NEXT LEVEL DEVILS: A Tradition in Blue

High-pitched screams and wails, spitting fire, dancing and contorting to the beat of the fired steel drum, carrying pitchforks, blowing whistles and of course, glistening radiant blue in the night sky –the Blue Devils have come to town!

One of the most iconic characters portrayed in Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival, the Blue Devil, or Jab Molassie is one of the oldest forms of ‘Devil Mas’ , and is a figure with its roots firmly set in the history of the island, dating back to the enslavement of black Africans toiling on the sugar estates.

The term “Jab Molassie” is a French Patois term, with ‘Jab’ - the patois term for the French word “Diable” meaning Devil, and Molassie from “Mélasse” meaning Molasses. As the name suggests, this character portrayal involves the smearing of molasses, a by-product of the processed sugarcane, on the bodies of the masqueraders. In addition to molasses, Jab Molassies, or Jabs were also smeared with tar, oil, lard, grease, body paint and various dyes. Although traditionally Jabs are painted black or blue (hence the alternate name of ‘Blue Devil’), they are increasing found in a wide spectrum of vibrant reds, yellows, indigo and green.

The Jab or Blue Devil is perhaps the most energetic of the Carnival characters, even though contemporary portrayals are more sedate than its predecessors. Originally, menacing jabs were out to scare their audiences with their gruesome antics and menacing taunting, which were only deterred by on-lookers gifting them with sums of money –a ritual rightly named “Pay de Devil”. Certain Jab Molassie will adopt aspects of other devil mas, such as “the beast”, whose portrayal incorporates shackles and restraints to hold back one of the more gruesome-looking devils in the group. The use of these restraints has been linked to slavery, while the molasses and soot pays homage to the sugar plantation fields of which they were slaves. The Jab Molassie are one of the few remaining traditional characters portrayed, but remain arguably the most anticipated characters on the road.

Progressive Minds Journal met with Trinidadian Blue Devil and Firebreathers portrayal troop, Next Level Devils (NLD) based in the hills of the village of Paramin, one of the highest points of the western area of Trinidad’s Northern Range. Although as an official group Next Level Devils are relatively young, the troop members have grown up in the artform, participating with elder family members from childhood. From a very young age they were immersed in the culture of the Blue Devil portrayal –a tradition spanning several generations back. Prior to donning the name Next Level Devils, the masqueraders were assimilated under other local groups, namely Flag Boys and 2001 Jab Molassie.

Although it is customary that the identities of the Blue Devils remain hidden, NLD Front man Steffano Marcano fondly known by his family, peers and supporters as “Steffy”–gained overwhelming traction with his live streams and posts via his personal and NLD group Facebook and Instagram pages. His popularity spread both locally and abroad, with swarms of visitors arriving at the NLD mas camp, where they experienced the quiet charm of the hills of Paramin paired with the brewing excitement as the troop prepared for the Carnival season and slew of performances. Band Leader, Sterlyn Pierre along with the talented NLD squad comprising of masqueraders Jesse Fournillier, Jerron Pierre, Stephen Nicholas and Marcano were all the gracious hosts to their adoring fans.

Deep sea commercial diver by profession, Steffy maintains the Next Level Devil’s online presence throughout the entire year with his posts broadcasting the everyday life of the band members. The Next Level Devil experience does not begin and end with the Carnival season. Paramin, also a renown Parang village in Trinidad, is extremely vibrant during the Christmas season. Parang is a popular folk music originating from Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago, which was originally brought to the twin island republic by their South American neighbours of Amerindian, Spanish, Mestizo, Pardo, Cocoa Pañol and African heritage.

The heritage of the people of Paramin is reflected in the music itself, as the members of the group represent an intricate blend of ethnicities, characteristic of the islands’ history of emigrants. In addition, the group actively celebrates various parts of Trinidadian tradition such as the annual Kite-Flying season, typically occurring in the month of March, during and immediately after the Lenten season.

Marcano recounts the origins of Blue Devil mas as a tradition where masquerading “devils” would move from house to house entertaining and often frightening residents in a bid for receiving gifts of money, food and other trinkets, and was more of a village attraction.

According to Marcano, the portrayal of ‘Blue Devils’ as opposed to Jab Molassie covered in oil and mud, stems from the legend of Archangel St. Michael being commanded by God to cast out Satan from heaven. Legend has it that St. Michael disguised himself as a devil, but took on the celestial blue hue to mock the devil in order to drive him away. In contrast, dark-coloured devils are reminiscent of the long-departed slaves of the sugar plantation.

Next Level Devils was essentially formed from a collective drive to return to the roots of the craft in order to preserve its artistic integrity, in the midst of an ever-commercialized festival. The group is determined to keep the heritage alive through the use of traditional materials for their costuming, such as maintaining the use of laundry blue rather than body paints, as well as using rudimentary items such as old bottles, newspapers, pots, paint pans and of course, the original “Crix” biscuit tins in preparing for the role.

The role of the Blue Devil has its own spiritual implications as cited by the NLD team. Blue Devil masquerader Jeron Pierre spoke about how taking on the character for masquerading purposes can sometimes overpower the portrayer. The beat of the tin-pan drum fashioned out of fired biscuit tins is intoxicating says Pierre, and if one is not careful, they can get carried away in performance. “It’s both a psychological and spiritual affair” remarks Pierre. “… but we as a group keep our portrayal as simply that –a portrayal.” It is a commonly held belief that “Devil Mas” is steeped in the occult and that members participate in dark magic and rituals before performing.

Power-couple Steffano Orlando Marcano and Stephanie Bailey-Marcano perform together.

“Before any performance, the group takes time to pray together in order to ensure the safety and well-being of the masqueraders” says Marcano, who says he has witnessed some shady activities by other groups in times past. “We are about preserving the tradition and sharing the Blue Devil mas with the world.”

Next Level Devils, like any other portrayal involving the use of fire or any form of explosives must ensure that they secure the proper fire permits in order to perform in public spaces. Team NLD has also been taking their art to new heights both locally and abroad with performances and collaborations with world-renown jazz musician Etienne Charles, and soca icon Derek Pereira, known on stage as Dawg-E-Slaughter, to name a few. Next Level Devils has also entered the music scene on their own with their 2020 soca hit “The Mountain.” For further information on this dynamic group, look them up on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for all their new and exciting performances and cultural projects!

THE MOUNTAIN

Performed by–Next Level Devils x RKG

Written by–Steffano Orlando Marcano, Sterlyn Pierre, Jeron Pierre, Kerwin Pierre, Stephen Nicholas, Jesse Fournillier and Dion Fournillier