This first episode of The Island Breeze covers Carnival and Other West Indian Celebrations. With my interviewee Bernadine Hanley, we focus on the island of Nevis in the British West and how they celebrate Carnival which is known as Culturama in the country. We touch upon the events, foods, and traditions that occur during Culturama and its important ties to emancipation from colonization and liberation from slavery. This is a very enlightening episode if you want to learn more about West Indian culture and why Carnival is celebrated in the Caribbean and Latin America.
Donations for St.Vincent Here!
SOPHIA WATTERS: Hello all! And welcome to The Island Breeze. A podcast about all things West Indian culture and living. This is your host Sophia Watters and for our episode today we’re going to discuss Carnival and Other West Indian Celebrations with my guest and grandmother Bernadine Hanley! So I hope you guys will sit back, relax, and enjoy our first episode of The Island Breeze.
PSA St.Vincent
SOPHIA WATTERS- And if you are interested learning more about preserving West Indian culture and advocacy especially for the island of St. Vincent which recently underwent a volcanic eruption and seeks disaster relief be sure to check out the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) to donate. Their website is https://www.cdema.org/la-soufriere. I’ll make sure to add a link for the fund here at this point in the transcript.
*cue sound of Soca music/sounds of Carnival*
SOPHIA WATTERS – The sounds of Soca and Calypso music fill the air in the small island of Nevis and its sister island St. Kitts. The high energy of vibrantly costumed women and the quick dancing of the local residents are one of the many highlights of Carnival in my home island. Carnival is one of the most notable traditions of the Caribbean and apart of the soul of each and every island from the West Indies even into Latin America.
SOPHIA WATTERS Q1: I just wanted to start off this podcast by introducing my grandmother Bernadine Hanley who was born and raised on the island of Nevis. She has taught me a lot about Caribbean culture whether it be through food or family or simply the traditions of the island such as Carnival. Can you tell me exactly what happens during the week long celebration?
BERNADINE HANLEY: On our island it is typically known as Culturama and it is important because it shows the heart of our island. It takes place annually between Christmas and New Year and is the only Caribbean Carnival to blend the spirit of Christmas into the festivities. What people may not know is that Culturama is a week long celebration or holiday in Nevis. It connects our local people with traditions such as pageants, cooking competitions, singing competitions, and small markets. Jouvert ends the last day of Culturama and many other Carnival events.
SOPHIA WATTERS Q2: I also want to add that many participants of Carnival wear the traditional costumes and vibrant, bold, and sometimes scant clothing among both men and women. Can you tell me more about the costumes that are worn at Carnival and possibly their meaning/symbolism if you know more about that?
BERNADINE HANLEY: Carnival represents emancipation for colonial oppressors and to commemorate a good crop of agriculture for that year, which is also represented through the clothing and costumes from the residents of the islands that celebrate the event. It is supposed to represent coming together as an island. Yes, larger islands such as Trinidad and Tobago and Latin American countries such as Brazil typically have participants that dress in more elaborate costumes and clothing that may be revealing for men and women.
SOPHIA WATTERS Q4: On another note, I know you recently showed me a video compilation from your brother from a couple days. It was like a compilation of scenes and landscapes of Nevis, its traditional food and people, and even a long clip of a celebration of the island. Can you tell me more about that masquerade celebration and its significance to the island like what it means to the people, why people participate?
BERNADINE HANLEY – That celebration was a masquerade event that usually happens on Christmas Day. It is a celebration to represent the embrace of Nevisian folklore and traditions of the islands. It is another representation of emancipation and recognizes the cruelties of slavery and the Middle Passage as an independent nation. Many men dress in Nevisian costumes which are brightly colored, bold costume with a frayed top and a long pant. It is also an important part of West Indian culture through dress.
SOPHIA WATTERS- As a listener, if this episode really inspired you or simply interested you, I think you should definitely check out Carnival in your local community. There are many local West Indian association wherever you may live that may celebrate Carnival in your local community. If you are in the DMV be sure to check out DC and Baltimore Carnival, which is virtual for this year, but if COVID permits hopefully it will be in person for next year 2022!
SOPHIA WATTERS- I just want to thank my grandmother Bernadine Hanley for taking the time to sit down and ask her some questions. I had a lot of fun making this first episode of the Island Breeze and it was really interesting learning new things about West Indian culture and educating people more about our culture as a whole. Spreading awareness about Nevis is really important to me especially as it is such a small island in the British West Indies. Ultimately, thank you all for listening to the first episode of the Island Breeze I hope you all tune into our next episode. Thank you and have a great day! BYE!
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