by ncc_admin | Jul 7, 2015 | Traditional Mas Characters
African Mas Photos courtesy the Carnival Institute of Trinidad and Tobago (CITT) A staple from the Golden Age of Carnival of the middle 20th Century, African Mas, like its forbears, drew its inspiration from actual history for its presentation. While traditional...
by ncc_admin | Jul 5, 2015 | Traditional Mas Characters
Minstrels Photos and research courtesy the Carnival Institute of Trinidad and Tobago (CITT). Minstrels are classified as any band of singers, disguised with or without painted faces and using instruments such as the banjo, maracas, clappers, rattle etc., simulating...
by ncc_admin | Jul 4, 2015 | Traditional Mas Characters
Cow Band Photos courtesy the Carnival Institute of Trinidad and Tobago (CITT) The Cow Band, which dates back to the days of the Canboulay, consisted of a small group of men dressed in costumes of sacking made from rice bags. These costumes were completely covered with...
by ncc_admin | Jul 3, 2015 | Traditional Mas Characters
Jab Molassie Photos and research courtesy the Carnival Institute of Trinidad and Tobago (CITT). The Jab Molassi or Molasses Devil is one of the oldest forms of Devil Mas. He wears wings, horns, has a wire tail and carries a pitch fork and usually strikes fear in the...
by ncc_admin | Jul 2, 2015 | Traditional Mas Characters
Devils There are several quite different varieties of Devils in the Carnival. They are nearly always called “Jabs”. Jab is the French patois for “Diable” (Devil), and Molassie is the French patois for “Mélasse” (Molasses). Jab Jab The name of this mas is derived from...
by ncc_admin | Jul 2, 2015 | Traditional Mas Characters
Carnival today seems to be dominated by the ‘Bikini and Beads’ mas, but what of the traditional mas of yesteryear? Each year during events such as Traditional Mas competitions and J’Overt celebrations, we see examples of traditional characters...
