Tobago
Corey Connelly
THE RETURN. That could easily have been the theme of the 2024 edition of the Tobago Heritage Festival, which, for the first time in its 37-year history, runs for a month instead of the usual two weeks.
Several of the popular villages, including Les Coteaux, Black Rock and Pembroke, have pulled out of this year’s event, for various reasons.
But others have returned to the festival and are eager to educate and entertain the public with their respective presentations.
One such community is Golden Lane, which has not participated in 21 years. This year, the village returns on July 13 with the launch of its signature Coronation Codes.
Mt Cullane Cultural Group president Gracie Phillips told Newsday on Sunday the presentation addresses the ordeals men had to undergo many years ago to get a wife.
She explained: “When people dated a long time ago, the girl’s parents had to be satisfied that the suitor had something worthwhile to offer in order to keep their daughter.”
Phillips said that if the man had a large garden or a fishing boat, he had a good chance of marrying the woman he had his eyes on.
But these were not the only criteria. He also had to split a piece of mora wood in half as proof of his virtue.
“So no matter what wealth the men had, they always tested them with a piece of wood. They had to be strong enough to be the husband of the woman.”
She said in many cases, a woman may have more than one suitor: “But will he who chops wood get the lady.”
This year, Phillips said, the group will put a twist on the same theme. The production, titled, Buss D Wood: Reminder From the Silk Cotton Tree, takes place at Golden Lane Government Primary School, Cottage Trace, on July 13, from 7pm.
Phillips said the Mt Cullane group started attending the festival in 1989, two years after it started. The area includes three small villages: Golden Lane, Culloden and Mt Thomas.
“At the time, we were trying to come up with a name and someone said we should use a part of everyone. That’s how we came up with the name Mt Cullane.
Asked why the group had stayed away from the festival for so many years, she said: “That’s a question for the heritage committee, which usually chooses the villages to do the productions. They just said that Golden Lane will be closed and we will not enter.
“It was just that all the time, until we got tired and stopped sending proposals. You were sending out proposals every year and nothing was happening.
“Last year we sent and we sent one this year and we just happened to be one of the villages for this year.”
Phillips urged people to attend the presentation.
“Mt Cullane is back on the calendar so we want people to come out and refresh their memory of what the friendship codes are all about. Come see which man will ride the wooden bus.”
She said a variety of local foods will be for sale.
Roxborough, which has been away from the festival for more than a decade, returns with its re-enactment of the 1876 Belmanna riots on July 29. Riots broke out on May 1 when migrant workers from Barbados set fire to Roxborough’s property to protest downstairs. wages, poor working conditions and inadequate rest.
Two days later, a policeman named Cpl Henry Belmanna tried to arrest the arsonists, but the mob resisted and attacked him. Belmanna fired a gun into the crowd, killing a Barbadian woman, Mary Jane Thomas. A huge riot ensued outside Roxborough Court and Belmanna was beaten to death.
The village production is being presented by the Roxborough Police Youth Club.
Technical coordinator Aliyah Brooks said Roxborough has traditionally done a stage production, but this year opted for street theater to better capture elements of the riots more than a century ago. She said the production will be an immersive experience with over 400 participants, consisting of protesters, dancers, drummers.
“We’re ready and excited,” Brooks said. “We are planning to bring the production back to life as it was on the day of the actual riots.”
Brooks said the police station, which was the focal point of the event, still stands today on Police Station Road.
“So there’s still a bit of history here.”
She said that although the village has not had a stage performance for over ten years, it has participated in the Miss Personality pageant, another highlight of the festival.
Mt St George, which produced the late cultural activist and former Deputy Senate President Rawle Titus, is also back at the festival after a long hiatus.
The village council’s presentation, We Tambrin Story, will be held at Hope Community Center on July 24 at 7pm.
Production manager Asabi Caterson said the show focuses on the tambrine’s “lively, exciting, mysterious” story. It consists of two acts, each of which is estimated to last 40 minutes, with an intermission of 15 minutes.
She added that the show will be a unique blend of fact and fiction following a fictional love triangle of people who are called to perform at an important event to rebuild the Tambri culture on the island.
Caterson told Sunday Newsday, “Heart’s Desires will lead the main character through trials which show him that culture is more important than personal gain, while intricately revealing some factual elements, such as the origin of the instrument and his diverse and important. use.
“This offers the opportunity to take the audience on a journey filled with songs and dances associated with the beautiful instrument, which will be played live throughout the production. We hope this fascinating story will help revitalize our once beloved instrument.”
She said that during the production, the village council also plans to honor some of the elders who played a key role in the development and preservation of tambrina on the island.
Rehearsals are underway.
“Preparations are going well and while there is still much to do, under the guidance of the Tobago Festivals Commission Ltd, our consultants and the hard work of our dedicated committee, we are confident that we will put on a great show.”
She said the neighboring villages of Hope, John Dial and Goodwood are also helping.
Mason Hall is also returning to the festival on July 14, with the games we used to play at the Elizabeth Dennis Recreation Ground.
Culture lovers can also look forward to some perennial favorites.
These include Charlotteville Natural Treasures Day (July 15); Moriah’s Ole Time Wedding (July 20); and Ole Time Carnival in Plymouth (July 27);
The Miss Tobago Heritage Personality Show and the Tobago Heritage Calypso Monarch will be held on July 11 and 27, respectively, at the Shaw Park Cultural Complex. The theme of the latter is Mouth Open, Tory Jump Out.
About nine presentations were removed from this year’s calendar.
The festival, entitled We Are Back, begins on July 1 with a thanksgiving service at Scarborough RC School and culminates on August 1 with an Emancipation Day parade at Crown Point.
Other events
July 2 – Heritage Film Symposium
July 3 – Children’s Heritage Extravaganza, Shaw Park Complex
July 6 – Tobago Fireside, Bethany
July 9 and 10 – Heritage Office Decor Competition (THA Divisions)
July 11 – Miss Tobago Heritage Personality Show, Shaw Park Complex
July 17 – Yesterday’s Children
July 19 – Bachelor Night (Pork Tea Lime), Moriah Community Center
July 21 – Folk Fiesta, Shaw Park Complex
July 28 – Tobago Harvest, Speyside
July 31 – Food Fair, Shaw Park Food Centre
