By Gideon Buntyn
The history of Carnival in SVG covers about 6 different periods. They are: 1) the pre 1890’s; 2) the 1900’s to 1940’s; 3) the 1947 to 1961; 4) the 1962 to 1976; 5) the 1977 to 1999 and one anticipates 6) a 2000 and beyond period.
The pre 1890’s:
Here Carnival is one day. The Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. It is a party to say farewell to sin as one begins the period of lent with its fasts and prayer. Most people kept the Lenten period. During lent there was no loud behaviour
of any sought. Calypso was not yet invented.
The 1900’s to 1940’s:
Appears to still be mostly only one day. The new development is calypso. A lead singer of a string band or bum drum group provided entertainment by commentary or humor on some ordinary personage. The elite of society were not considered as proper subject matter to be in these songs. Certainly no singer could win the pole for a song, which made upstanding citizens the butt of the joke. The predominant costumes were the Boosie Back, Monkey band with Kong, and other painter body variants and the Winning Donkey Man. It may also be fair to say the worker class only indulged in by the worker class.
The period 1947 to 1961:
Carnival grows and evolves. The costumes reflect historical and literary themes and sometimes attempts to tell stories and educate. The calypso too has more lyrical structure and musical accompaniment is now big band. However the most startling major new thing is steel band. The main organizing body to carry the lead beginning in the 1950’s was the Kingstown Town Board.
The period 1962 to 1976:
This period owes much to the work of the Jaycees who were the organizing body up till 1973. It saw the shaping of what we think of as carnival. There was pan especially the grand Panorama competition. Mas in all splendors catering for young and not so young. Electronic music, calypso tents giving shows leading up to semifinals, and a carnival queen whose costume appearance was as much a factor for her winning as her personal beauty and her gown.
The period 1977 to 2000:
Though there may be sub parts to the period its noteworthiness comes from it being the summer festival era. Vincy Mas time; fun in the July sun. A change of date and an official 10-day celebration period. Management by CDC. Introduction of Street Bars. The addition of shows such as the Junior Calypso, Miss Carival, Soca Monarch, and Clash of the Band.
