jam. This mingling together in friendly revelry of saints and sinners, of Jews and Gentiles, of Sadducees and Pharisees, of red and yellow, black and white, is what makes carnival a melting pot and social glue. Our people became one as they drank from the same cup and feasted on the same music. They became one by hugging, grinding, gyrating, backshotting and jumping together in peace, in unity and in love.
They all worked up a sweat. The towels some of them carried were unable to stem the streams of perspiration. Even my quiet, little friend Marslyn was in the heat of the action. She “wined” as if she didn’t have a care in the world – as if she was boneless. When I did catch up with her and inquired from where she got all that energy, she told me that she was enjoying herself because it was going to be a long time before she saw another carnival. With that, off she went “wining” in her pumpum shorts. Actually, a lot of women were dressed in pumpum shorts or batty riders leaving very little to the imagination. In some cases one could see more bottom than shorts.
Carnival has come and gone and will come again. It is primarily a cultural extravaganza – a cultural showpiece. However, it is also an economic activity with tremendous potential. It is a significant creator of employment during that time of the year when our tourism season has closed and many people are out of work until (October/ November). It brings visitors to our shores and allows us to fill some of our unoccupied rooms. Because of the multiplier effect other types of businesses, especially restaurants, night clubs and car rentals are able to make some money. During carnival one can hardly find a car to rent. This happens at no other time of year. Carnival is also an important foreign exchange earner.
For the foregoing reasons, government should give some consideration to treating carnival as an important sector of the economy and promote it the same way it promotes tourism. It needs to be properly structured and managed. Perhaps responsibility for its promotion and management should be placed in the hands of a statutory board or corporation, much like the Social Security Board, with a view to ensuring that the island reaps maximum benefits.
To take the argument further, such a board or corporation could include, under its umbrella, the development and management of all cultural activities (like the annual Cultural Festival held in February). The board, therefore, would have the twin purpose of promoting and sustaining carnival as a cultural institution and as a sector of the economy with potential for improving the wellbeing of the Anguillian people.
Since carnival has such potential then serious thought must be given to improving the village. Make no mistake about it, our carnival village has a shanty town appearance. It is an eyesore in The Valley, our capital. And this is despite the fact that carnival is our cultural showpiece – an occasion when many people visit the island to join in its festivities. The village is an embarrassment.
A priority must be the substantial upgrading of the area and its facilities. It needs some sort of roofing to ensure that the shows are not disrupted by rain as frequently happens. Further, whenever it rains the whole village is a mess – is marshy – thus the case for paving both inside and outside. The village also needs standby power and better toilet facilities. The stench in the so called toilets is overwhelming. And it was during last year’s carnival, while some four men were standing using the toilet, that the one next to me said to another: “Wha boy, you out to kill somebody!” There is no privacy whatsoever.
In view of the economic potential of carnival, I believe strongly that if we come up with a good plan for the development of the village, some donor agency would be willing to provide the funds for its implementation. If no donor is interested then consideration should be given to approaching the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) for a loan. The fact that carnival is a revenue earner, and would be self-financing within a few years or so, is likely to attract the CDB’s interest. Any money spent on developing its infrastructure is not wasted because carnival is here to stay. It is a cultural institution which we cannot do without. It is an important sector of our economy that kicks in when the main tourism sector kicks out.
It is also one of society’s better painkillers. It does for our society what aspirin, Advil and Tylenol do for our bodies. I am aware of the side effects. Carnival eases some of our pains, reduces tension and wipes away some of our tears. It is an escape valve for social discontent and pressure. It provides timeout to relax and recharge. Another year will pass before we get another dose of the painkiller. Until then, let us cherish our memories. For sure, I will not forget Desiree with The Miller. Nor will I forget Sherma with Misbehave, Porkyman with No Rubella, Prince Quicksilver with Packing Company. I will not forget the many good calypsos. Music never dies.
