I love Trinidad. Yes it is also in a bit of mess right now. But gosh, how the people sweet, that is, when they not troubling you with absurdities, not to mention menace.
I was there yesterday and in that snapshot of the 8 hours, I was able to experience some of the things that make you want to chip down the road with happiness.
First of all, you hardly have the feeling of isolation. Walking on the street is a social event. Someone will say something, to you or to the wind. And the Trini man specialises in, what Elena, with her way with the turn of phrase calls, the ‘bounce back’.
So, it does not matter what you look like. I get the feeling that Trini men will compliment (give you lyrics), once they intuit, that you feel you looking nice. They generous that way. ‘Gyul…. and anything can follow that.
The other thing about Trinidadians is their fine appreciation for difference and their ability to capture that in words. Like how they have parsed out stages in tabanca. And how they describe variations in body size- magga, slim tick, choonksy, chuff chuff. Words that really give you a sense of proportion beyond plain dimensions.
Same for women in street talk. You start of as ‘daughter’, you move on to ‘family’. Then they start phasing out your sexuality with ‘Mums’, ‘Tantie’ and finally, not invisible but just respected, ‘Grannie’. It is the rite of aging passage. And let me tell you, that first ‘Mums’? A moment of acute realisation that self-perception may need an updating.
Trinis capture variety so well otherwise because the place is so diverse. As it is with food. Is there any other country in the Caribbean with such a range of breakfast food, lunch food, street food, christmas food? They create and innovate continuously, the latest being the chadon bene pineapple. Taste buds heaven!
And the music changes as well throughout the year. What can you say about parang soca. Is there anything more danceable? Well maybe zouk.
Like the calypsonian said, ‘Trinidad is nice…”
i am just reviewing my email after being away for a week!! its taken me all day as you can imagine but i got to this gem from Roberta and felt that i had to respond because as a trini expat who visits often these days i must voice my absolute agreement with valerie’s comment on the jolt of energy she received on landing in trinidad during her time in bdos. the very air in tdad seems to pulse with more energy than other places. when i come home a smile just spreads itself across my face…and i roberta i am with you all the way in my appreciation of the male trini gaze, and the male trini banter. trini men know how to make a woman feel good even when she knows its pure mamaguy. thats why we love them so. while we are going through this awful breakdown of respect for our fellow human beings i think we need to hold on to this sense of ourselves as being special, loving, humorous, and of ourselves as trinis making a very unique contribution to the concept of diversity as compared to other places in the world.
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Unfortunately, I did not see the presentation myself but refer to a news article (with photo) critiquing the production of a joint performance by Malik Folk Drummers and Shiv Shakti dancers. The author I recall criticised the concept that the simultaneous display of these two acts in their separate styles was an adequate representation of the Ganges and the Nile. I do not think that your composition was used as the backdrop.
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Truly the first time I felt that the diversity of sweet TT was something to be proud of was when my son – 5 years old at the time – while visiting the USA for the first time – noted shaking his head with awe and disappointment that the people ‘are all the same colour mummy’ – we are a colourful people in many different ways and levels.
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Hi Valerie,
Just a comment on your last paragraph “I look out for the turn when instead of presenting literal interpretations that seek more to appease political sensitivities like the Ganges and Nile opening of the National Academy, our diversity will bloom in glory”, please help me – I am totally unaware of that event and how it went down – what was the presentation?
Respect,
David
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So? We seeing you soon?
I can still recall my euphoria whenever I visited TNT for the snap weekend, Christmas or Carnival and the jolt to my senses during the time of living in Barbados and USA.
I remember describing it as a “bolt of energy” as the plane descended into Piarco and I too would go crazee to satisfy my tastebuds. From the airport doubles to St Helena for black pudding to St James Roti and then had to have a chinese take away. No where was too far. Many would wonder if I did not have food in BIM or USA. Stacey who now visits regularly on business, programmes his time around food – sushi at More Vino, oxtail soup at Martins, pepper lamb in St Helena are the current staples dislodging previous favourites of chinese food at Swan and curry at Apsara. Now that I work downtown, I am discovering the delights of the chains of Mango’s and El Pecos and Granny’s in Nicholas Plaza and the organic greens of Roberts St.
I can’t express the same delight at being called “mums” or “tants”, ” you have a TTARP?”. But the gas station attendant, greeting of ” hey beautiful, what you need today” well that still brings a smile. In Barbados, the old time gentleman tipping his hat to say “morning” was also warming in a different way. Sharp contrast to the rule of “no eye contact” on the NYC tube.
Diversity, yes. But over the course of the last five years, what was once energising, now has a drain pipe at the other end.
I sometimes wonder if as we embrace diversity with an over emphasis on fusion and quest to represent all that in the process we somehow are not faithful to artistry as we lose the roots and connection with the past.
Acclaimed Chinese pipa ( like a banjo?) virtuoso Wu Man is known for her collaborations with many of the world’s great orchestras whereby she has coverged traditional melodies from various parts of the world. In a recent interview, she revealed that after a visit to homeland China, she was now more compelled to dig deeper into the purity of Chinese traditional folklore and music. Similiarly, after many years of promoting cross over latin music, Gloria Estefan produced one of my favorite albums of her music ” Cuba” i think it is entitled where she composed and sang for herself not entirely driven by the commercial interests.
I look out for the turn when instead of presenting literal interpretations that seek more to appease political sensitivities like the Ganges and Nile opening of the National Academy, our diversity will bloom in glory.
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