ca-Ibbean festival 0 creative arts 1972
National History and Arts Council, National Park,Thomas Lands, G'town,Guyana.


ST. VIITC IT AT CARIFESTA



St. Vincent with its dependencies Bequia, Mustique, nayre.u,
Canounan, Carriacou set like precious jewels in a sparkling sea will
be represented at CARIFESTA by the "Kingston Chorale" and lerding-
Caribbean writer and musician Shake Kcrne.


The -in-ulr. hper.nin; on the St. Vincent cultural scene has
been the evolution of the Black Caribs a race of n'orle that is
indi,-enous to the world of the Caribbean and Latin America and that
has been subjected to much scientific and sociological examination.


The evolution of the Black Carib race did not begin with the
arrival of Columbus on the Island on St. Vincent Bay 1498 but in a more
strange way.


It was on a dark day in the 17th Century that a large crr-o
of Iro scla-rs bound for a plantation in the Caribbean became ship-
wrecked on the coast of St. Vincent., A strange thing happened that
day that has not been explained to this present tim .


The fierce war lo.-inv Caribs who lived on the Island and had
successfully kept the Eu-rc-'nZ from settlinr there for over a century
promptly killed every white passenger on the wrecked slave -Id[. The
slaves on the other hand were welcomed 'with open hands as if they were
gods newly arrived in some mysterious way from the blue Caribbean sea.


The welcome was so warm and cozy that within a short time the
slaves had become a part of the Carib tribes on the Island...there
were intermarriages, the c-il-dlrcn came x.r%-.

Soon.....2/
DiecTor: Lynette Dolphin Commissioner: Frank Pilui m Telephone: 65907











Caribbean festival f creative arts 1972
National History and Arts Council, National Park,Thomas Lands, G'town,Guyana,



2 -


Soon the descendants of the Cr:ciqua, Chct:-..:r t1ereblack and the whole
tribe was black; and thfs the evolution of the Black Caribs who found
themselves fi:htir.: wi-h the other pure Caribs on the Island the
Tellow Caribs.


In tine the British occuioMd the land and the Yellow Caribs
joined with the En-lish to fizht the Black Caribs. The latter soon
became weakened and after much persecution and massacre they were
transported by the British to the Island of Roatan from whence they
built large lonr. boats like the one their ancestors used to racn
the Caribbean and conquer the Islands and other Indian tribes, and
travelled to Belize the "Sanctuary Land".


Tcd::-, there are thousands of Black Caribs living in Belize
speaking their unique Carib/African dialect e.tin2 their cassava,
weaving their hanuocks, loin.: their dances and prr.ctisirj the ancient
arts of their forefathers. These Black Caribs also come to CARIFESTA.


Although St. Vincent is the most English of the Windward
Islands one can still breathe the French influence.


The 100,000 people of this "*'.r of the Antilles" literally
go mad in late February or early March as they become absorbed in
the fun and excitement of Carnival. The festivity is full of colour
and yi,- entryy which is enjoyed to the rhythmic beat of the calypso
played mainly by the steelband.



The many...5/
Director: Lynette Dolphin Commissioner: Frank -3irim Telephone: 65907











cribbean festival of creative arls 1972
National History and Arts Council, National Park,Thomas Lands, G'town,Guyana.




-3


The many Ipeople that shuffle in the streets of Kingstown or
meet for special moments inside St. M-ary's Church with its blending of
Gothic, Romanesque and Boroque architecture; or catching their fish
by Bequia; cultivc tinm their breadfruit, Sea Island cotton, arrowroot
or sugar cane have thrown up a unique type of grassroots folkart...
and it is this that they bring to CARIFESTA come August 25.


- OLIVER HUNTER


Director: Lynette Dolphin Commissioner: Frank Pilgrim Telephone: 65907


rail