Mama, This is Mas...

This column started off being entitled 'Mama This ent Mas,' and was all about the destruction of traditional Carnival by the Bikini bead Soca movement at the expense of traditional and culturally rich Trinidad Carnival.

While there is strong reason to feel this way, one cannot overlook the fact that this new 'Soca Mas' is also relevant to many people, is a very profitable, popular and sellable product and should be allowed its own space to be fully realized.

There will always be good arguments to be made for and against both events depending on your perspective, and it is time the debate was brought up to a rational level so that the needs of all contributors and participants could be understood and respected.

The conversation must start from the understanding that Carnival as an expression is highly infectious and will not be denied.

Despite different attempts at control over the years, traditional Mas continues to spawn and mutate, and why shouldn't it? Its popularity is contagious and the cross pollination into East Indian culture as 'Chutney' and the viral exportation of our version of Mas (as opposed to Rio Carnival) is a testament to the need and validity of such a social release.

Perhaps, instead of arguing which of the 'Carnivals' has more validity, maybe a point could be made for the severing the two into two separate and distinct events.

I suggest traditional 'Trinidad Carnival' being held as the pre-lenten cultural festival and governed by rules for participation  to keep it true to its original design. Participation MUST be limited to traditional and old time Carnival Mas (locally designed & made), calypso and steelpan, and descriptive rules put in place so as to disqualify those that fail to meet such criteria. There should be limits to the size of the bands as well as the volume of music trucks on the roads, and there must be at least one steel band or brass band accompaniment in bands above a certain size to guarantee the involvement of all sectors of society.

As this event would showcase the talents and traditions of the people, it should be supported by the State and promoted as such.  

Soca Mas could be moved to an existing holiday weekend (say Discovery Day weekend), and established as a festival in its own right and promoted worldwide. Soca Monarch, Chutney Soca Monarch and all competitions having to do with Soca Mas should be moved to the week prior, and should also include what now obtains as pre Carnival fetes.

There is a win win in this as all groups get to participate freely without compromising or diminishing the other, and the Government (through the Ministry of Culture & Social Development) must take the lead in bringing all participants to the table so as to maximize the opportunities inherent in each event. 

At some point in our maturing we may come to realize that everyone winning is a good thing.

Something to think about...