PATRONS swarmed the North Park of the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain, which was transformed into a Carnival playground for the Tribe Group's highly-anticipated SunsetWKN Launch Land event.
The drinks-inclusive affair, which started at 7 pm, was pulsing with activity, before the group comprising Tribe, The Lost Tribe, Bliss and Harts – could even present its Carnival 2025 mas designs on July 6.
While the beginning of the costume presentation was a bit confusing, as patrons were observed moving from one stage to the next to view the costumes, it became clear after a while that all of the bands would eventually be presented on both stages.
Both Bliss and Harts did not deviate from the feathers and gems mas which their followers adore – if the appreciative yells from the crowd were any indication.
[caption id="attachment_1095828" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Malachite from Harts band Carnival 2025 presentation Gemstone Dreams. - Photo by Daniel Prentice[/caption]
However, it was The Lost Tribe's Lost In Time presentation that had the crowd in an apparent frenzy as patrons were visibly gushing over the designs that told the story of the band's themes through the years, dating back to 2016, with designs inspired by the band's archives.
Shawn Dhanraj's The Lost Tribe section, Seven, appeared to be a favourite among the women. One particular Seven design roused the greatest reaction. It was created with lilac fabric, intricately layered with cascading pastel, multihued material and centred by a colourful appliqué, starkly juxtaposed against gems reminiscent of dew drops.
The four bands have various themes: Tribe's 2025 theme is AGRA, The Lost Tribe’s theme is Lost in Time, Bliss’ is Aura, and Harts’ is Gemstone Dreams.
Elaborating on AGRA, creative director Valmiki Maharaj said: “We wanted to do something that hits the core of what Tribe is. Hit the core of what our masqueraders’ love – which is something that is visual, something that’s cultural. But most importantly, something that’s imaginative.
“AGRA gives you a space developed on the idea of a space – not necessarily an actual space itself. It is culturally inspired, not culturally just derived.”
At the North Park large, metal containers were set up, bursting with brightly-coloured motifs, loud music and three-dimensional designs encapsulating the themes of the four bands, which was a clear hit among the patrons. Some played video games, danced and took selfies, before making their way to one of the two large stages where the costume presentation began at 10 pm.
Maharaj explained Tribe’s technological drive to create a more immersive experience for patrons, saying, “Art reflects life, it reflects the world around us. And, the world around us is tech.
[caption id="attachment_1095825" align="alignnone" width="768"] Tribe’s creative director and The Lost Tribe bandleader Valmiki Maharaj, second from left, poses with Naas Mohammed and The Lost Tribe models showcasing the band's 2025 costumes. - Photo by Zainab Kamara[/caption]
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