Mas and Commess

By

Queen Macoomeh

Copyright August 2005

Ah have so much commess to talk about for Caribana 2005 - starting from Tursday in de King and Queen show.

Bonjay!

I never see so much people in Lamport Stadium in all meh born days! De place was pack Pappa yo! De costume was nice fuh so, from small to large, man and woman, dey come out to show deh best. Man! Meh skin walk to see we craft and we skill come across dat stage. Ah still fine de stage too small fuh dis kinda splendour so ah hope dey could fix dat nex’ time but ah playing fresh an’ say to mehself, “Toronto giving Trinidad some real competition oui!”

Yuh remember de days when we only had one or two chinky costume make from kite paper and spit? Well not no more m’dear! We come out in full gear! From de very first female and male individual costume, dey had de crowd in de palm of dey han’. De queens cross de stage in sweet elegancyness, taking dey time, moving full of grace. Den PLATOW! De Kings buss on we wid some massive mas! Dey wheel and dey turn and dance dey costume. One king break away and was wining like he waist had tree hinge! He had de crowd screaming fuh he not to stop. Man it was ruction in Lamport!

Den de Friday ah went back again to hear pan. Pan Fantasy take de crong boy! Oh gooode, pan fuh yesterday, today and tomorrow. Ah could still feel de riddum all dong in meh washecong. Ah fine Lamport was ah plenty better venue dan dong in Fort York. Dong dey was so dark ah couldn’t tell what ah mash when ah walk. Lamport had more light and de way dey arrange de bands, dey was able to move forward and set up good fuh de judges. Ah give dem respeck fuh dat.

Well doh akse about de parade. Yuh done know yuh girl was front an’ centre. Ah take snap till ah get more chupid dan ah is awready. Pappa Gawd plan de wedder nice. He make it hot but wid ah nice breeze to cool He chirren. Bands pass wid some colours in it, ah was well tootoolbay.

Ah see people wearing some outfit. Tonné! All dey business was in de road! An’ deze wasn’ even self de masqueraders eh! Is regular people ah talkin’ bout! Victoria doh have one blessed secret again!

Now all yuh go say how ah getting ole an’ fretful but ah have to tell yuh dis one.

We had plenty celebrity in Caribana. Dey come to see we mas and hear we music. Ah spot ah big time rapper in de crowd. He an’ one big posse appear in de place. As soon as my people see dat, dey push aside we people to make room fuh dem. Dry so. No excuse me, no pass please. It remine me of de olden days meh grandmudda tell meh about. When de British governor general come to de island how de natives use to have to polish de wares an’ put on white glove and pinafore. How all de locals use to have to take ah back seat.

I tort dem days was finish? Ah see de rapper an’ he posse nearly take over de judges’ area. We still like to big up uddas before we own eh? Instead of taking snap of he and disturbing de proceedings, dey should tell he an’ he entouragey to sit dong to see what de Caribbean can do in Ice Boxland. He come to see it, so make he watch us, not de udda way arong. Shims!

Before ah go, leh meh give ah BIG big up to ‘Folklorama’ and ‘Bazodee’ bands. All yuh keeping t’eatre in carnival. Yuh dance de Moko Jumbie, de Dame Lorraine, yuh keep de flame burning for de spirit of we Caribbean hist’ry. Ah tank yuh fuh dat.

An’ de volunteers. Oh gorn all yuh wuk hard! If no body else say tanks, leh meh say tanks now.

It would be nice if de CCC could make some profit to build ah place where we could hold tings properly doh. Ah place to call we own. Some place to keep some of de nice costumes, to display pans and drums. Ah museum of Caribana and Caribbean culture showing each island and de contribution we making to Canada.

Ah hear dey aksin’ de government to issue ah postage stamp commerentating Caribana. But before de stamp, ah want we to get respeck. To get dat, leh we learn to respeck weself.