Traditional mas characters jab molassie pillow case. Maria nunes debut book opens door into world of traditional mas. The jab molassie would carry chains, and wear locks and keys around his waist, and carry a pitch fork. Americas in britain notting hill 52 anniversary british council. Jab jab the name comes from the french patois word for devil. The answer can be found in the jab jab historical connection to the fight. Jul 20, 2012 the jab jab patois for double devil has a similar name to the jab molassie, but a different history. The costume parodies the dress of 18thcentury french aristocratic women and is stuffed in the hips and bust. Jab has been around since the origin of carnival, jab molassie in trinidad and jab jab in grenada. Feb 20, 2019 following the biscuit tins intro on his composition jab molassie, charles and his band enter with ethereal piano notes and an otherworldly theme stated by trumpet and alto saxophone. Mar 21, 2019 a jab jab has a court jester head piece and whip, a jab molassie is has horns and is covered in black pigment. Guide to trinidad and tobago carnival the nowherian daughter. The bookman carries a pen and a large book in which he write the names of. The simple costume consists of short pants or pants cut off at the knee, with a wire tail, mask and horns and a pitchfork.
Jab has its own music consisting of drumming, conch shell blowing and jab chanting. The answer can be found in the jab jab historical connection to the fight against slavery and the freedom that follows. Mar 21, 2014 the jab molassie is a character played in trinidads carnival. After the end of slavery, the celebrations became more public, as. He wears wings, horns, has a wire tail and carries a pitch fork and usually strikes fear in the hearts of both young and old. Devil in carnival context could refer to a number of individual mas characters and mas bands devil, dragondevil bands. This item is stocked in the usa and europe and ships to locations worldwide bpa free hybrid t. Similar to jab jab, his name means molasses devil because the original character would be covered in molasses. Youd be forgiven for thinking maria nunes debut book in a world of their. This character is seen as a representation of satan himself.
These whips can reduce the costumes of other jab jabs to threads. Since last years jab molassie workshop, he has been repetiteur on the uk premiere of salvatore sciarrinos luci mei traditrici and the world premiere of philip glasss the trial both coproductions with the royal opera house and music theatre wales. Quinten questel has uploaded 1254 photos to flickr. Jul 16, 2015 the jab jab is supposed to mimic what we would call a midevil jester whereas the jab molassie that came from french patois diable melasse meaning devil mas. Jab molassie original art acrylic painting trinidad etsy. Errol hill describes the jab mollassie as a, leaping. Maria nunes jab molassie, trinidad, 20fragments 1, trinidad 2011. With a libretto from the apparently indefatigable caitlyn kamminga, fresh out of the jab molassie blocks, and narration from michael cherrie, river of freedom tells the story of the merikins community, former slaves who, in return for fighting for the british in the second american war. For the africans, the devil mas or jab molassie masquerade was one way to. The spirit of carnival took a hold of me what my jab molassie fr. A second masquerade character used in the play was the jab molassi, or molasses devil.
Errol hill describes the jab mollassie as a, leaping, prancing, masker, his body daubed with black or blue paint, sometimes with molasses, who threatens to besmear spectators unless they pay him off. Jab is a variation of the french diable, which means devil. Jan 14, 2020 festivities get fierce in this island nation as the jab molassie take to the streets. There are numerous cultural events such as band launch fetes running in the lead up to the street parade on carnival monday and tuesday. A starboy is born as trinidad and tobago gets a new work of. The jab jab occupies a space between the worlds of life and death. The jab molassie is one of several varieties of devil mas played in trinidad. Its important for caribbean children to grow up understanding the rich history of the festival, and why the grand spectacle of carnival continues to be an important form of cultural. Overall winner of the 2019 ocm bocas prize for caribbean literature high mas. Bodies are covered in mud, black grease, or red and blue dyes. Oct 09, 2020 the jab molassie which means molasses devil in french patois, is one of the oldest carnival characters. The jab molassi or molasses devil is one of the oldest forms of.
Moko jumbie bats, bookmen, baby dolls, jab molassie, devil mas are all traditional carnival characters that capture the elements of the past, and continue to tell the story. For example, dame lorraine is a mockery of the french and british aristocratic women with their fans, parasols and bustle skirts. The dynamism of the festival has sparked its reproduction throughout the rest of the caribbean island chain, and as far away as toronto, new york, miami and notting hill. At first read this may seem to be an ordinary statement, but on closer examination of the battle one realises that one of the masters is fighting with a stick typical of what is called a bois and the other, a whip. The history of the character is based on slavery and the production of. Jab has been around since the origin of carnival, jab molassie in trinidad and jab. Add a splash of colour to your home with our traditional mas characters pillow cases. But everyone knows that trinidad is the mother of all west. First, however, we have to remember that before the emancipation of slavery, the slaves were not allowed to partake in carnival celebration.
