AFTER two years of lockdown, owing to the covid19 pandemic, thousands of revellers on Saturday made up for lost time during J’Ouvert morning celebrations in Tobago.
J’ouvert, and in particular, its mud festival, was touted as one of the signature events of the island’s inaugural October carnival, which began on Friday and ends today.
[caption id="attachment_983154" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Spectators chip along with Katzenjammers at Pan and Powder along Old Milford Road to Gardenside car park, Scarborough on Friday night. - Photo by David Reid[/caption]
The main parade route from Viewport Supermarket, along Milford Road, Canaan, to Crown Point, was cut off to vehicular traffic and transformed into a sea of colour as revellers wined, jumped and danced as though there was no tomorrow.
They were accompanied by more than a dozen music trucks, which played a mixture of contemporary and old school soca along the route.
At one point, deejays also struck a soothing note among the crowd, playing several of Burna Boy’s (Damani Ebunoluwa Ogulu’s) selections.
[caption id="attachment_983152" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Thousands crowd the streets from Bon Accord to Crown Point for J'Ouvert in Tobago on Saturday. - Photo by David Reid[/caption]
The Nigerian-born, Grammy-winning artiste was the headliner at the Tobago Music and Cultural Festival’s concert at the Plymouth Recreation Ground on Thursday night.
Organisers said Burna Boy delivered and exhilarating performance even though thundershowers had caused many patrons to stay away.
Although there was also a heavy police and army presence during J’Ouvert, it was reported that a woman suffered a head injury during a bottle-throwing incident and was taken for medical attention at hospital.
The event, which was due to start at 4 am, began more than an hour late with popular band Fog Angels, led by businessman Tele Cruz. It featured several sections in a range of eye-catching colours.
Traditional carnival characters such as moko jumbies, gorillas, blue devils and fire breathers could also be seen among the revellers.
J’Ouvert attracted several well-known entertainment and sporting personalities, including Shal Marshall, Trinidad Killa, Turner and national senior football team goalkeeper Kimika Forbes.
Although Fog Angels had tight security, many people still penetrated the band for a dance with their family and friends.
“I come out here to have a time,” one female Fog Angels reveller said. “You know how long I was preparing for this – since they announced that Tobago would have its own carnival in October.”
The woman then laughed and took a selfie with two of her friends.
[caption id="attachment_983153" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Masqueraders have a ball at J'Ouvert in Tobago on Saturday. - David Reid[/caption]
Other bands included Bago Limers’ Colour Me Mud; Sin City’s Break Free; Swanky Productions Mas-Up; Utopia’s J’ouvert and Paint; Di
