The University of the West Indies and students of its Department of Creative and Festival Arts (DCFA) are keeping the Carnival Traditional Mas alive.
For yet another year, the DCFA’s Gordon Street location was transformed “into the architectural style of long ago”—The Old Yard.
This year, the ‘Old Yard’ honoured the sailor mas, and in keeping with the 2025 theme of one family, moko jumbies, blue devils, gorillas, and jab jabs were all in the mix at this traditional portrayal of Carnival characters.
Coordinator of the Carnival Studies Programme at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Dr. Jo-Anne Tull, noted the importance of carrying on this Carnival legacy, which is now in its thirteenth edition.
“Every year we choose a theme that we think is an important angle of the Carnival heritage landscape, and we try to use it as a teaching experience, not just for our audiences but also for our students.”
In the audience were students of the Arima North Secondary School. Teacher Anthony Frederick said his Form Four Theatre Arts students wanted to learn more about the artform, which is uniquely tied to our nation.
“I think we need more coverage. For instance, some people tell me they don’t even know about this. They know more about pretty mas but they don’t know about the Old Yard and other events such as this that promote traditional masquerade. So we have to avail ourselves of every opportunity.”
Another spectator, Signal Hill Secondary School student Ester Alcazar, said she was very happy for the opportunity to witness and learn more about her culture.
“We have journeyed from the little island of Tobago to see this very expressive, cultural performance called Old Yard, and we are so intrigued just to see what they have to offer us and to gain more information about our culture so that we can actually share it so that it is not forgotten through the generations.”
The visitors to the Old Yard were also treated to a special live performance by calypso icon, The Lord Nelson.