CARIBBEAT: NYC’s Caribbean carnivals making a comeback
A full-fledged, in-person version of the New York Caribbean Carnival will return to Brooklyn next month after a two-year cancellation, according to the sponsoring West Indian American Day Carnival Association.
And the borough’s early morning J’Ouvert celebration is also making an in-person comeback, say organizers, who have announced the 2022 procession’s NYPD-approved route.
Registration for the New York Carnival’s intricately costumed masquerade (mas) bands, the regal Kings and Queens of the Bands, floats, vendors, and other key carnival components is currently underway for the five-day festival, starting Sept. 1 and culminating with the big parade along Brooklyn’s Eastern Parkway on Labor Day Monday, Sept. 5.
The carnival association will have temperature checks and mask wearing among the event’s soon-to-be announced COVID-19 precautions.
Visit New York Carnival registration for carnival registration forms, and contact information for the mas bands, and call (718) 467-1797 for general information.
“Patrons can expect an exciting week-long lead-up of Caribbean food, culture, music and heritage ahead of the iconic West Indian Carnival parade,” said WIADCA executives, noting that the youth-focused Junior Carnival and the “Pan in A Minor” steel band concert are among the attractions.
Close to 40 adult and junior groups have already signed up to take part in the carnival parade on Eastern Parkway, and the Junior Carnival Parade on Sept. 3.
The adult band registration deadline is this Friday. Among the participants is the veteran, award-winning Sesame Flyers International mas band, which is “absolutely” happy about returning to the in-person festivities, said the band’s development director Michelle Mathison.
“For 2021, we used old costumes that we shared with the community, who were desperate to find a costume to wear, for a symbolic parade along Eastern Parkway,” she said.
“However, we did create new costumes and held a pop-up carnival at ( radio host) Dahved Levy’s restaurant ‘Imani’ in Fort Greene, Brooklyn,” said Mathison.
“Sesame Flyers has been a pillar of the Caribbean community for 39 years,” she continued. “We saw it as our responsibility to keep the spirit of carnival alive.”
Under the 2022 Sesame Flyers’ “Tao - The Journey” carnival theme, revelers are buying custom-made costumes created under the titles “Destiny” for ladies, and “Ying and Yang” for men and women.
To purchase costumes and get information, visit Sesame Flyers International costumes.
Last week, Yvette Rennie, president of J’Ouvert City International, announced the route for the 2022 in-person return of early morning festival of steelpan music, and costumes, that is held before the New York Caribbean Carnival.
Starting Labor Day morning, J’Ouvert will be held from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. The route — through Brooklyn’s Crown Heights and Prospect-Lefferts Gardens neighborhoods has been sanctioned by the NYPD, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, said Rennie.
For information on J’Ouvert information, call (718) 636-8029 or (718) 469-3250.
FILM & HONOR FOR GARVEY
There’s a big day coming for the late influential Black leader Marcus Garvey during the Harlem Week festivities, when director Roy T. Anderson’s award-winning docu-drama “Redemption: The Life and Legacy of Marcus Garvey” is screened free of charge on Aug. 17, and the day is declared Marcus Garvey Day by state Senator Cordell Cleare of Harlem.
Emmy Award-winning actor Keith David narrates the 85-minute film, which will be shown outdoors in Manhattan at the Richard Rodgers Amphitheater of Marcus Garvey Park, 18 Mt. Morris Park West, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Anderson will introduce the film that evening.
“Redemption” chronicles Garvey’s life and lasting impact through interviews with “luminaries” such as the late leader’s son Dr. Julius Garvey, Oscar-winning actor Louis Gossett, Jr., Ilyasah Shabazz, the daughter of Malcolm X, and former Congressman Charles Rangel.
The screening is produced by Anderson’s Black Star Line Films, and Jazzmobile/Summerfest, in association with the 20th Annual Imagenation Outdoors.
For information, contact Black Star Line Films at (905) 642-5050, and send email to anne@executiveoasis.com.
