TIME MACHINE: TRINIDAD CARNIVAL 1995 : Christianity,Carnival, and Controversy.

MAS, always has controversy , as a matter of fact CARNIVAL always has some kind of controversy around it, these days, controversy in Carnival compromises mostly of foreign made costumes small size bias, and if your online who copy the style of who (the re-mix syndrome).

20th Century Carnival however, was a different story, if Blue Boy was not getting banned in the early eighties for upsetting the Baptist Movement with Soca Baptist, Iwer was upsetting the East Indian population with “Bottom in the road” in the nineties, but there is one name in Trinidad and Tobago Carnival that is synonymous with controversy, PETER MINSHALL.

Now I don’t want you think I have a bias to this man but you have to understand that in the late 20th Century no other Mas Man without maybe the exception of George Bailey could disturb the very social fabric of this twin Island State every Carnival like Minshall, just google his name, no other designer in mas has been talked about, written about, or imitated, globally like Minshall.

On the 9th of November 1994 Minshall launched his 1995 band Hallelujah at Chaguramas of course their was some advertising and speculation on what kind of band it would be, but this band would become a Callaloo of confusion bacchanal and high drama that put Church vs. State, Preacher vs. Artist, and Priest vs. Priest.

Meanwhile the opinion of the population split down the middle, watched the debates on the television, listened to the arguments on the radio, followed the story on the daily papers and watched the drama of Carnival 1995 unfold into another classic carnival..


Opposition to Minshall’s Hallelujah was lead by the evangelical Pastor Winston Cuiffie, he called it a “brazen mockery of religion” and a “deliberate calculated attack on Pentecostals and Evangelicals”. Minshall replied that the band was a “celebration of (the best part of) the human spirit…to pay homage to the Gods, the spirits, who cause /permit/guide mankind’s existence”. This battle between religion and culture went on for weeks on end until carnival came, and if you don’t know what happened next, join me on the Massassination Time Machine, HALLELUJAH!!

So the great debate intensified, Minshall and his camp sticking to his theme and name of choice, for the band, Cuffie and his church demanding that the artist change the name, to them this was gross disrespect to Christians and some hard core blasphemy.

The Catholic Church seemed to be silent about the matter, then Fr Clyde Harvey wrote a letter to the press "let Minshall play his Mas" he said, Fr Harvey thought the nation should wait and see what he did before we condemned him Fr Harvey said "The fact that someone will take something and use it badly is not enough reason to ban it, especially when it is an expression of love". This opinion however was opposed by another Priest Fr Ian Taylor.


Fr Taylor sided with the Evangelical Pastors, stating that all Christians should be incensed by such a desecration of the name of the loving and almighty God, Fr Taylor argued "God is above art and culture...How under Gods heaven can any Christian participate or accept the chants of Hallelujah (Praise the Lord) by revelers during a festivity of considerable bacchanal, indecent exposure and drunkenness, dancing to wine and jam tunes?"
Dean Knolly Clarke of the Anglican church tried to remain neutral on the matter, but his personal opinion was that of cautious favour of the use of the word he said “If Carnival is a an expression of Joy and Minshall is attempting to salute the things that are joyful or that bring joy the there is nothing wrong with it…But if the entire Carnival has undoubtedly degenerated into pure bacchanal and he were part of that, then he would be wrong to include hallelujah in it.”

TV6 even took a Phone poll at the time and 78% of their callers were against the Idea of Minshall calling the band Hallelujah and thought he should change it.
In Minshall’s corner was also the National Carnival Bands Association (NCBA) Richard Afong the Chairman of the association said that he went to the band launch and saw nothing wrong with it, he stated to the Express newspaper, “This work sets out to praise God for the mountains, rivers and streams, the birds and the fish and the flowers. Surely if there is any blasphemy out of this it is by no means deliberate.”

With the war of words escalating a second controversial issue erupted for Minshall, the section ‘Dance the Dance Hallelujah’ portrayed the image of , if not the likeness of the Hindu God Lord Shiva , it seemed like Minshall was stepping on everyone’s toes this year. A Hindu committee that investigated the costume stated “…We call for the removal of Bhavan Shiva from the Carnival band Hallelujah ... Shivaraatri a sacred festival during which Hindus fast, keep all night vigil and conduct puja in Shiva’s name” This festival fell on Carnival Monday so they wanted the figure removed from the band.

