SVG´s Vincy Mas Carnival celebrates heritage and unity

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines comes alive with rhythm, color, and cultural pride during the annual Vincy Mas Carnival. teleSUR

Transcript

00:00Let's stay on topic and welcome once more our special envoy in St. Vincent and the Grenadines,

00:04Belén de los Santos, who is right there enjoying and informing about these important

00:09celebrations on the island. Hello Belén, welcome. What can you tell us so far?

00:16Hello Luis, once again here from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, particularly

00:22from Arnes Vale. This is about five kilometers away from the capital, King's Town, and we are

00:29reporting on the Vinci Mass that is already underway, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Carnival.

00:34And let's learn a little bit more about this carnival. Vinci Mass is its name and it comes from

00:41Vinci, the colloquial term used to denominate the nation and also Mass, short for Masquerade,

00:50the original traditions of the celebration. It has a lot in common with other Caribbean celebrations,

00:57but also very specific, some unique characteristics. So some of them, let's recall that this carnival

01:05dates back to the origins of this land and we need to understand that the culture being displayed here

01:14comes from the native culture from indigenous people here in this land. Also very significant

01:22Afro-descendant culture that came here and makes an important part of the cultural heritage of the

01:28region and also the colonialist influence from British and French dominance as well. That is what has made

01:36this carnival such a rich historic tradition and cultural environment in which all of that comes into play

01:45and it's celebrated by the locals at this moment. We were talking about the Afro-descendant component and

01:53the Afro roots that are really so important and so alive here and celebrated by the people of St. Vincent

01:59and the Grenadines. We were talking about the musical and cultural aspects when we last talked and it's

02:05important to keep in mind that for example the carnival has always been a face of resistance. So for decades and

02:18centuries the people have come together for example to showcase their freedom of expression and resist slavery

02:26tradition and speak up their mind, give a voice to their own experience and that is what after decades and from generation to

02:35generation is being passed on and we now see it in live performances in which adults and young

02:42people are showcasing through calypso rhythm for example their views on society and freedom on what

02:50that true expression really is. So that is something in which we are learning a little bit more about these

02:57celebrations. We'll continue to bring you all the information here from St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

03:03Now I go back to you Luis.

03:06For the latest info on these important carnival celebrations we're going to stay tuned of course

03:10for more updates in upcoming news brief.