Women and the De-Africanization of Trinidad Carnival: From the Jamette to Bikini, Beads, and Feathers

Abstract

This chapter examines the evolution of Carnival traditions in Trinidad and Tobago as they relate to the historical context in which Carnival evolved from European traditions with distinct African customs as part of its DNA. The chapter examines the evolving African content in the annual Carnival celebrations from the 1950s to the present.Evidence is presented to show thatcurrent trends across most Carnival bands in Trinidad and the Diaspora has been to move away from epic theatricalproductions that have deep cultural meaning to themes and costumes that are superficial, homogenous and intimately interwoven with the sexual objectification of female masqueraders. These trends aremost apparent in the de-Africanization ofmas’ bands.