Minshall complied.

Pastor Cuffie took Minshalls action as a direct insult to his church, he said by Minshall removing Shiva from the Mas Minshall showed that he understood that mixing Mas and Religion caused offence, and his very act of appeasing the Hindus by removing the figure, was proof that Minshall knew exactly how to solve such a problem, however Minshall’s failure to to do the same for the Christians was in effect “A DELIBERATE CALCULATED ATTACK ON PENTECOSTALS AND EVANGELICALS AND THE GOD WHOM WE SERVE..”.

Legends like the late great Cito Velasquez came out in support of Minshall, Velasquez said that in 1963 he did Splendour of the East and depicted gods like Hanooman, Shiva, Buddha, and religious symbols then again in the 70’s he did something similar with
Geraldo Veira, “people memory short…If you know how much mas man play already, you wonder why all the fuss? Is between Peter and God if he do something wrong.”

As the weeks ensued and argument and opinion went too and fro across the Carnival nation, the evangelicals tried to gain support from the Prime Minister who refused to get tie up in that confusion, he said “It is not the kind of issue on which any Prime Minister should speak out. The bandleader Peter Minshall has a point of view. Some pastors, and I stress some pastors have a different point of views, there is a divergence of views, therefore, and there is a process in this country in which divergences of views can be reconciled.”

Mean while Minshall began to slowly win over if not win back the harts and minds of the nation when his King and Queen entered the King and Queen of Carnival competition the King portrayed Spirit of Light a powerful costume and contender for the title. The Queen was called Joy to the world and was without a doubt the favourite for the title. Surely, if the King and Queen, was that beautiful, the band would be just as impressive if not more so.
It was.

By Ash Wednesday Minshall’s Hallelujah had won the band of the year title 1995, it was truly a triumph, once again his Queen won the title Queen of Carnival title. With, JOY TO THE WORLD. Minshall got all eyes on him self and his band for Carnival 1995 and took the concept of high mas to a higher level.

SEE YOU LATER.......

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SOUTH MAS

Poetic Mastery
As designer presents thrilling trilogy

“I was very happy playing with Peter (Minshall). He used to call me his ‘high priest’, and if he had continued with his band I would not now be doing mas in San Fernando.”—designer Dawad Philip
By Carol Quash

Is there a link between mas and poetry? For poet, bandleader and designer Dawad Philip, mas is poetry. “Mas is an extension of my poetry and to make the distinction between the two is somewhat impossible.”
According to Philip both mas and poetry have taken him around the world. “I write poetry and the mas themes I choose to explore comes from that literary discipline. I have read my poetry in various parts of the world, and I have designed costumes for local, regional and international Carnivals.”
Mas In My Blood
But his local and international acclaim cannot only be attributed to his involvement in mas and poetry. Philip is the man behind the inception of the now popular annual San Fernando Jazz festival, which has taken place on the ‘hill’ since July 2004. In addition, he was a journalist and editor with the Daily Challenge in New York, regarded as “the only all black newspaper in that State.”
But, after 25 years in the profession, Philip said the mas in his blood was too strong a temptation to resist. “I got out because the mas and creativity pulled me. I grew up in a yard where mas was everything, and from a child people recognised my talents and gave me little tasks to do.” He said eventually he was designing costumes for his school ‘s Carnival “jump up.”
Since then, he has copped approximately 50 Band of the Year designers awards on the local, regional and international scene.
Philip was content to work with designing icon Peter Minshall for a number of years. “I was very happy playing with Peter. He used to call me his ‘high priest’, and if he had continued with his band I would not now be doing mas in San Fernando.”
Following Minshall’s exit from the mas scene, Philip did a short designing stint with Trini Revellers, before accepting an invitation by then mayor of San Fernando, Ian Atherly, to assist in revitalising mas in the Southern city. “I left New York to do it because I love it.” He now works in collaboration with Clyde Flanders to take We People Mas to the streets of San Fernando.
The Trilogy
His band’s presentation for C2K8, Dante’s Purgatory (Purgatorio) is the second part of the Divine Comedy trilogy by poet Charles S Singleton. “This year we did Dante’s Inferno, next year Dante’s Purgatory, and following that Paradise.” Philip promised that the presentation will be complete with the theatre and drama dynamics.
Why this trilogy? Philip said his upbringing in an area where mas was everything had a major role to play in his choice of this theme. “I come from the belly of mas in San Fernando. As a child I grew up with the idea of portraying Dante in mas for many moons, but I was waiting on the right time to do it.”
According to Philip, the colour coded sections of Purgatorio will portray the seven deadly sins—greed, envy, lust, wrath, sloth, pride and gluttony.
“In purgatory those sins are what you are judged on. Those are the sins which you will be required to be rid of before rising to a higher level.”
Philip is confident that his presentation will continue to be a success because of the love and effort he puts into it. “The number of people in a band is less important to me than the integrity of a band. I believe that where I am that is where the party is. I don’t have to follow a crowd.”

