We seem to have promising news with mas maker extraordinaire Peter Minshall who may be returning to the Carnival arena once more next year. It is, hopefully, to continue his excellence in the culture where it would seem that talent is on the wane.
The so-called “greatest show on earth” has taken a dive for the last few years when certain mas leaders stopped trying to portray great historical figures and stories of interest. If we are to maintain a high standard of mas we must get down to something much better than bikini, beads and colourful feathers.
Years ago, we had bandleaders who concentrated on history mas. They dwelled on history of other countries and their inhabitants. These bandleaders were George Bailey, Back to Africa with Stephen Lee Heung, Harold Saldenha, Quo Vadis with history from Rome, and the famous smart man Valmond Jones with the fictitious concert with “Sam Cooke” playing the role of The Great Emperor Nero. It would be nice if those glory days could come back so we can see beautiful costumes glittering in the sun and blowing in the wind.
We have extreme talent in this country and it could be expanded. The steelband must be allowed to maintain its identity with its original instruments or we would destroy and negate this great invention. No one should try to hinder its originality as this would depreciate its value as the wonderful invention of the 20th century.
If we love this culture, it must be preserved in its entirety and be respected. Our greatest invention has penetrated the world and it is so sad to see a lover of the steelband, Asami Nagakiya, losing her life in the country she loved so much.
May the Lord rest her soul and keep her in His heavenly kingdom not to serenade him with the harp, but with a tenor pan.
Horace Desormeaux