Caribbean Beat — January/February 2018 (#149)

Contents
No. 149 January/February 2018
76
42
EMBARK
19 Datebook
Events around the Caribbean in
January and February, from Bahamas
Junkanoo to Guyana’s Mashramani
to Carnival celebrations up and down
the islands, plus St Lucia’s Nobel
Laureates Festival, a marathon in
Haiti, and the world-famous Havana
Book Fair
26 Word of Mouth
It’s Carnival time! Come on a
panyard lime with Barbara Jenkins,
experience the thrilling, shapeshifting
ritual of J’Ouvert in a poem
by Shivanee Ramlochan, and discover
Carriacou’s unique Shakespeare mas.
Meanwhile, Jamaica celebrates its
musical heritage at Reggae Month
34 the game
Superhero moves
Inspired since childhood by the
Power Rangers TV show, Jamaican
taekwondo champ Akino Lindsay
uses martial arts to change his life
and inspire other young people in
Kingston’s toughest communities,
writes Kellie Magnus
36 Bookshelf, playlist, and
screenshots
This month’s reading, listening, and
film-watching picks, to keep you
culturally up-to-date
IMMERSE
42 closeup
Walk tall
It’s one of the oldest masquerades
in T&T’s Carnival, brought across
the Atlantic from West Africa. The
moko jumbie tradition once seemed
to be dying away, but in recent
years a handful of enthusiasts have
created a moko jumbie revival,
training hundreds of young people
in the art of stilt-walking. Ray Funk
investigates, and explains the power
of these towering figures
57 backstory
How to win the road
T&T’s Carnival is full of rivalries and
competitions, and none is more fierce
than the annual Road March battle.
Mark Lyndersay traces the history of
the musical title that reflects the will
of masqueraders on the street — and
we dare to share our picks for the top
ten Road March songs from the 1930s
to the present day
72 own words
“I’m unfinished”
Tobago-born actor Winston Duke,
appearing in the eagerly awaited
Black Panther movie, on his love of
stories and magical realism, how his
village childhood shaped his ethos,
and his love of soca music — as told to
Caroline Taylor
ARRIVE
76 Destination
Escape to Tobago
Even at the height of Carnival season,
Trinidad’s sister island maintains its
laid-back, tranquil vibe. Need to
escape from the fetes and frenzy?
Welcome to Tobago’s beaches and
bays, forests and waterfalls — a
natural vitamin shot for the soul
94 Neighbourhood
Gustavia, St Barthélemy
The picturesque capital of St Barts
took a beating during Hurricane Irma
— but was soon ready to welcome
visitors again, to enjoy its Gallic
charms with a Scandinavian twist
96 round trip
Art in the open
Year-round, across the Caribbean,
you can experience art in the street,
in public spaces, out in the open —
no need to buy a museum ticket.
Here are murals, monuments, and
even an impromptu art gallery in
Port-au-Prince
ENGAGE
106 green
what follows the storm
In September 2017, Hurricane Maria
devastated Dominica’s houses,
businesses, and infrastructure. But the
10 WWW.CARIBBEAN-BEAT.COM