Trinidad Express Newspapers
by Rubadiri Victor
The Greens must be destroyed. I'm clear of it. This is despite the fact that I spent most of Sunday there—so I know of what I speak.
It was carnal. Completely. And I needed that—but that was all it ever was and ever will be. It was also empty, devoid of "Spirit"—people wandered around lost, posing, waiting for something to happen that never did. This is what happens when you detach a people from the ritual that sustains them. In the absence of culture, they need substances—alcohol and gimmicks—to bring them to something resembling liberation. The death of Carnival is in that impulse. This is the same culture that overtook European "carnivals" from the 1300s, resulting in their death. When Carnival becomes a drunken orgy, it can be competed against by any distraction. Nothing, however, can compete against ritual and belief. Our question then: how do we make those-who-we-have-lost believe again?
I don't know any other country in the world that abandons its next generation of customers, its youth and its inheritance to a competitor. This is exactly what PanTrinbago and the NCC have done. Everywhere in the world the opposite pertains. Huge amounts of resources and brainpower are invested in finding ways for traditions to remain relevant—to create bridges... The NCC has ensured that in 20 years there'll be no Panorama—but an all-inclusive that can be sunk by "Beyonce in Concert"! Contrast this to museums in the US which have already computed demographic figures for the next 100 years and realised minorities will then be majority, and that minorities represent only one per cent of current museum visitors—so the future of white-bread traditional museums is at stake. They're creating programmes to answer this reality. European and American museums are constantly innovating displays, programmes, and buildings to bring in younger audiences.
Replies
Maybe my metaphors are offensive to some, but I addressed the topic of the "Greens" a year ago. The "Blueprint" document also addresses the issue of activities that are not pan-related being around Panorama, as well as how panmen and pamwomen get paid for their performances (I think they should be paid for rehearsals as well.) The fact is, many only see "improvements" as far as what is means for them. For example, I see people complaining about the lack of TV coverage, but no one considers that the performers should be receiving royalties for any recorded performance. Everyone on this WST forum who is familiar with my posts, would know that EVERY prediction I made, is coming to pass. I took ridicule for criticizing, not only the "Greens", but also the ATTSDC, Andy Narell's assumption of authority over our culture, and those who claim that money is the all-justifiable ends. Finally, the ones in agreement with Mr. Warner's statement, reveal their true opinions and attitudes towards, not only the steelbands, but to those making up the membership, including the pioneers. They have NO emotional connection to the instrument, having never played, and are on this forum to promote their pseudo-religious dogma, and UNC-influenced political positions. ANYONE agreeing with Mr. Warner's statement is not a lover of the instrument, nor the people who represent it, and you all can choose to be fooled if you wish, however, my intellect allows me to read between the lines (of certain members' comments), and understand EXACTLY what attitudes and opinions they imply. They are agents of the destruction of Black culture, and they know that the steelband is a part of Black culture. The make up of the steelbands today, is still predominantly Black, and while they see no issue with infusing old East Indian instruments into the mainstream, they intend to destroy the instrument that was influenced by the ex-slave, whether it was the skin drum, the bamboo drum (tambour), or now the steel drum. It is ALL noise to them, because they cannot understand it, they cannot feel it, and again, they have NO emotional attachment to it. Add to that, their opinions and attitudes based on "race", "class" and "religion", and the disdain runs deep.
https://whensteeltalks.ning.com/forum/topics/pan-trinbago-and-panora...
GHOST.
Steel Pan Blueprint For Success.doc
As I mentioned before, the hardest thing to swallow is that the Panman/Woman who is responsible for making this spectacular event happen(PANORAMA) would not see a damn cent from all the ''MONEYS'' made on the ''GREENS''. Where will ALL this MONEY go? No one knows.
Berthel, anyone forcing them to play? Anyone lifting up their intellect, so that they can make a better decision? Anyone taking leadership and calling for action, including "civil disobedience" (boycotts, marches, petitions, etc.)? To Quote Harriett Tubman, "Today I freed a thousand slaves. I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves."
GHOST.
Brilliant, as usual Rubadiri! Speaking for some of us who think of the Greens,or any other activity, as gross respect to Pan and the prime performance of orchestras. Materialism, my dear! as opposed to the poverty in which the strengths of our culture was born.
When you speak of traditions, so much has been lost and so quickly, which might be due to population size. Small societies can only have small groups to uphold anything. Pan's history to date can tell us that. However, I believe many young people who can get to know the truth, not by feteing only but by LEARNING as in secondary/tertiary education. I see hope emerging from some students who learn what is and what was!
Well said Mr. Victor. Trevor ah see yuh ponging we school mate..lol
I have been watching and participating in our carnival for more than 75 years with a break for World War 11. There have been 2 constants change and growth. We may not like or agree with many of the changes, (some of us continue to fuss about 'beads and bikinis'), but they are the results of the interaction of people - innovators, entrepreneurs, merchants, artists, politicos and consumers who are mas players, 'feters' and spectators and critics too. Continue to make your observations and your input, but do not be too disappointed when the movement goes on its merry way in directions that do not agree with your suggestions.
Bravo Mr. Scoon. I applaud the fact that you have experienced the many changes in artistry, design, sounds and all that pertains to carnival. I would have loved to sit down and have a conversation with you which I have no doubt would have be extremely educational. But i must ask. Does today's carnival at times, make you grieve for the past?
In that case, Mr. Scoon, you can say to all the forumites who like to come on here and say that "pan has always been a part of carnival and should continue to be" -- THAT IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE!!!
Listen to the lyrics of "Bounce and Drive" by Blaxx. Pay close attentio to what the man is singing about. We have strayed from what makes the carnival "sweet". "Bring back the Savannah to how it use to be". I can already hear the critics saying we have to change with the times. Should we do so at the expensive cost of losing our cultur?
The greens must be destroyed:
Excellent commentary. We are doomed to losing our culture as we know it. Its always a case of somebody in authority who feel that they have to fix something that is not even broken. Just to say they made a contribution. Mr. Education minister, please, put the book; "RITUALS OF POWER AND REBELLION" into the school curriculom so the children can have a chance to learn what carnival is all about. I implore you to do this because at this rate, they will have no culture to speak to their children about.
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