Bacchanal…It’s Carnival time again with mass camp fever
Judging of mas camps concluded on Thursday night with a marathon of six camps in both senior and junior categories. Safiyyah moved from camp to camp to get a feel of what Carnival 2012 will look like. And what a treat it was. The colorful costumes showed off creativity while depicting the unique Belizean culture; a fusion of the different ethnic groups that make up the jewel. Another band chose utilities as its theme and yet another combined the elements of fantasy and reality. Safiyyah mingled with the revelers and got caught up in the euphoria of the carnival.
Safiyyah Mohammed
“Hey guys we are here for night three of the Mass Camps and we are starting off the night at Black Pearl, the junior Band. I am standing here with Miss Kendra, who is gonna tell us all about their theme for this year.”
Kendra
Kendra, Black Pearl
“Hi, Safiyyah welcome to Black Pearl carnival band mass camp 2012. As you can see we’re having a lot of fun tonight. This year the theme that we’re depicting is Mother Nature and everything that lies within. We do this every year. We know each other so may the best man win. We go out there carnival day. We all have fun together. At the end of the day it is a competition but hey we’re all in it for the love of it.”
Safiyyah Mohammed
“We just got through with our first stop for the night which was Black Pearl Junior Band. As you can see behind me the energy is still super high, but it’s time for us to head over to the next mass camp; the second mass camp of the night which is the Soca Warriors, senior band. So let’s check out what’s going on over there.”
Safiyyah Mohammed
“Well we are here with the Soca warriors now, where you can see there is a lot more free styling going on and a lot less choreographed dance like Black Pearl. What we’re gonna do now, we’re gonna see is we can get a word in with the Band Leader and find out what the Soca warriors theme is for this year. Alright I’m standing here with Jason Belisle who is the Band Leader for the Soca Warriors. Tell me about your theme for this year.”
Jason Belisle, Band Leader Soca Warriors
“Our theme is Belize different cultures one people. Under that theme we have 3 sections Mayan, Creole and Garifuna. Well I just wanna say good luck to all of us, all the bands and also good luck to myself.”
Safiyyah Mohammed
“We are here at the third Mass camp for the night, the junior band Western Paradise. Right now what I am going to try to do is find the band leader and catch up with them and find out Western Paradise’s theme for this year. Tell me about your theme for this year.”
Justin Gill, Band Leader, Western Paradise
“Well this is my group Western Paradise Masqueraders Juniors will be portraying the theme public Utilities; light Water and oil. I would like to give big up to all the carnival bands. Everybody goes out there to have fun not to fuss nor fight.”
Safiyyah Mohammed
“Alright we are here at mass camp number four, Pickstock Carnival band. Tell me about your theme for this year.”
Gareth Gill
Gareth Gill, Band Leader, Pickstock carnival band
“For this year we are doing our theme ‘No touch pan mi jungle.’ We always think positive. And we know that we will be in the top three and we just stay on the positive side that carnival is all about fun. It’s not about quarrel and fight.”
Safiyyah Mohammed
“We are here at Mother Nature’s Creation. Tell me all about your theme for this year.”
Leroy Green
Leroy Green, Mother Nature Creation
“Mother Nature is a band which believes carnival is primarily Fantasy. Our theme is fusion the amalgamation of fantasy and reality. If you are saying creativity and originality, our interpretation of creativity and originality Start from scratch. and we’ve done that. So you’ll never see us going to the store n putting anything together.”
Safiyyah Mohammed
“Alright we are here with our final stop of the night with Erotic mass band. Tell me why you guys decided to participate as a non-competing band this year.”
David Matus
David Matus, Costume Designer, Erotic
“The reason we’re not competing this year is because we’ve been out of the carnival in Belize from since 2008. I moved away and the band decided to come back out since i was visiting home. And we decided to not compete because most of the members did not want to compete. We’re just a fun band and to show off the beautiful costumes that we’re known for and take the streets of Belize at a different level. The theme for this year is 2012 and beyond. We’re doing the Mayan People and we have three sections in this year’s carnival. We have the Mayan people. We have destruction and we have new beginning.”
Safiyyah Mohammed
“Well that’s it; we visited all twelve Mass camps. I hope you guys had as much fun with me as I did with you. Now it’s time for me to join the fun. I’ll see you guys on carnival day! Bye, Bye.”
Tune in at ten o’clock on Saturday morning for the “Dat dah Mi Carnival” Marathon.
