SXM ST Maarten Carnival 2011

I have visited St Maarten twice  and Love Love St Maarten. Its a small country/island, but thriving with activity. A popular destination for tourist, St Maarten will satisfy your every holiday desire.

This time i wanted to experience the Carnival in St Maarten. As an “Ambassador of Carnival” I believe it’s my duty to visit and experience as many carnivals worldwide as possible.

My fiance’ used to live in St Maarten so it was nice to reunite with family and friends.

Normally Carnival takes place over two weeks, however due to the calendar and Easter holidays, this year Carnival was only a week long.

In St Maarten they host several events in the build up to the parade. This includes,

the Carnival Queen Pageant, local talent shows, major music events including Soca , Reggae and R & B artist.

The day I arrived we picked up our car rental, dropped off our bags and went straight in to town to see what was going on. In Phillipsburg the capital of St Maarten houses the great Festival Carnival Village. This is a outdoor venue where all the shows take place. It is also a place to lime and get your food and beverages. The carnival also finishes at the village.

I met the President of the Carnival Committee. Stuart A. Johnson. He and his team are responsible for managing the carnival event on a whole.

Wednesday night i got my first taste of the carnival festivities. I attended the show featuring Ginuwine, Beenie Man, Tantro Metro and Devante and other local artists . It was a great show. Its was surprising to see the variation of the artists that perform. In Trinidad or London the shows mainly feature Soca artist. It was a show with a difference.

Thursday- I was frustrated a little as finding a Mas camp was no easy feat. Before i arrived i tried to research the bands and locate  Mas camps etc but had no luck. So when i arrived i was on a mission to find me a Mas camp. I finally visited the famous Gordon Yee’s Mas camp. The costumes were fantastic. Gordon had a team from Trinidad to assist in the designs and production. I must mention that Gordon’s band won best Carnival troupe for carnival 2011. Congratulations Gordon!!

I went to another camp but it was closed, which was a little weird as carnival was days away!!

Anyway i found my Mas camp (gordon) and made a great connection with the team.

Before you knew it it was J’ouvert morning. I was geared up for my first J’ouvert in SXM. I didn’t know what to expect but i went prepared. I tied up my locs to protect it from mud, paint, you know what. I wore the least cared about clothes, and shoes that were comfortable enough to chip and jump up. I was ready for the road.

I love how J’ouvert is organised in SXM. There is a meeting point in town where all the bands line up. All the revelers dressed in their J’ouvert attire awaiting the trucks, with the best vibes. The other great thing was the music was performed by live bands. 

So as i got into the music and had a few drinks i  realized ...wait! no mud, no paint no chocolate no dust. no powder! I thought this was J’ouvert. i was a little confused.. this is new to me.

The next day was the parade which took place over two days Saturday 30th April and Sunday 1st May 2011

Saturday there was a lot of kids but the adults do come out to play Mas too. Sunday was mainly the adults day.

Like most carnivals around the world the parade is the focal point. The masqueraders are the main attraction and are enjoyed by the audience who respectfully stand on the sides of the street and take in all the splendor of the parade. I must mention that Steel Pan had not yet arrived on the Island.

The parade is small i think 10-12 bands in total and band sizes ranging from 20-150

The vibes are fantastic though. I really enjoyed myself.

The cherry on top for me was the show featuring Alison Hinds, Denise Belfon, Tallpree, WCK, Gyptian and more. This show was off the Chain!! ooo Alison Hinds fans please note the Locs are gone! she is still natural but cut off De Locs. xx she looking good though!!

Last lap was tuesday night with a short “jump Up” from one point of SXM to the Village. At the end of the carnival season they hold a ceremony where you witness the burning of King Moo moo . A dummy is made to represent this figure and the ritual marks the end of the carnival season in SXM.

I felt that sadness i feel when the end of carnival comes. I had a wonderful time. Met some really lovely people and i look forward to going back to SXM for a longer carnival season.

I spent the rest of the time on the beach :)

The Seycehlles Carnival Experience 2011

I was so excited when i received the call to produce costumes for the Seychelles carnival. I was stunned as we had no idea there was a carnival taking place and more excited to know Genesis Carnival Company was chosen to do the work for Masons Travel who were venturing into a mas band.

I had two weeks to get the whole production completed. 30 costumes. AHHHHH

Anyway we made the deadline and I couldn’t wait to get out there and meet the team and see the costumes and the carnival.

We arrived at the Seychelles International Airport on Thursday 3rd March we had to stop in Dubai on the way there. It was a nearly 24 hours traveling.

Our hotel was on the beach which i loved, The heat was immense but i loved every bit of it.

We unpacked and then a car picked us up to take us to the Mason’s workshop. this is where i got to meet the team and the masqueraders who were rehearsing their performance dance for the parade.

It was a small band of 40 people plus volunteers and engineers for the music and truck.

