Treasuring Our Carnival
In Trinidad and Tobago,
Africans have not been as powerless as their brothers and sisters in Latin
America. For this reason, our nation has respected and has been guided by the
African approach to and understanding of Carnival. Our Carnival has maintained
its fundamental inclusiveness. Our nation has understood that civilized
existence would be impossible without festivals and that Carnival is the
ultimate pan-African festival.
On this basis, then,
Trinbagonians are right in thinking of Carnival as we (our) thing. They are right, too, in believing that the
festival known as Carnival is special to Trinidad and Tobago and that our
version of the festival is the best in the world. We here in our twin-island
republic have developed Carnival into an extremely valuable treasure. Many of
our ancestors paid with their lives to create this national treasure. We must
be extremely vigilant to ensure that we do not allow others to steal this
treasure from us.
I PLAN TO TRAVEL TO T&T TOMORROW AND TO BE THERE UNTIL
FEBRUARY 16. I’LL KEEP YOU POSTED ABOUT SEMINARS, ETC. DURING MY STAY THERE.
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