With our stomachs full we decided to explore the right hand side of the Fair before leaving. This area was designated to traders and vendors of handiwork, clothing, and health items. Everything looked wonderful and I wished I had walked with more money. Some even took Mastercard/Visa, but alas I had walked solely with camera and cash in hand.

Next was the National Archives exhibition on Slavery in Trinidad. This really was magnificently done.

Opening with enlargements of classified ads for slaves, it left all silent in its wake.

It …

After passing through the entrance it was time to head straight to the food court. Food was served in 2 main areas, one officially designated “Food Court” where most of the vendors were still absent or trying to keep dry beneath white tarpaulin, and the area shown above, which was close to the DJ Sound System and seemed to be operating primarily under the auspices of TTABA (the Trinidad & Tobago AgriBusiness Association).
Locals would be familiar with TTABA as a local packager of coconut water, as well as …

August 1st was Emancipation Day here in Trinidad & Tobago. A public holiday since 1985 its definition has recently been expanded as a recognition of the struggles of all the ethnic groups who came here in servitude. At its heart though it remains essentially a time of remembrance of the African Slavery Experience.
For several years now the Emancipation Support Committee has organized a series of week-long activities. This amalgamation of workshops, performances and trading normally concludes on the holiday itself, however as this year the holiday fell on a …

For the past few days I’ve been reviewing the recently held Sauté Trinbago food event. If you’ve been following along I hope you have enjoyed the photos and videos that I’ve shared. If you’ve missed any of the posts to date you can quickly catch up by clicking the series navigation bar above this post, or if you are reading this via RSS I have included a handy link box at the bottom of this one as well
Overall I thought that Cloud Nine Promotions, the organizers of …

Last to the stage was soca artiste Shurwayne Winchester. I was blown away by his set, which felt more like a mixtape on steroids. Seamless and flawless, he and his band (Y.O.U) combined elements of hiphop, his own soca hits (and those of others), and also wisely drew kaiso classics into the tapestry, creating a beautiful showcase of local music that also embraced the world beyond.
By this time my memory card was almost full, and I was cursing myself for not carrying along a third. Never had I anticipated …

The next thing on the evening’s agenda was the launch of a new Carnival band Oasis. From the opening notes of Shakira’s “Ojos Asi” I was drawn in…
Oasis Carnival Band Launch 2011 Playlist (6 videos)

All in all I think that Oasis did an exceptional job presenting their inaugural face to the world.

By the end of that showing I was ready to pay down my deposit! (then I remembered I have bills and other things to save up for)

The only thing left now was the grand finale! …

After the magnificence of the Picton Folk Performing Company’s offering, I could be forgiven for thinking that I could take a little time out between performances. The organisers however clearly had different plans. It was not long before the notes of Shakira’s “Waka Waka” started to play as the MC announced that the bMobile Shiv Shakti dancers were taking the stage.
The Shiv Shakti dancers have been a fixture in local cultural performances for as long as I can remember and I always love the energy and joy that they …

Prior to last Saturday’s performance I was completely unaware of the existence of the Picton Folk Performing Company. As a result, I feel really grateful to Cloud Nine, the organisers of Sauté Trinbago, for the exceptional level of talent which they allowed to shine from the event’s start to its end.

Opening with a young charismatic performer, I could barely believe the level of sheer talent which was on display for what felt like almost an hour. The non-stop flow of the performances, the intricate choreography and the sheer dedication …

Like moko jumbies, blue devils are mainstays of traditional Trinidadian Carnival (or ‘ole mas’ as it’s commonly called). A form of Devil Mas/Jab Molassie/Jab-Jab, blue devils are mostly associated with the Maraval hills of Paramin and have also been immortalised in song by 3 Canal with their classic track (and video) Blue.

Terrifying to the uninitiated eye, these maniacal characters have always filled with me awe. Famous for harassing and cajoling bystanders into handing over monies (‘pay de devil’) the more one observes them the more one begins to …

It has been no secret to anyone who follows my Twitter and Facebook accounts that I was extremely excited to attend last Saturday’s Sauté Trinbago. After a 2 year wait, since the last Taste T&T festival, I have been itching for an event that showcases the cuisine and culture of my homeland.
I had grand expectations for this event (in no small part due to its $400 TT price tag) and I am happy to say that for the most part those expectations were met.
Arriving at Queen’s Royal College …