“I was very happy playing with Peter (Minshall). He used to call me his ‘high priest’, and if he had continued with his band I would not now be doing mas in San Fernando.”—designer Dawad Philip
©2005-2006 Trinidad Publishing Company Limited

http://www.guardian.co.tt/features1.html

MAS FROM SOUTH

This Carnival Courts model breaks away. Photos: Rishi Ragoonath

By Catherine Copeland
Fireworks Promotions held its band launch for Carnival 2008 on November 23 at the Sting Night Club, La Romaine. Named Viva Las Vegas, the bands six sections are Show Girls/Male Dancers, Coyote, Deuces, and Golden Nugget. Two all-inclusive sections—Midnight Glamour and Carnival Courts—are being produced by Trini Fever Crew.
A band spokesman explained that Viva Las Vegas is designed to portray the vibrant, colourful, energetic and glamorous life of Las Vegas.
Fireworks’ music of the road will be by Fully Loaded Sound System and Power Source Sound Company.
http://www.guardian.co.tt/entertain1.html

Band leaders to take NCBA to court ......IS ALWAYS SOME DRAMA EH?

Band leaders to take NCBA to court

BY SEAN NERO
A dispute between Carnival band leaders and its representative organisation, the National Carnival Bands’ Association (NCBA), over prize money for this year’s parade is heading to court.
Masmen are claiming discrimination by the NCBA and the National Carnival Commission (NCC) following what they say is a decision to suddenly and exclusively revise the first prize for the large band category from $100,000 to $450,000.
That prize—the George Bailey Award—was won by Brian Mac Farlane for his portrayal of India, The Story of Boyie.
Runners-up in the large band category, as well as winners in the other categories were not given any increases. The winning medium band earned $55,000; the small band $30,000; and mini bands, $20,000.
Earl Patterson, leader of Masquerade said: “We are putting it in the lawyers hands. From the NCC, we are getting different versions about the submission of the prize structure (for mas bands) for Carnival 2007 from the CEO (Clarence Moe) and the chairman (Keston Nancoo).
“Oh God! If you give one, you have to give the others.”
Ian McKenzie of Genesis promised the matter would not be swept under the carpet or pushed on the back burner and that NCBA and NCDF bands were joining forces to deal with it.
Stephen Derek, leader of D’Midas, a medium band, endorsed the call for band leaders to unite.
“This concerns all of us. This is not about association. Prizes are supposed to be paid across the board. We are trying to get answers, but they are pushing us around,” he said.
Trevor Wallace of Trevor Wallace and Associates said NCBA and NCDF members have already taken steps to have the matter resolved.
NCBA responds...
Secretary of the NCBA Renrick Brown, saying that purses agreed to for this year’s Carnival have been paid, said what was happening now was that people still have expectations.
“All prizes negotiated by the NCBA and agreed to by the National Carnival Commission (NCC) have been paid.
“The first time anybody heard anything about a $450,000 for the large Band of the Year came on Carnival Thursday.
“This decision was made by Culture Minister Joan Yuille-Williams after all other prizes were agreed upon,” he said.
“Band of Year large was paid $450,000; Calypso Monarch $500,000; and $1 million for Panorama winner. Mac Farlane received the original $100,000 and later got the $350,000,” Brown added.
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news7.html