“A complete culture shock!” marketing executive Kelly Rajpaulsingh experienced when she migrated to England in 1995 and started playing mas in the popular Notting Hill Carnival parade.
Expecting to have a whale of a time, as she had done as a masquerader for years in T&T Carnival, the three-day event held every August, was nothing short of unfulfilling, Rajpaulsingh told the T&T Guardian in a telephone interview.
“I was completely shocked, the experience was completely different from that of T&T’s Carnival. First of all, the bands are so much smaller than what I was accustomed to at home. There are at least 25 to 30 people—a vast difference from the 200 and over masqueraders that make up a carnival band in Trinidad,” said Rajpaulsingh.
She added, the costumes weren’t as vibrant in colour or creative looking as those seen on the streets of Port-of Spain for carnival either. “It was just not what I expected at all. It is really poorly managed…poorly marketed. If you are not in it you will not even know it’s happening.
“In a lot of cases, they did not know how to make costumes, how to do a production line or even source materials for costume making—the latter is still a problem today. The only thing that was on point was the music,” said Rajpaulsingh who got her formal training in costume design at Central St Martins College of Art and Design in London.
It was this experience that led the 37-year-old former South resident to start her own carnival band—Bacchanalia.
On the advice of her husband Andrew, a sound system producer who previously provided music for bands at Notting Hill Carnival, Rajpaulsingh staged her first unthemed presentation in 2005.
The band started out as fun, just to bring family and friends together. In 2010, the husband and wife team relaunched the band as a full-service costume band, dedicated to bringing its masqueraders a Carnival experience unlike any other in London.
“We aim to deliver the most exciting and well-executed carnival package to all our masqueraders. We are looking to revolutionise the way carnival is viewed in the UK by introducing innovative new concepts to our masqueraders and open our doors to everyone and anyone wishing to learn and be part of the experience,” said Rajpaulsingh.
The band still remains a small/medium sized carnival group.
For Carnival 2013, Bacchanalia collaborated with local band Genesis, and presented a section called Sorcerer. The costumes were even featured in T&T born rap artiste Trinidad James' video Females Welcomed.
Rajpaulsingh said they’ve been asked to become more involved in the production of the Notting Hill Carnival parade, but they’re unable to because of their other commitments.
“What we really want to do is come back home at some point and share in a much larger way, what we have been doing in the UK,” said Rajpaulsingh.
For more info on Bacchanalia visit their site www.baccmas.com or Facebook page Bacchanalia. For updates from the band you can follow them on Twitter @BacchanaliaUK.
London to see T&T
T&T culture will be on show in London this weekend at one of the city’s most popular events, The World On Regent Street.
This global themed festival will showcase music, arts, food and fashion from all over the world.
Regent Street is known for its range of shops, including many upmarket brands like Ferrari, Benetton, Tommy Hilfiger and Armani Exchange.
One of the participants in the T&T presentation is Notting Hill Carnival band, Bacchanalia which will give a sneak peak of its 2013 presentation Species: Evolution.
Bacchanalia bandleader Kelly Rajpaulsingh said this country is the only Caribbean nation among the ten countries participating in today’s extravaganza. She said local organisers have put together a list of activities that will showcase T&T's culture, music and cuisine in a carnival style presentation. The highlight of the presentation will be a performance by Rapso group 3 Canal.
“Regent Street is one of the most popular streets in London. It is a massive shopping area and is flooded with tourists, so this is a very good opportunity for T&T to be on show,” said Rajpaulsingh.
The Tourism Development Company's (TDC) Web site listed the activities planned by the T&T contingent to promote this country including marquees serving indigenous cuisine such as roti, bake and buljol and local rums. There will also be a steelband, tassa drummers, chutney dancers and other local artistes.
Participants will also learn “how to lime” with the “Professional Limers” crew who will be planted among the crowd to demonstrate the art of liming like a true Trini. There will also be an information centre where visitors to Regent Street can enter a draw to win a holiday to T&T.