Local audience given taste of Carifesta

Members of the public got a chance to see Trinidad and Tobago’s Carifesta V111 presentation at the Queen’s Hall last Friday. Director of Culture Eugene Joseph, Chairman of the TT Carifesta Planning Committee, Eric Butler and Minister of Culture Eddie Hart all spoke on the occasion.

The preview of TT’s Country Night was divided into two segments, the first a cultural segment and the second a theatrical production called “The Golden Masquerade”. National Chutney Monarch, Heeralal Rampartap and National Junior Calypso Monarch, Sheynenne Hazell both had the audience eating out of the palms of their hands while Brother Resistance did well with his “Ring De Bell”. Bptt Renegades Youth Steel Orchestra also provided great entertainment with their rendition of “Unity” and “Waistline”. The synopsis of “The Golden Masquerade” reads: In the magical island kingdom of Iere, there are many cultures, one people. Ananci is the “web that holds the races together”. The metropolitan city of Rampanalgas sends a war party to Iere and steals Ananci. Although the King’s first response is to send a war party, he eventually follows the advice of his counsellor Neeza and decides upon a more surreptitious path. Neeza is sent off to Rampanalgas even as the people of Iere build a Carnival costume, “The Golden Peacock”, as a gift for the City of Rampanalgas.

In the midst of the Rampanalgan Jabmulassie celebration of their abduction of Ananci, the costume arrives and the battle to reclaim Ananci ensues. There was clever use of calypso music mixed with tassa and African drums, stick fight, belle and indian dances. But in their quest to involve all aspects of Trinidad and Tobago the Golden Masquerade proved to be too long. Nice costuming and good dance routines could not stop a number of people from  nodding during the performance. Many Cultures One People is the theme of TT’s production for Carifesta VIII which will be held in Suriname from August 25-30.