Pictures From Carifesta V (1992)

Taste the colour and excitement of the Caribbean Arts Festival, Carifesta, held last August for only the fifth time in 20 years

  • Some of the performers. Photograph by Harold Prieto
  • Drummers were every where. Photograph by Harold Prieto
  • Beautiful faces embodied the vital spirit of the festival
  • Rapso artist Brother Resistance was one of scores of other top-ranking performers. Photograph by Abigail Hadeed
  • Calypsonian Singing Sandra won the Cattiest calypso crown. Photograph by Paul Marius
  • The Carifesta monument (Levée en Masse, by Trinidadian Selwyn Borneo) embodied the vital spirit of the festival
  • Dancers, drummers, musicians an traditional figures like the stiltmen were every where. Photograph by Harold Prieto
  • Hundreds of traditional dancers entertained the huge crowd at the gala opening. Photograph by Harold Prieto
  • Singer Ella Andell entertained the huge crowd at the gala opening. Photograph by Harold Prieto
  • Photograph by Harold Prieto
  • Cuban Jazz. Photograph by Abigail Hadeed
  • The acts and traditional figures competed with attractions like the traditional rumshop and the Grand Market, for that special Carifesta applause. Photograph by Harold Prieto
  • Puerto Rican dance also competed with attractions like the traditional rumshop and the Grand Market. Photograph by Harold Prieto
  • Trinidad and Tobago pan. Photograph by Harold Prieto
  • Bahamian Goombay competed with the attractions like the traditional rumshop and the Grand Market. Photograph by Harold Prieto
  • Among star performers were Jamaica's National Dance Theatre Company. Photograph by Harold Prieto
  • Among star performers were calypso grand master Lord Kitchener. Photograph by Paul Marius
  • Artists from St. Kitts- Nevis and St. Lucia. Photograph by Harold Prieto and Paul Marius
  • Traditional minstrels. Photograph by Abigail Hadeed
  • Artists from The Bahamas. Photograph by Abigail Hadeed
  • Giant panels by artist Steve Oudit overlooked Port of Spain's National Stadium and provided a backdrop for artist from across the region. Photograph by Harold Prieto

The Caribbean Arts Festival, Carifesta, was held in Trinidad and Tobago in August. This was only the fifth festival in 20 years: the first was staged in Guyana in 1972, with subsequent festivals in Jamaica, Cuba and Barbados. This time, for one action-packed week, artists from most of the Caribbean countries, plus delegations from as far afield as Britain, staged a massive display of Caribbean dance, music, painting, film, theatre, literature, folk traditions, sculpture and craft. Events were spread throughout Trinidad and Tobago, with opening and closing galas at the National Stadium in Port of Spain, where there was also a Grand Market and a well- patronised traditional rum-shop with a constant flow of entertainment.

Singer Ella Andall and hundreds of traditional dancers entertained the huge crowd at the gala opening (photos by Harold Prieto).

Dancers, drummers, musicians an traditional figures like the stiltmen were every where (photos by Harold Prieto). Calypsonian Singing Sandra won the Cattiest calypso crown (photo by Paul Marius), while raps artist Brother Resistance was one of scores of other top-ranking performers (photo by Abigail Hadeed). The Carifesta monument (Levée en Masse, by Trinidadian Selwyn Borneo), and thousands of faces embodied the vital spirit of the festival (photos by Paul Marius, Harold Prieto).

As they travelled down the road, giant panels by artist Steve Oudit overlooked Port of Spain’s National Stadium and provided a backdrop for artist from across the region. These included The Bahamas, St. Kitts-Nevis and St. Lucia, and traditional figures like the minstrels. Among star performers were calypso grand master Lord Kitchener and Jamaica’s National Dance Theatre Company. Photographs by Harold Prieto, Paul Marius (Kitchener, St. Lucia), and Abigail Hadeed (Bahamas, minstrels).

Bahamian Goombay, Trinidad and Tobago pan, Puerto Rican dance and Cuban jazz competed with attractions like the traditional rum shop and the Grand Market for that special Carifesta applause. Photos by Harold Prieto and Abigail Hadeed (Cuba).

Funding provided by the 11th EDF Regional Private Sector Development Programme Direct Support Grants Programme.
The views expressed on this website are those of the the authors and do not reflect those of the Direct Support Grants Programme.

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