THE return. This could have easily been the theme of the 2024 edition of the Tobago Heritage Festival, which, for the first time in its 37-year history, runs for a month as opposed to the usual two weeks.
A few of the popular villages, including Les Coteaux, Black Rock and Pembroke, have opted out of this year’s event, for various reasons.
But others have returned to the festival and are eager to educate and entertain audiences with their respective presentations.
One such community is Golden Lane, which has not participated in 21 years. This year, the village returns on July 13 with its signature presentation Courtship Codes.
President of the Mt Cullane Cultural Group Gracie Phillips told Sunday Newsday the presentation deals with the trials men had to undergo many years ago to get a wife.
She explained, “When people used to be courting long ago, the girl’s parents had to be satisfied that the suitor had something worthwhile to offer so that he could maintain their daughter.”
Phillips said if the man had a large garden or a fishing boat, he stood a good chance of marrying the woman he had his eyes on.
[caption id="attachment_1093247" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Members of the public participate in the traditional Dancing of De Cocoa in Charlotteville Natural Treasures Day as part of the Tobago Heritage Festival in 2023. - Photo by David Reid[/caption]
But those were not the only criteria. He also had to split a chunk of mora wood in half as proof of his virility.
“So regardless of what assets the men had, they always tested them with a piece of wood. They had to be strong enough to be the woman’s husband.”
She said in many cases, a woman might have more than one suitor, “But is the one who split the wood will get the lady.”
This year, Phillips said, the group will be putting a twist on the same theme. The production, titled, Buss D Wood: Reminder From the Silk Cotton Tree, takes place at the Golden Lane Government Primary School, Cottage Trace, on July 13, from 7 pm.
Phillips said the Mt Cullane group started participating in the festival in 1989, two years after its inception. The area comprises three small villages: Golden Lane, Culloden and Mt Thomas.
“At the time, we were trying to come up with a name, and somebody said for us to use a piece from all of them. That is how we came up with the name Mt Cullane.”
Asked why the group had stayed away from the festival for so many years, she said, “That is a question for the heritage committee, who normally chooses the villages to do the productions. They just said that Golden Lane will get a break and we would not be in.
“It was just that all along, until we got fed up and stopped sending in proposals. You are sending in proposals every year and nothing wasn’t happening.
“Last year, we sent and we sent one this year and it just so happen that we selected to be one of the villages for this year.”
Phillips urged people to attend the presentation.
“Mt Cullane is back on the calendar, so we want people to come out and refresh the
