Trini Revellers pays tribute to Sally in 2018

Saldenah began his mas career after World War II assisting bandleaders such as Harry Basilon, Mansie Lai and Harold Tang Yuk.

Inspired by the Hollywood movie of the same name, Saldenah designed his first mas band Quo Vadis in 1953, with Roman soldier helmets made of papier mache painted to look authentic.

In 1955, he introduced metalwork to mas by employing Ken Morris to fabricate copper breastplates for Roman soldiers in his winning Band-of-the-Year presentation Imperial Rome 44BC to 96AD.

As his band attracted more masqueraders in the early-1960s, he became the first bandleader to create sections in his presentations.

He won six Band of the Year titles (1955, 1956, 1958, 1964, 1965, 1968) before moving to Canada in 1977, where he became involved with Toronto’s summer Caribana, a carnival- like parade. Over the years, many people worked with Saldenah, including chief designer Norris Eustace, Bobby Ammon, Edmond Hart and Stephen Lee Heung.

El Dorado, City Of Gold in 1968 was the last of Saldenah’s six victorious presentations.

Trini Revellers has chosen 12 of Sally’s winning bands to highlight the magnificence, colour and splendour of his portrayals.

And, like Saldenah, Trini Revellers’ Enrico Rajah said he has researched these sections to ensure that the now-designers are able to re-create the moments in time in history.

Velvet, leather, copper, foils and papier maché will be used in the costumes to portray centurions, gladiators and vestal virgins in Imperial Rome 44BC to 96AD.

For 2018 the Revellers are producing We Mas have class (1985); Mexico 1519-1521 (1964); Psychedelic Latin America (1969); Cree Indians (1959); Fantasy in Jewels (1972); Sun Kingdom of the Amazons (1974); Pacific Paradise (1965); Epic of the Zulus (1967); Fashionable Sailors from Paris (1973); Norse Gods and Vikings (1956); El Dorado, City of Gold (1968) and Imperial Rome 44BC to 96AD (1955).

The Band with be launched on September 16, at St Mary’s College, Pembroke Street, Port of Spain.