Carnival, Women, Sexuality and Sex in the Caribbean
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Open Journal of Women's Studies Volume 1, Issue 2, 2019, PP 6-24 Their story: Carnival, Women, Sexuality and Sex in the Caribbean Shivaughn Hem-Lee-Forsyth PhD, St. George‟s University, St. George‟s, Grenada, Caribbean. *Corresponding Author: Shivaughn Hem-Lee-Forsyth, PhD, St. George‟s University, St. George‟s, Grenada, Caribbean. [email protected] ABSTRACT HIV and AIDS is a worldwide public health issue. The Caribbean region is at the forefront of this pandemic; especially during the festive Carnival period. HIV and AIDS is the leading cause of death among males and females between the ages of 20-59 (World Health Organization, 2014a). Women are currently contracting HIV at a disproportionate rate to men (UN Women, 2015). These trends have led health agencies and gender organizations, at both local and regional levels, to unite in support of reversing the HIV epidemic. The incidence of sexually transmitted diseases increases right after Carnival. On an annual basis, there is a peak in the birth rate nine months post Carnival. This paper addresses the following issues: the perception of Carnival culture on the human psyche; the value of Carnival celebrations and their impact on the lives of women; whether Carnival dress and alcohol use are considered conducive to [influencers of/catalysts for?] increased sexual activity; whether the provocative dance movements and musical lyrics influence sexual behaviours; and lastly, whether certain classes of women are considered to be more at risk of STIs owing to their sexual practices at Carnival time. Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Stis, Caribbean, Carnival, Culture, Women . INTRODUCTION 2010). As time progressed centuries ago, modifications were made to this costume History of Caribbean Carnival festival, referred to as „carnivale‟ by the Italian Carnival is an annual festivity held in most of Catholics at that time, which meant “put away the Caribbean islands. Carnival has been the meat‟” (All Ah We: Building Bridges described as the festival of “colour, revelry, gay through Culture, n.d., ¶ 2).It was a celebration abandon [ment]…when sexual inhibitions are that lasted two days prior to Ash Wednesday. lowered. The „mas‟ has also become very much Those two days of pomp signified a “farewell to a world festival” (Gilkes, 2003, ¶ 1). Caribbean the devil and lust of the flesh, before the period Carnivals‟ hypnotism attracts countless tourists of fasting and repentance during lent” worldwide. Apart from the economic gains (Rampersad as cited in Caribbean Choice, 2010, derived from tourism, the powerful message that ¶ 2). After growth in Italy, the festival then has spread universally is that „Carnival is the spread to France, Spain, Portugal and Catholic greatest show on earth.‟ The complex historical Europe (All ah we: Building bridges through web from which Carnival has been constructed culture, n.d.). The festival was eventually has led to its rich diversity in terms of its brought to the Caribbean by the colonial rulers significance and events. Trinidad has long been in the 15th century. hailed as the mecca of Carnival.The National The Caribbean‟s political past of colonialism, Library and Information System Authority slavery, revolt and liberation lies at the core of [NALIS] (2009) claims that Carnival is the Carnival‟s birth. The arrival of the European country‟s most important celebration. Smaller colonisers, particularly the French, and the islands, such as Grenada, have been picking up African slaves led to the creolisation of both momentum with regard tothe magnitude of their cultures (Creque-Harris, 1994) and the eventual respective Carnivals. fusion of cultural influences from the East Carnival was traced back to a pagan festival in Indian, Chinese and indigenous Amerindians. the time of Saturnalia, pre-dating Christianity Carnival‟s inception as an exclusive event in (Rampersad as cited in Caribbean Choice, history has significantly evolved into a more all- Open Journal of Women's Studies V1 ● I2 ● 2019 6 Their story: Carnival, Women, Sexuality and Sex in the Caribbean inclusive one (NALIS, 2009). Between 1783 These occasions are the epitome of bacchanal in and 1838, this exclusivity was reserved for the the Caribbean context. References will made white upper-class who engaged in balls and songs in the rest of the chapter; these Soca star fetes. People of African and mixed descent were Destra encapsulates this intoxicating Carnival not allowed to take part in these proceedings. mood in her song1 entitled “Bacchanal:” However, they did engage in their own brand of Is all about unity, togetherness celebration. In that era, there were other forms of revelry that made it possible for African Carnival time we love de jamming slaves to entertain themselves; they had the All ah we collectively autonomy to hold parties with music and In de bacchanal time to start de fete‟n dancing (NALIS, 2009). One thing about my country In post-colonial times, citizens have been Everywhere we go we love to party. (Garcia, warned