Jab is french patois for diable devil, and molassie is derived from melasse molasses. Any serious discussion of the trinidad carnival is indebted. But at four or five, i understand only fear, hiding behind my mothers skirt and. Feb 09, 2019 culture matters behind the mas in a yard in couva, two masters battle. Traditional mas characters jab molassie iphone case. Most historians agree the last three were the first devil characters to appear. The jab jab has a thick whip of plaited hemp which he swings and cracks threateningly. It has a solid back and flexible sides that make it easy to take on and off, with precisely aligned port openings. These pitchforktoting devilsjust one type of the many carnival characterscover themselves with molasses. The script was first written by caitlyn kamminga in 2010 who was soon after introduced to dominique le gendre.
Put another way, it is a phenomenon that exemplifies history flipped on its. There are different stories of how the jab jab masquerade in carnival came about. The jab malassie would carry chains, and wear locks and keys around his waist, and. Jab is the french patois for diable devil, and molassie is the french patois for melasse molasses. Gv sits down with some of the people behind jab molassie, a. Director patricia cumper has worked in the theatre in the caribbean and the uk for 30 years as a playwright, producer and director. Portrayals of various devils have been popular throughout the history of carnival, but the combination of devil mas and molasses has several. The jab molassie wines or gyrates to a rhythmic beat that is played on tins or pans by his imps. The above is clearly a jab jab and here below is a jab molassie. Jab molassie follows starboy as he gives up something precious to him for the sake of material gain. The costume consists of cutoff shorts, horns, chains with locks and keys and a pitchfork.
This type of devil is often smeared with tar, grease, lard, andor various dyes most often red, green, and blue. The event is well known for participants colorful costumes and exuberant celebrations. Burrokeet a donkeyman character constructed so as to give the illusion of a dancer riding a small burro or donkey. The bookman carries a pen and a large book in which he writes the names of. Oct 22, 20 central to understanding much of the trinidadian psyche is to understand the festival culture of the island. This product is only the pillowcase pillow filling not included.
He was usually covered in a sticky black substance, which was in the old days, molasses. There are several quite different varieties of devils in the carnival. By the mid1960s, bands began to move from historical to fantasy themes and by. Book list caribbean carnival in books for children. Fancy sailor is a take on the us sailors that swamped the islands during the world wars. The origins of carnival can be traced to the festivities leading up to lent in the french colonies where the bourgeoisie of these islands masqueraded in expensive elaborate costumes and danced to the music of welltuned orchestras. Before emancipation, slaves were forbidden to participate in carnival, but this never stopped their backyard mas. Carnival and the poetics of caribbean culture explores caribbean identity through photography, criticism, and personal narrative. Set in the windy hills of laventille, two school security guards, a man and woman, narrate the tale of starboy, a gifted musician with a bright future who unwittingly sells his soul, represented by his music, to jab molassie, also played by male and female performers. The jab molassie wines or gyrates to a rhythmic beat that is played on tins or. He represents the ghost of a slave who met his death by falling into a vat of boiling molasses in a sugar factory. These are 2 forms of devil mas played at carnival time.
The mispronunciation or mixing of french worlds with various african languages and english created whats referred to in the caribbean as patois, a language in its own right. And no festival is greater than the trinidad carnival. Jab molassie carnival character traditional mas archive. Traditional mas characters jab molassie pillow case trini. Jouvert is a large street party held annually as part of carnival in many caribbean islands and. Taking a sophisticated and unapologetically subjective caribbean point of view, the author delves into masa key feature of trinidad performanceas an emancipatory. The mispronunciation or mixing of french worlds with various african languages created whats referred to in the caribbean as patois, a language in its own right. As the title of a specific character, devil has been used in referencing imps, jab molassie, satan, lucifer, beelzebub, beasts, and death. The jab molassie is one of several varieties of devil mas played in trinidad and tobago carnival. Photo of a jab molassie by quinten questel trinidad carnival, dragon costume, book cafe. Pull up selector and turn your lamps down low, jab molassie is here, acutely.
This sleek jab molassie iphone case protects your phone from scratches, dust, oil, and dirt. Jab will teach starboy how to use the book, if starboy will teach jab how to play the violin. Feb 16, 2021 this is jab molassie molasses devilwho demands you pay him. The jab molassie the name means molasses devil in french patois is one of the oldest carnival characters, possibly dating back to the days of slavery. Devil mas in french essay 1005 words internet public. Blue devils, pierrot grenades, baby dolls, bats, jab mo. This type of devil is often smeared with tar, grease, lard, andor. Photos and research courtesy the carnival institute of trinidad and tobago citt. Jab, french patois for devil, and molassie, the french patois for melasse molasses, is one of several types of devil mas. For a time, the africans engaged in their own festivities freely, entering the streets and ignoring the disapproval of the ruling class.