I had shipped the costumes a few days before my arrival so i took a look to make sure all was still in place. We made a few touch ups the humidity made a few of the feathers limp and life less so we had to sort that out. We did a fitting  to make sure all costumes fit and the head pieces were ok. I was happy and my clients were happy.

Friday we  went for a tour around the island. Seychelles is such a beautiful place. It is definitely a romantic place and the locals pride themselves on its culture and tradition.

On the Friday evening there was a lovely opening ceremony. An opening address by CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board, costumes from the Notting Hill Carnival Road show Company which also featured  CSi Steel Orchestra. 

There were Live performances by Trinidad and Tobago Soca artist  Lima Calbio, and other global artists, and a speech by UN Goodwill Ambassador Dionne Warwick. 

Saturday was the day of the parade. Everyone was hyped and excited. it was the first carnival so there was so much excitement. We met up at the workshop by 7am. 

We dressed the crew, did their makeup and we were ready to go.

The carnival was very organised. All the bands meet at a certain point where they filter onto the route. Then their is a VIP and judging point area a few miles along the route. I noticed how all spectators stood and watched and cheered on respecting the bands passing along and enjoyed the spectacle.

Notting Hill can certainly learn from Seychelles. The MAS was the focal point. The costumes and the colour the music was why everyone was there. It is not confused what carnival is about there.

The event is managed very well. Although Seychelles population is small 85,000 approx.,  authorities seemed to have everything under control. There were after parties in the street and in clubs. The whole island came alive. 

Sadly Sunday was my time to return to London. I had a lovely time. A big thank you to the  Seychelles Tourism Board, Masons Travel and all the new friends we made on this trip. You all made our trip comfortable and enjoyable and packed with fun! Genesis do hope to return next year.

Peace & Love.x

Black History Month Carnival Style

October was a busy and exciting month. So many events showcasing black history and the celebration of Africa, the Caribbean and the Diaspora.
October 4th was also my birthday so I celebrated in true Libra style.

If you have not visited the restaurant 805 on the Old Kent road, I highly recommend you go there. My friends treated me to a lovely evening of great food and fun.
 My mother also put on a great Sunday spread at the family house, so I had a fun packed weekend.

Anyway enough about Me ....The Just Carnival Events review


CMA Dinner Dance Awards Saturday 9th October

I attended the Caribbean Music Association (CMA) dinner, dance and awards show held at the Bloomsbury Holiday Inn.
I arrived fashionably late but just in time to get a taste of the Caribbean buffet which went down well I must add!! The entertainment included London' s finest Caribbean artists. Socalypso artists "Trini Boy Juicy"and  the talented singer,songwriter Nikiesha  performed their latest music. The Hilariously vivacious Comedian "The Jamaican Bajan Princess" tore it up ,funny witty and cleaver innuendos had the Holiday Inn crying with laughter!!
The awards presented on the night included "Soca on the Move", "UK Roach March", and "Lifetime Achievements", to name a few. Congratulations to Soca Johnny and Shadow HiFi.
I am very proud to announce that my father the late Vernon "Fellows" Williams was awarded the "Lifetime Contribution to Carnival Award!!
This was a very emotional yet proud moment for myself and the Genesis family.

So once the awards wrapped up we got to dancing. I danced my shoes off...literally. However that did not stop me from keeping it moving down to the Grove to Mangroves Thank you Party.!! Nuff Love to the Mangrove family!!

Genesis Thank You Party October 16th 2010
Genesis Mas celebrated the end to a successful carnival season @ JJs wine bar. It was a night of great music and partying Genesis style. Smokey Joe, up and coming Soca DJ Intracacies and DJ Dukez entertained the crowd with back in time soca, funky house, R&B and the latest soca music.

I was due to attend other events including Caribbean Dinner Jazz, The Ex tempo Calypso Show at Carnival Village ,The International conference on Steel Pan, and Ramajay and Burrokeets Thank You party. Unfortunately I had a car accident which slowed my "social life" down... luckily no serious injuries. So I rested until Saturday 30th October and headed down to the Pan Explosion (PE) at the Bernie Grants Centre in Tottenham
For those of you that don't know I started playing pan when i was 8 my first panorama was in  the tents at Scrubs  lane I was 9 years of age and I continued for a further 16 years .
I love love panmusic so i wanted to go down to PE and support my fellow panist.
Again i was fashionably late!! I just cant seen to get to shows on time these days!!
I arrived when CSI steel orchestra were performing their 15min session. Then Metronomes Steel Orchestra treated the audience to a show like no other. The musical arrangements and playing style is one I have not seen from Metronomes for years, but they have definitely stepped up their game. 
Big up to my girl Vanya Reid and the "Four Seasons" for their lengthy but highly entertaining session of  rare groove and neo soul arrangements.
Congratulations to Metronomes  Steel Orchestra for wining the Pan Explosion competition. Well done to all the other steel orchestras.

I urge you all to stay true to your culture. My carnival lifestyle has not only been one of fetes and Mas but of culture and historic education. Support the artists and Keep ya culture alive!!!

Peace & Love S.x