MacFarlane jubilant over 'Africa' hat-trick

	Renuka Singh Thursday, February 26th 2009

Port of Spain, judging point on Tuesday. -Photo: DEXTER PHILIP stage show: Masqueraders from Brian MacFarlane's presentation Africa-Her People, Her Glory, Her Tears perform a choreographed dance for the judges at the South Quay,  Brian MacFarlane sums up his winning the 2009 Band of the Year title in three words-elated, excited and exhausted! The National Carnival Commission (NCC) announced at a media conference yesterday that MacFarlane had won the award in the large band category for his presentation Africa-Her People, Her Glory, Her Tears. Standing among the members of his winning team outside the mas camp on Rosalino Street in Woodbrook yesterday, MacFarlane said it was only when he tried to brush his teeth with his razor that he realised how tired he was. But despite the obvious fatigue, the masman took time off to celebrate the historic victory with the supportive members of his team. "I am not sure, but I think the hat-trick, plus winning the King and Queen broke some records," he said. MacFarlane won the Band of the Year title for the years 2007 (India), 2008 (Earth) and 2009, and his creations also won King of Carnival and Queen of Carnival this year. Coordinator for the designer Maurice Chevalier explained that MacFarlane is always exhausted after Carnival because he pours much of himself into the mas. Chevalier said that MacFarlane is always reworking and rechecking to make sure perfection is achieved. "So much of himself in every single costume, is it any wonder that he could hardly move by Ash Wednesday?" Though informally dubbed "the next Peter Minshall", MacFarlane is too humble to accept that accolade, instead insisting that he has many mentors in the business, including mas icon Wayne Berkeley, and others. But he admitted that his work is more of an artistic presentation than the "senseless bikini and beads mas", a type of presentation that he seemed to dislike. "That kind of mas is just senseless, just wine and drink and get up the next morning." He said that costumes have the ability to influence behaviour, and his work brings discipline and consciousness, instead of the typical "wine and jam attitude" displayed on the streets during Carnival. Despite this year's dramatic performance and the seamless appearance of the final production, road manager Daryl Joseph was disappointed with the facilities that they paraded on, and insisted that the infrastructure needs to be improved to accommodate the type of presentation that this group does. But tired or not, Brian MacFarlane is a true masman at heart, and has already began conceptualising next year's production, " I want to bring the mas back home next year, something based on local culture, maybe even include Tobago for the launch," he said. But all plans for next year will have to wait as MacFarlane will be busy enough working on his next big project: designer for the Fifth Summit of the Americas in April, a project that even this tired bandleader is very excited about. THE EXPRESS

MAC FARLANE'S AFRICA IS BAND OF THE YEAR 2009

HAS MAC FARLANE DONE IT AGAIN?

Praise for ‘Out of Africa’

By Gary Darmanie Wednesday, February 25 2009

Defending Large Band of the Year leader Brian Mac Farlane appears set to make it three victories in a row with his historical presentation Out Of Africa.

In stark contrast to the feathers, bikinis and bright colours of other popular large bands, Mac Farlane used more subtle tones of browns and reds, black and white with a dash of stronger hues in his costumes which provided spectators with a visual

 relief from the wining frenzy. They showed their appreciation at South Quay, Queen’s Park Savannah and other judging points in Port-of-Spain with loud applause for the portrayal which looked at the ancient tribes of Africa. 

His masquerade featured huge masks, painted faces, huge skirts and spears as he captured the spirit of the Zulus, Masai warriors and desert dwellers of North Africa. Sections included the “JuJu Priestess”, the “Elephant Masked Dancers” (with their personalised African dance to cross the stage), “the Corbeaux”, the “Marriage of the Rashida Bride and Groom” and the “Black and White Zulu”.                                                                

Mac Farlane however saved the best for last, as the final sections showcased large khaki-coloured costumes with black paintings displaying “Africa, her people, her glory, her tears.” The masqueraders in this section were only women. The faces painted on the costumes were those of orphans whose parents died from Aids, reflecting Mac Farlane’s message about the high rate of HIV/Aids in sub-Saharan Africa. These portraits were painted by children from the St Michael’s Home, the Cyril Ross Nursery and the St Jude’s Home for Girls.

Mac Farlane told Newsday at South Quay yesterday that his inspiration for the band came from God and from the fact that “we are living in an empty society and need values and discipline as a nation.” 

He added that Out of Africa was also perfectly timed since South Africa will host the football World Cup 2010 in South Africa and given that the United States now has its first African- American president, Barack Obama. The slowdown in the economy did not affect Mac Farlane as he was able to attract 1,200 masqueraders the largest his band has ever been. Mac Farlane won the Band of the Year title in 2007 and last year with the presentations’ “Earth” and “India” and expressed confidence that he can make three in a row this year.

NEWSDAY