Helena Allum

At my school there is a Carnival tradition of students portraying some of the ole time characters – Midnight Robber, Dame Lorraine, Baby Doll, Fancy Sailor Blue Devil and others.

They portray the individual character in dress and speech and answer questions posed about Carnival and its history. Often students have to be coerced into taking part. This year was no different.

Having succeeded in convincing my students to participate we worked out together just how the characters were to be portrayed. The contestants became more confident.

Some of the Carnival activities in the country seem senseless and overdone. It is not easy finding even one line of a calypso that can be quoted as saying something that we can reflect on. 

In working with my students however I was convinced that the little activities taking place in schools, organisations and communities throughout the country must be of a standard higher than what is dominating the media.

Believing this gives hope that the excesses and the sub-standards that we associate with so much of carnival now, will turn around one day. Listening to the students explain to each other how their character could send a message to the school body, I thought to myself that there is some hope for Carnival.

Midnight Robber (Dr Hillary Bernard) duels grmmatically with Midnight Saviour (Davis Melville) at last Saturday's Shockwave II Calypso Show at the People of Praise Community's House of Praise, Arima. Raymond Syms photo

They told their “blue devil” character that he could confront those who are abusing some things around the school and help them see how he is controlling them.

They are well aware that their Mr Personality character will do little to deal with the offenders and problems at the school, but they cannot not confront them. 

This is true also, I thought to myself, of how we approach our day-to-day activities in our country. We almost have no choice but to agree with David Rudder when he sings: Another murderous day on the island, but it’s not the end.

He goes on to say that he‘s living in the livingness of life and giving himself up to the blessings of each day.

In his new compact disk The Cricket Chronicles, he reflects on what our champions have done for the Caribbean region.

He begins:
 There is a time in our lives
 When our country forgets its woes and just lives and lives
Life in its joy
And the oneness of which we dream, is now ours to give.

On this Carnival weekend, even as some of us enjoy all the activities of Carnival and others surrender ourselves into doing nothing, we will always keep an eye open for what might be lurking behind us.

And even as we ponder in our hearts all our individual trials and those that we face as a country and a region it might be helpful for us to focus on the good things about carnival, about ourselves.

The song Champions also says:
Champions take our dreams, and they make us all immortal
We touch the face of God, and we are so immortal.

Hope you have an enjoyable Carnival.