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 In the early hours of Sunday the 27th August 2006, the Jouvert
celebrations will be inching its way down Ladbroke Grove. The affair
is a BAS all steel band event and without doubt, the crowds will be
drawn to the sweet strains of infectious steelband music that break
the pre-dawn tranquility. Everyone joins in the celebrations and
adorn themselves in mud or brightly coloured paint depicting the
celebration of emancipation.
For more than a century Jouvert pronounced ‘Jouvay’ meaning
‘day-break’ processions have marked the opening of Trinidad
Carnival. Jouvert evolved from 19th century Canboulay festivals,
these nighttime celebrations saw ex-slaves gather to masquerade,
sing and dance in commemoration of their emancipation. When this
tradition was incorporated into Trinidad’s Carnival, it became an
arena for African derived percussion, sardonic costuming, and, more
recently lively steelband music with revellers jumping and dancing
fuelled by the copious amounts of alcohol consumed and the
exhilaration of the occasion.
 2004 saw the revival of the London Jouvert celebrations when
Stardust, London All Stars and Ebony steel bands took to the road at
6a.m. filling the air with the sweet and captivating sounds of
steel. London All Stars were victorious in the ‘Bomb’ competition
(tune of choice) in both 2004 and 2005 leaving revellers begging for
more when the bacchanal ended at 10:00 a.m.
This British Association of Steelbands event is well received by the
public and growing in popularity. Everyone is looking forward to a
more successful Jouvert this year with BAS working laboriously to
ensure its growth is sustained through the inclusion of more bands
and masqueraders. 2006 Jouvert will see at least five steelbands,
London All Stars, Ebony, Metronomes, Mangrove and Real Steel take to
the road to compete at the BAS ‘Bomb’ competition and treat their
revellers to sweet steel band music.
 The London BAS Jouvert celebrations will leave from Sainsbury’s car
park, Ladbroke Grove at 6:00 a.m. promptly. Anyone wanting to ‘play
mas’ or host a costumed band in this celebration must be part of a
steelband. All enquiries must be directed to BAS at info@panpodium.com
or telephone BAS on 07956 546724. Come join the celebration and make
Jouvert spectacular.
From the
News Desk of PanPodium / Robbie Joseph
Contact BAS at
robbie@panpodium.com
all photos by Robby Joseph
More on
The British Association of Steelbands
click here
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