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

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

MAS JUMBIES J-OUVERT 2008 : JAB

Brian Wong WON, and the MAS Jumbies, are back for Jouvert 2008 with JAB.


A journey into the traditional yet contemporary world of characters in the 'dutty' mas of Carnival Monday morning. J'Ouvert.

The six sectioned band promises some more of the drama MAS Jumbies unleashed on Port of Spain last year.


here is a peep of some of the sections.






the website and blog are both most informative and educational so if you don't know the history behind the mas now you will.