about assimilating the colonial values 2008) that rob them of their own sense of value, which is needed for self-recognition. According to Many present-day events where bacchanal is Thorpe (as cited in Bloom, 1997, p. 92): “Living experienced have been born out of traditional in a society colonised by Europeans have happenings during colonial and post-colonial encouraged the Afro West Indian to deny the times. Events are theme based, inspired by worth of the locally-evolved culture and to seek folklore, culture and religion. Integral to the instead to identify himself with a foreign Carnival art form and to the events are the cultural tradition.”That said, the common culturally significant old time characters: colonialism heritage suggests that the past, burrokeet (Figure1), tambu bamboo (Figure2), together with the multicultural existence of the fancy Indian(Figure3), jab jab (Figure 4), jab African, Asian and other peoples in the present, molassie (Figure 5), midnight robber (Figure 6), continues to unite them. Gikandi (as cited in moko jumbie (Figure 7, blue devil (Figure 8), Torres-Saillant, 1997, p. 58) articulates, bookman (Figure 9), sailor (Figure 10), minstrel “Caribbean writers cannot adopt the history and (Figure 11) and pierrot grenade (Figure 12). culture of European modernism, especially as These characters enliven and provide meaning defined by the colonising structures, but neither to tradition as well as creating the inescapable can they escape from it because it has over bacchanal spirit at Carnival gatherings. determined Caribbean cultures in many ways.” Gilkes (2003) acknowledges that Carnival What Gikandi proposes is a synthesis of the serves a dual purpose: it showcases creativity historical realities and the diverse cultural and talent; and also provides an avenue for self- legacies as a means of arriving at a new identity expression and freedom. Avariety of Carnival unique to the Caribbean experience. events provide a high level of revelry and The African traditions of masks and costuming, gaiety, which cater to the diverse tastes of music and dance have had a strong influence on patrons. There are pre-Carnival events such as present day Carnival activities is well- calypso tent shows, band fetes, boat cruises, all- established (All ah we: Building bridges through inclusive fetes, queen shows, band launches and culture, n.d.). According to Nurse (1999, p. the pre-judging of Carnival competitions. These 661), “Carnival is theorised as a hybrid site for events culminate in the Carnival weekend the ritual negotiation of cultural identity and activities consisting of various competition practice by the Caribbean diaspora.” Wherever finals including soca monarch (Figure 13 and Caribbean people have settled, in large cities 14), panorama/„steelpan‟ (Figure 15), Dimanche such as Toronto, New York and London, they Gras with calypso, queen and king costume have taken these Carnival traditions with judging (Figures 16 and 17), J‟ouvert/„ole mas‟ them.In continuation of their cultural heritage, (Figures18and19), Monday night mas, and Carnival is now celebrated in these places under parade of the bands on Carnival Monday and the new names of Caribana, Labour Day and Tuesday (Figures 20 and 21).Not surprisingly, Notting Hill Carnivals respectively. the festivities are accompanied by increased Carnival Events alcohol consumption and sexual activities. Selected lines taken from La Borde‟s poem A number of diverse events that occur over the Carnival season are celebrated by a multitude of people from various nationalities, ethnicities, 1Lyrics of most of the songs in this chapter and the races, religions, genders, ages, and classes. chapters that follow were sourced from audio-visual materials, and then transcribed. 7 Open Journal of Women's Studies V1 ● I2 ● 2019 Their story: Carnival, Women, Sexuality and Sex in the Caribbean summarise the two-faced nature of the Carnival Alas! On the other side celebration: Dangers lurk far and wide Some say it‟s just a facade Removing the moral code Better known as masquerade All forms of vulgarity On one side is pageantry Blatant promiscuity In splendour and artistry Spirit of „bacchanalia.‟ (La Borde, 2009, ¶ 1, 2, 3). Figure1. Burrokeet Source: Chapman and Martiniuk, 2014 Figure2. Tambu Bamboo Source: Espinet, 2014 Figure3. Fancy Indian Source: Traboulay, 2013 Figure4. Jab Jab, Grenada Source: Kwekudee, 2013 Open Journal of Women's Studies V1 ● I2 ● 2019 8 Their story: Carnival, Women, Sexuality and Sex in the Caribbean Figure5. Jab Molassie, Trinidad Source: Triniscene, 2016 Figure6. Midnight Robber Source: Talley, 2014 Figure7. Moko jumbie Source: Chapman and Martiniuk, 2014 Figure8. Blue devil Source: Nunes, 2013 9 Open Journal of Women's Studies V1 ● I2 ● 2019 Their story: Carnival, Women, Sexuality and Sex in the Caribbean Figure9. Bookman Source: National Carnival Commission, 2014 Figure10. Sailors Source: Henry, 2013 Figure11. Minstrels Source: Ferris, 2012 Figure12. Pierrot grenade Source: Questel, 2015 Open Journal of Women's Studies V1 ● I2 ● 2019 10 Their story: Carnival, Women, Sexuality and Sex in the Caribbean Figure13.