Tanya Batson-Savage, Freelance Writer
PHOTO BY TANYA BATSON-SAVAGE
The group from Aruba brought an interesting feathery touch to the parade.
WHILE JAMAICA Carnival stumbles for its own footing, Curacao Karnaval is shifting into the tiny Dutch Caribbean island's premiere event. Organised by the Fundashon pa Organisashon di Karnaval (FOKA), the event has been parading the island's streets for the past 35 years.
Though Trinidad has cornered much of the Caribbean carnival market, Curacao has no intention of patterning the land of the steel pan. Their intention is to use
karnaval (as it is called in their native tongue, Papiamento) to help establish their tourism
slogan of 'Real. Different.' Karnaval 2005 began on December 12, 2004, and stretches across January and February in a series of events and three major parades.
The largest of these is the gran march, which took place on Sunday, February 6, 2005. Karnaval also features a parades for children (January 30, 2005) and another for adolescents, dubbed the 'Teener Parade' (February 4, 2005). There are also farewell parades for the
children and adult groups.
Looking around Willemstad, Curacao, the Dutch heritage is clearly evident in its architecture. Karnaval's continued connections with Europe are also evident as the logo is The Joker, but its identity is unquestionably Caribbean.
DEEPER IMPLICATIONS
In the February 4 edition of the Caribbean Times, columnist Stanley Brown pointed to the deeper implications of karnaval, arguing that it allows the country to seek the roots of its "aesthetical norms, morals and ethics."
"It is the melting pot of our history, religion, and cultural traditions," Brown continued, noting that the revelry, mask and costumes of carnival allow
people to be their true selves. He also uses the karnaval as an
analogy for Curacao's political position, describing their politics as ultimately carnivalesque.
Corine Djaoen-Genaro, chairman of FOKA, says that the organisation is intent on encouraging increased creativity. "Here you will see a variety of materials, a variety of creations," she says. The gran march attested to that ideal.
FOKA's wishes to have karnaval extend well beyond the parades. "We want everyone to contribute everything they can to make it (Curacao) a real carnival paradise," says Djaoen-Genaro. The island is well on its way to this goal.
DECORATION
Throughout Willemstad, several houses and stores have been
decorated using masks, costumes and other decorations to reflect karnaval. The Van der Valk Hotel in Punda presents a particularly wonderful example, using huge, beautiful masked and costumed mannequins reminiscent of ancient masquerades.
Individuals also embrace the idea of karnaval to create an explosion of colour. Hair displayed colours rainbows have not yet had hallucinogenic dreams about. Several young men spray painted their hair into a myriad of colours, using reds, greens and every shade of blonde between platinum and strawberry blonde. Other young men and women braided their hair using different colours, while others simply donned colourful hair extensions and wigs, even those
that would have been more comfortable on clowns. Huge Afro wigs were also worn by men and women, some of whom further decorated them with blooms.
Most persons stick to bright clothing, while faces and exposed flesh were smeared in glitter. Some even decorate just below the eyes with tiny jewels to dramatic effect. In that vein, the masquerade is not left only to those who are in the parade, as a few members of the crowd also adopt masks. Additionally, many persons who have come to watch the parade are associated with different organisations and so have colourful clothes to highlight their affiliation, which extends the idea of costumes.
Along with the local groups, FOKA invited a few of their neighbours to join the parade. Thus there were groups from Barbados and Aruba in the parade. These helped to broaden the flavour of the karnaval, as they brought their own styles of dancing as well as the tendency toward beaded and feathered outfits, which complemented the detailed extravagance of the local groups.
Margueret Halm was one of the enthusiastic persons standing by the road waiting for the gran march to pass. She notes that though she loves karnaval, she has never participated in a march. "I like to see it. If you dance you cannot see it," she says.
Several of those who dance, however, do so time and again. When The Sunday Gleaner caught up with the Bernie Maria of the group 'Tin pa tur' and Dino Serbony who danced with 'Sweet Apetit', they are both clearly tuckered out, each sitting on the sidewalk to recuperate from the long journey. Serbony has only been dancing for five years, but Maria is a veteran. He has been marching for 21 years, from age six. "I can't stay out of the karnaval. I must be in," he says, displaying a gold-toothed grin.
Rhea Ranjit is one of 20 Barbadians who were a part of the karnaval. She explains that the event has been fun and she also enjoyed the bonus of the great shopping opportunities in Curacao. Her mother, Ruth Ranjit, who accompanied the group, commended the organisation of karnaval and pointed to the limited littering which takes place during the festivities.
Wendell Floris is one of the few who are a little worried about the changes in the festival. He believes that karnaval may have become too commercial and that the Brazilian and Trinidadian emphasis on sexuality may be trickling into the young.
However, persons like Mita Stacie remain unfazed. Stacie has been a karnaval participant for 20 years, though this year she has decided to just watch. She sums up the experience well. "Karnaval is the best event I have ever seen or you will ever see," she says.
With the wondrous costumes displayed in the gran march and even the teener parade, it is hard to argue with her.
