ST PAUL’S CARNIVAL 2021 - PART 1
Anyone who tuned into the Super Soca Show yesterday would have heard Dub Boy and myself talking about our ‘tabanca’ for both Glastonbury Festival and St Paul’s Carnival, two of the most important dates in our calendar, which have felt the brunt of covid regulations for a second year running. Tabanca is a Caribbean word, used to describe a deep sense of loss and longing for someone or something and I don’t think I ever appreciated how much I could miss these events. One year is a break, but two years and something starts to feel seriously wrong.
Of course we’ve been here before with St Paul’s Carnival, there was even a three year gap from 2015-2017 but for other reasons, certainly not a global pandemic! The following two years were two of my favourites as I went from a long term reveller to an active participant, playing Soca on the Lime Time Truck in the parade and then Drum N Bass over at Lakota Gardens. Then this year, with some time off from Boomtown to reflect on things, I realised I wanted to start giving a bit more back to the city that’s been my home for nearly 9 years now. I applied to be on the board of directors for St Paul’s Carnival which wasn’t to be, however LaToyah McAllister-Jones, the Carnival’s executive director was kind enough to put me forwards for the Bristol Festivals board (of which I am now a member) and also pull me on board to help produce an online event to mark what should have been this year’s Carnival. I have to say, it’s been not only a pleasure and a privilege but also a huge education for me to put together ‘Carnival: A Global Evolution’ with them, a panel discussion in conjunction with Notting Hill Carnival and St Lucia Carnival, as well as having some Trinidad & Tobago representation from one of their biggest Soca artists.
I thought I was well versed in Carnival history and culture, but the panellists for this have been both educational and inspirational, making me realise how much more there is to appreciate. This is one of the reasons why these discussions are important in a time when we don’t get to experience the real thing. Nearly all of the panellists have expressed concern that the culture is being lost, or at least under appreciated. Although the tabanca is largely related to that release of frustration and energy which we’ve been denied, there is obviously so much more to Carnival than raving. Understanding that can not only heighten our own enjoyment, but it can also help to build stronger roots and connections within and between communities, and at its best Carnival can help us to creatively challenge a repressive status quo.
Although every Carnival around the world has different roots and different relationships to its host societies, there are certain threads that run between them all and it’s these similarities and differences that this panel sets out to explore. Plus there will be musical performances too, from Trinidad & Tobago, St Lucia and of course, St Pauls right here in Bristol. The broadcast will be going out from 17:00 BST on Saturday 3rd July and if you come back to the blog tomorrow, I’ll tell you all about the incredible panellists lined up!
Check the event page here.
