Resurrect the masquerade art form

Dec 15, 2018 Letters

Dear Editor,

Peeping Tom in one of his columns referred to the Masquerade bands in the city as being a nuisance.
While I do not like the word nuisance, I will be the first to agree that the cultural art of the Masquerade Music is rapidly dying, and needs to be supported by the State, and also the general public.
The same thing must be said about the other ethnic and cultural activities, namely the Indian Arrival Day, the Amerindian Heritage activities and the Emancipation Day Celebrations.
The Masquerade Band dates back to centuries ago by the slaves. The playing of the Congo Drum though originated from the African Continent and brought to the West Indies by the slaves, this is another art that is rapidly dying.
I was happy to learn from some friends from the West Coast of Berbice that aggressive effort is being made by most persons to keep this culture alive.
It is understandable that if the quality of anything becomes poor, it is difficult to market support or consume it as in the case of food, liquor, etc. a classic example is West Indies Cricket.
Under the Forbes Burnham-led Government, the Masquerade Band Competition was an annual feature at Christmas Time, Independence and I think, Mashramani Celebrations.
As a lad, my parents would send me to meet the band only when they hear it coming and I, in company of other boys, would leave our home running and after for about two miles, we would reach the band which on most occasions would have people about seventy five yards in front of the band and another, one hundred yards behind the band.
More women and children would leave their home at Riverstown, Airy Hall, some six and seven miles away following this band, knowing full well that they would be walking back home, because in those days transportation was not readily available as it is now.
The band members in those days were Uncle Eddie, the drum; Uncle Willie, the Kittle; Buddy Pitt, the Steel; Uncle Vibert Ralph (Tengar), the Flute; the cow men Uncle Joe (Bad Cow Joe), Uncle Frankie Grosvenor (Bad Cow Frankie), Rickford Woolford (Bad Cow Ricky) and many more.
Of the ‘flouncers’ and short step dancers, Auntie Ivy, stands out, although there were many more who were not members of the band including yours truly. Of the persons mentioned, only Buddy Pitt is alive today.
The Masquerade Band in those days was real real fun, which was enjoyed by all ethnic groups, and the rich and the poor. This cultural art is rapidly dying and needs help to say alive.

Yours sincerely,

Archie Cordis.

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