Shortlisted for the 2019 ocm bocas prize for caribbean literature all genres winner in the fiction category. The pain of the jab jab whip trinidad and tobago newsday. The costume consists of short pants or pants cut off at the knee, and a mask and horns. Imagining that in exchange for his instrument he will gain all the riches promised to him by jab, starboy. Despite the european origins of the carnival from the catholic tradition in the 15th and 16th centuries, african traditions are evident in the mas. Apr 08, 2014 the answer can be found in the jab jab historical connection to the fight against slavery and the freedom that follows. Jan 30, 2018 whole books have been written on the topic, most of them for adult readers, but there are quite a few books for children that center caribbean carnival as well. From these vibrant traditions and the desire to mock the upper class through ridiculous imitation grew the characters of old mas or early masquerade the baby doll, bookman, the burrokeet, the cow band, jab jabs, jab molassie, the midnight robber, moko jumbies, dame lorraine, fancy sailors etc. The bookmans costume consists of tudorstyle pants, or a richly embroidered gown made of. Imagining that in exchange for his instrument he will gain all the riches promised to him by jab, starboy cannot predict the heavy price he will pay for this exchange. At carnival he is the leaping, prancing masker, his body daubed with black or blue paint, sometimes with molasses, who threatens to besmear spectators unless they pay him off. Jab molassie jab is the french patois for diable devil, and molassie is the french patois for melasse molasses is one of several types of devil mas.
But this is not the case, as he is part of the paramin blue devils. The ocm bocas prize for caribbean literature winning books. Feb 23, 2019 it is said the jab molassie emerged as a way to remember and express disgust for the brutal way in which africans were treated, and that his particular portrayal recalls the horrifying death of enslaved who fell, or were perhaps pushed, into a boiling vat of molasses. With origins deeply rooted in the remnants of culture brought over by enslaved africans, jab molassie is an ode to the resilience of african descendants during enslavement and colonization in the caribbean. Any serious discussion of the trinidad carnival is. One of those photographs is actually in my recently published book in a. Fabric with a linen feel hidden zipper machinewashable traditional mas characters jab.
Its authentic, just the way african slaves and ancestors used to do it. Certain jab molassie will adopt aspects of other devil mas, such as the. The trinidad and tobago carnival is an annual event held on the monday and tuesday before ash wednesday in trinidad and tobago. List of trinidad and tobago carnival character costumes. The whole body is smeared with grease or mud, red, green or blue paint. World premiere november 6th9th at the little carib theatre.
This very context is the essence of the trinidadian jab molassie. The jab malassie would carry chains, and wear locks and keys around his waist, and carry a pitch fork. The jab molassie walked around with chains and carries a pitchfork. A little history of the jab molassie blue devil jab is the french patois for diable devil, and molassie is the french patois for melasse molasses. The jab jabs portrayal brings focus on our african roots. It is a story set in laventille written by an american, caitlyn kamminga, who grew up in new orleans and moved here from her last posts at hong kong and the united kingdom. The jab molassi or molasses devil is one of the oldest forms of devil mas. Prof hollis liverpool notes in his book rituals of power and. He wears wings, horns, has a wire tail and carries a pitch fork and usually strikes fear in. The difference among various forms of devil mas were once distinct but have become blurred over time. The name of this mas is derived from the french patois for diable diable.
Fancy sailors captured by maria nunes for her book in a world of their. Traditional mas characters jab molassie iphone case trini. Bookman, the burrokeet, the cow band, jab jabs, jab molassie, the midnight robber, moko jumbies, dame lorraine, fancy sailors etc. Festivities get fierce in this island nation as the jab molassie take to the streets. It has a similar name to the jab molassie, but a slightly different history. The young man here could be mistaken for the many homeless people in trinidad and tobago. The bookman, also referred to as the gownman or ruler, is a feature of devil mas portrayals. The jab molassie would dance and gyrate to the beat of any rhythm or drum. Aug 09, 2016 the jab jab patois for double devil the slave masters referred to them as double devils. Jan 20, 2019 the spectacular costumes represent characters and events from the history and folklore. Jab molassie can be traced to the traditions of sugar cane farming, specifically the burning of the cane fields to make harvesting easier. The other two groups of characters in the devil band are the imps and beasts. Devil mas in french essay 1005 words internet public library. Traditional characters of trinidad carnival huffpost.
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