As the vibrant pulse of Antigua’s Carnival 2025 beats across the land, we don more than costumes; we don the mantle of history, resilience and an unbreakable promise. Sixty eight years ago, this festival was ignited not merely for revelry but as the quintessential celebration of emancipation. It was and still is, the joyous defiance of a people liberated from the unspeakable yoke of chattel slavery, a living testament to the sacred declaration etched into our collective soul: NEVER AGAIN.
This declaration transcends the historical horror of chains. It is a profound philosophical stance against slavery in all its insidious forms. Today, the shackles may be forged from economic desperation, systemic inequality, climate injustice or the psychological bondage of self-doubt and cultural erasure. Carnival, in its very essence, is an annual act of resistance against these modern captivities. It is the assertion that the spirit birthed in freedom must FOREVER remain unbounded, refusing to be enslaved by circumstance or external definition.
This festival provides our most potent platform for promoting our cultural industries and our unparalleled talents. It is the grand stage where the soul of Antigua sings, dances and soars. The preservation of our unique art forms isn’t mere nostalgia; it is cultural survival locked into economic strategy. The story telling genius of Calypso, the thunderous heartbeat of the Iron Band, the gravity-defying majesty of the Moco Jumbie, the intricate artistry of Wire Bending, these are not just performances. They are vital threads connecting us to our ancestral ingenuity and resilience, reimagined through generations, today cloaked in the fanciful language of innovation. They are the bedrock of our distinct identity, a magnetic force enriching our tourism product unlike any imported spectacle. To lose them would be to sever a lifeline to our past and dim the beacon of our future.
The economic vitality sparked by Carnival radiates far beyond the revelry. It is the lifeblood flowing through all sectors, with a particularly vital pulse in our small business community. Hotels feel the impact, transport networks hum, restaurants buzz, beauty salons and nail shops but take a closer look: it’s the traditional tray vendors, their wares in demand by revellers, children and onlookers, that capture fondest memories.
It is the dedicated food vendors, filling the air with the irresistible aromas of local cuisine, who sustain the crowds and showcase our culinary heritage. These entrepreneurs, the new moniker for our industrious vendors, embody the Carnival spirit; resourceful, vibrant and essential to the fabric of the celebration. Their success is Carnival’s success; a distributed economic engine powering households across the nation. I can almost see the smiles of readers who were schooled or simply lived by these carnival vending operations.
Reflecting on 68 years is to walk with giants. We stand on the shoulders of the visionaries and stalwarts who shaped this cultural movement: pioneers like John Ferdinand Shoul and Reginald Knight; artistic forces like, Oscar Mason, Sir Rupert Philo, Sir Paul Richards and Sir McClean Emanuel; administrative pillars like Bernard Percival, Guy Yearwood, Erna-Mae Tonge, Eleston Adams and Baldwin Spencer; writers like like Shelly Tobitt, Marcus Christopher, Dr. Prince Ramsey and Little man Pelle; Mas designers like Alister Thomas, Calvin Southwell and Wanga Martin. Their combined contributions represent the foundation stones.
Our soundscape has been electrified by legendary bands: the stirring anthems of Laviscount Brass, the soulful harmonies of Saints Brothers, the infectious energy of Burning Flames, Eddie Mello and the Vision Band, LA Crew and Revo Band. As we mark this 68th anniversary, one art form shines with particular brilliance: Our Steelband.
I am not Nostradamus and certainly do not claim the prophetic values of Ezekiel or Daniel of Bible fame but Steelband will undeniably be the star of the show in 2025. While our beloved brass bands, still delivering powerful performances, often showcase familiar faces from the past 25-30 years, the steelband movement has experienced a phenomenal renaissance. It is now an explosion of youthful talent, innovation and participation. This surge of new energy, commitment and skill is precisely the kind of revitalization essential for the festival’s future. The brass bands must look to this model, embracing and nurturing the next generation to ensure their own enduring legacy and the overall dynamism of Carnival. The future sounds like steel, vibrant and young.
“Carnival is bacchanal”, a tired refrain oft repeated. We must vehemently resist this negative designation of our culture. It is a pejorative label we MUST NOT continue to internalize. Instead, we must take responsibility. Responsibility for its artistic development, for ensuring safety and respect within the revelry, for amplifying its global reach and most importantly, for proudly identifying with it. This vibrant, complex, historically-rooted celebration is afterall, who we are. It is our story, our catharsis, our creativity unleashed.
Happy Carnival 2025! As you revel in the mas, the music, the sheer exuberance, remember our forebears whose struggle for freedom made this joy possible. Celebrate the incredible journey from the depravity of slavery and colonialism to the independent, spirited management of our own affairs and our cultural crown jewel, Carnival.
Whether you choose to ‘Go Low Under the Red Flames’, ‘Throw Gas on de Fire’, ‘Get Soaking Wet’ or sway to the strains of ‘Stiff Iron’, do so with the spirit of freedom in your heart. Embrace our culture. Support our vendors. Applaud the artists, old and new, soca or calypso. Keep each other safe. Make Carnival 2025 not just a party, but a powerful, positive and profoundly Antiguan experience. Our flame of freedom, culture and resilience burns bright. Ramp up our happiness index….it’s a vibe, 268.
