EXPERIENCE
Trinidad
CULTURE
Trinidad’s largest form of income is tourism; its best attraction is Carnival.
Contents pg. 4
5 Fetes
PG. 8
Steel Pan
PG. 9
Soca Monarch
pg. 10
Carnival Monday
pg 12
Masqueraders
pg 14
Carnival Tuesday
Machel Monday The title of the final Machel Monday was the “Wedding� so its only fitting that the dresscode was All White. Initially unaware of the significance of the title, fans were suprised as word spread of the super-star’s shared vows to his long-time love on Valentines Day.. To celebrate his new marriage Machel dedicated his final Machel Monday to the moment. The fete was fueled with many performers showing up to support the star in his moment. Toward the end of the fete, Machel explains that although Machel Monday is over he will be starting a new endevor called Mele. Mele will be on the waters and more details will be released later on.
Kes Tuesday on the
Rocks Tuesday on the Rocks with Kes was a charitable experience. From the performances of the sweetheart of Soca, to the guest performers, Kes Tuesday was a blast. Although there was a
sprinkle of rain during the night, that did not stop the Carnival spirit in the socaholics. The entrance was decorated with a beautiful arc with a gift shop to the left to receieve personalized souvenier.
Soca Brain Wash The theme for Soca Brain Wash was Oriental. There was open bar, great food, and live entertainment. beyond just being a fete, Soca Brain Wash provided its guest with an experience like none other. Each guest was gifted an umbrella, a wooden drinking cup, and a drink upon entree. There was a variety of food options and as interludes within the fete, performances, enteretained the audience. To end the fete there was a steel pan group.
BeachHouse BeachHouse is a must attend fete. The venue was outdoors on sand which encouraged attendees to feel the energy from the songs as they bounced into the night. There were open bars on each end and behind the fete, sat the food court. It was filled with tastes of as many flavors as you could imagine.
OFC Similiar to Jouvert, OFC contines as the sun rises for the next day. OFC is a paint and powder event where you are encouraged to be as fluid as your spirit allows. Get your rest, if you ever plan to attend.
Steel Pan Trinidad’s cultural foundation is made from a few different contributors. One of the larger building blocks is the culture’s emphasis on music. Trinidad has developed multiple musical styles but the one that resinates most with the culture during the Carnival Season is soca. Trinidad is not only a country that holds many styles of music, we have also developed instruments. The steel pan was created in Trinidad during the 1930s. The use of the steel pan can be dated as far back as the 1700s. It is said that the steel pan came to Trinidad by enslaved Africans who were brought to the country. The steel pan is now the main persussion intrument used during carnival.
Soca Monarch International Soca Monarch is a competition that partakes every Carnival season. This competition gathers the top songs of the current season and votes for a winner based on performance and crowd reaction. Voting takes a few days because this competition judges on two categories; Groovy Soca and Power Soca.
This years’ Groovy Soca Winner was Happy Song by Jessie “College Boy Jessie” Stewart. He was said to have preclaimed his win , and was confident that he would dethrone the former Groovy Soca winner, Swappi. The winner of the Power Soca, was Iwer George with his song “Stage Gone Bad” featuring Kes. This song was voted for by the people during carnival. As the road continues and song after song plays, this Power song definitely gets the crowd hyped everytime it plays, no matter how many time it plays.
Carnival Monday The night before Carnival Monday, many people participate in the festival of colors. Jouvert is the paint and powder party where people are allowed to experience their freedom in the most fluid and orgainc way. The party begins around midnight and welcomes in the morning. The morning of Carnival Monday awakens with the soca tunes played by one DJ heard throughout the whole country.
People are on the road as early as 7 in the morning, ready and in gear to free themselves through the music and vibrancy of the experience. Their are trucks in each band that follow the music and provide refreshments and meals for the day. For hours and miles people continue on the road enjoying what some would say is a once in a lifetime experience.
Masqueraders
Carnival Tuesday
Carnival Tuesday is the moment some people wait for all year round. Masquerades wake up early to get ready for long awaited event. They dress themselves in vibrant and intricately designed costumes to parade the streets of Port of Spain. They dance and celebrate, listening to music and the sounds that jubilate their vibe. In the final countdown each band crosses the stage playing their nominated soca song of the season.
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Carnival
2020