Carnival festivals are a tradition in many Caribbean and South American countries. Some of the most popular ones are in Brazil, Trinidad, and Barbados. The dates vary depending on the location the festival is taking place in. This year, the festivals occur around February – August. Although Carnival takes place in many countries, Dominica is the one that stood out to me the most.
The traditional festivals originate all the way back to European Roman Catholic Church history that made its way to the West Indies from the French people who settled there. This causes the Dominica Carnival to be full of African and French influences. The French would visit each other and wear colorful, fancy masks while having the enslaved people dance and celebrate outdoors. Once the enslaved people of the country became free, they began to celebrate in the streets. The Dominicans didn’t change the tradition for the carnival as time went on, it is still very similar to how it originally was. The people within the country come together with beautiful cultural costumes and vibrant energy around them.
As the years went by, the tradition began to have more and more added to it. The Lapeau Kabwit festival is a more traditional part of the Carnival celebration. La Peau (Lapo) Kabwit means “Goat Skin” and it is a band that plays drums made from actual goat skin. Drums made from goat skin is a tradition passed down from African ancestors. This unique instrument is played along with others like a conch shell, horns, and something called a “shak shak” which is an Antillean musical instrument that is similar to shakers. These instruments are combined to create lively music that goes back to slavery in the country and how they made music with what they could get a hold of.
Along with beautiful music, this festival consists of cultural costumes as well. One of the famous costumes is called the Sensay. This type of “Sensay” isn’t the one you’ve heard before referring to a teacher, usually for Japanese martial arts (Sensei). This one refers to the figures and/or dancers of Dominica that are seen as protectors of the community who ward off evil spirits that invade the country. Sensay originated in Africa and was brought by the Africans to Dominica during slavery in the 1700s. The costumes are made to disguise the human body that is under it. The buffalo horns on the costumes represent strength, while the masks represent homage to the dead and feminine beauty portrayal.
Every tradition is a homage to its originators from Africa, who brought it to Dominica during slavery. The yearly festival reminds the people of this country where their culture came from and how to keep the special culture alive. The bright colors and costumes are seen yearly and shown off to the world for the famous Carnival Festival.
The traditional festivals originate all the way back to European Roman Catholic Church history that made its way to the West Indies from the French people who settled there. This causes the Dominica Carnival to be full of African and French influences. The French would visit each other and wear colorful, fancy masks while having the enslaved people dance and celebrate outdoors. Once the enslaved people of the country became free, they began to celebrate in the streets. The Dominicans didn’t change the tradition for the carnival as time went on, it is still very similar to how it originally was. The people within the country come together with beautiful cultural costumes and vibrant energy around them.
As the years went by, the tradition began to have more and more added to it. The Lapeau Kabwit festival is a more traditional part of the Carnival celebration. La Peau (Lapo) Kabwit means “Goat Skin” and it is a band that plays drums made from actual goat skin. Drums made from goat skin is a tradition passed down from African ancestors. This unique instrument is played along with others like a conch shell, horns, and something called a “shak shak” which is an Antillean musical instrument that is similar to shakers. These instruments are combined to create lively music that goes back to slavery in the country and how they made music with what they could get a hold of.
Along with beautiful music, this festival consists of cultural costumes as well. One of the famous costumes is called the Sensay. This type of “Sensay” isn’t the one you’ve heard before referring to a teacher, usually for Japanese martial arts (Sensei). This one refers to the figures and/or dancers of Dominica that are seen as protectors of the community who ward off evil spirits that invade the country. Sensay originated in Africa and was brought by the Africans to Dominica during slavery in the 1700s. The costumes are made to disguise the human body that is under it. The buffalo horns on the costumes represent strength, while the masks represent homage to the dead and feminine beauty portrayal.
Every tradition is a homage to its originators from Africa, who brought it to Dominica during slavery. The yearly festival reminds the people of this country where their culture came from and how to keep the special culture alive. The bright colors and costumes are seen yearly and shown off to the world for the famous Carnival Festival.