Features
Corey Connelly
AFTER an absence of more than 20 years, Mt St George made an exciting return to the Tobago Heritage Festival on July 24 at the Hope Community Centre.
The village’s presentation, We Tambrin Story, highlighted the origins and mystique of the unique instrument, which has been an integral part of Tobago’s cultural landscape for generations.
Written and directed by Miguel Lashley, Tambrine’s tale was woven into a fictional love triangle that sought to restore pride and ignite a greater appreciation for her contribution, especially among a younger demographic. It touched on issues of betrayal, mistrust, acceptance and loyalty.
The 90-minute play, which consisted of two acts, was interspersed with dancing, drumming, philosophical titles, and short song recordings that related to specific developments in the plot.
He also honored some of the village elders who played a critical role in the development and preservation of the art form, namely the late Senate Vice President and cultural activist, Rawle “Axe Back” Titus and Milford Caterson, among others.
Scheduled to start at 7pm, the show started late. But the standing-room-only audience, which included Tourism, Culture, Antiquities and Transport Secretary Tashia Burris, assistant divisional secretary Niall George and Goodwood/Mt St George assemblywoman Megan Morrison, were not disappointed.
“Mount Saint George. This is one of the top three productions of the best village. Well researched. Take her to Trinidad,” one woman then posted on Facebook.
In the opening act, the performers, accompanied by members of the tambourine band, danced the brush back down the hallway of the community center.
This leads to a conversation between Jomo (Daniel Wilson) and his best friend Dave (Megueil Phillips), two young men in the village.
Jomo, an introvert, is smitten with Ariel, a beautiful but self-absorbed young woman and a member of the village tambrine group. Dave, a confident ladies’ man, encourages Jomo to tell Ariel about his love. Jomo later joins the band as a fiddle player to get closer to Ariel, but doesn’t know the first thing about playing the tambourine.
Meanwhile, Merissa (Shaquan Alleyne), Ariel’s friend and band member, also has a crush on Jomo. But he doesn’t immediately show interest in her. Later in the show, it is revealed that Ariel was in a relationship with Dave, much to Jomo’s anger.
Jomo is eager to take Ariel on a date, but she tells him that she is preoccupied with the group’s upcoming production.
However, an excited Jomo tells his ailing mother, played by Tiye Ware, about his involvement in the group. She urges him to show more than a superficial interest in the tambourine.
“Make sure your intentions are pure. The tambourine is a powerful instrument”, she advises.
Jomo quickly learns the instrument with the help of Cuthbert (Albert Grieg), a lonely, wise and seemingly eccentric old man in the village. At first, they share bitter exchanges, but a sober Cuthbert tells him about the tambrine’s spiritual and healing properties.
At the end of the presentation, Cuthbert also encourages Jomo to host a thanksgiving service for his mother, who has an unexplained illness and is given a limited time to live. Jomo’s mother, he said, treats him with respect, unlike many people in the village.
Sadly, Cuthbert dies in his sleep, forcing Jomon to publicly comment on his ingratitude towards him.
Jomo and Dave also make amends as Merissa seems willing to pursue a relationship with him, even though he had rejected her at first.
There were some emotional moments in We Tambrin Story: Jomo’s mother’s declaration that she has little time to live; the fight between Jomo and Dave after Jomo learns that the latter has betrayed him; and Jomo’s initial rejection of Merissa.
But in the end, Mt St George moved towards a new, more harmonious vision of itself – one underpinned by the realization that culture is more important than personal gain.
Mt St George Village Council President Omari Douglas, in opening remarks, said We Tambrin Story was not just a show but a tribute to the community’s enduring spirit and vibrant culture.
Applauding Morrison’s role in securing the village’s return to the Heritage Festival after a long hiatus, Douglas also praised production manager Asabi Caterson for her commitment and dedication.
He added playwright Miguel Lashley and the cast, which also included Cuthbert’s brother (Elisha Harper) and Mr. Davidson (Andelle Franklyn), should be commended for their creativity and passion in bringing the story to life.
“Today, we are here to celebrate, remember and honor our past while looking forward to our vibrant future,” Douglas said.
Caterson, who also spoke, read excerpts from Titus’ unfinished book on the Tobago tambourine. In it, he said that the instrument and the band should be respected because they are much more than what people see and hear.
Titus wrote that tribute should also be paid to the people who pioneered “this great genre of music and let them know that their efforts have not gone unnoticed”.
“These people should be properly appreciated in a meaningful way and the tambourine should become one of our national instruments.”
Titus said it was important to get the book published “because there are so many misconceptions about the instrument and really, the band”.
“People should be informed. It is due to lack of information why the genre has been allowed to decline… tambrine has never really been embraced. It was never really loved and as a result all the authorities actually tried to control it for their own convenience.”
He revealed that he also intended to produce a CD.
Titus said he was a violinist for several bands, the best being Caterson’s Tambrin Band and the Royal Sweet Fingers Tambrin Band. The latter still exists today.
Titus wrote that the basic rhythms used by many male tambourines in contemporary society “have softened a little and continue to do so with each passing day.”
He said the CD will include music for several dances – reel and spin, brush back, Castilian, among others – as well as the Tobago spoken word group. He added that his goal is to record the underlying rhythms for posterity.
