Their story: Carnival, Women, Sexuality and Sex in the Caribbean

Abstract

Carnival is an annual festivity held in most of the Caribbean islands. Carnival has been described as the festival of “colour, revelry, gay abandon [ment]...when sexual inhibitions are lowered. The „mas‟ has also become very much a world festival” (Gilkes, 2003, ¶ 1). Caribbean Carnivals‟ hypnotism attracts countless tourists worldwide. Apart from the economic gains derived from tourism, the powerful message that has spread universally is that „Carnival is the greatest show on earth.‟ The complex historical web from which Carnival has been constructed has led to its rich diversity in terms of its significance and events. Trinidad has long been hailed as the mecca of Carnival.The National Library and Information System Authority [NALIS] (2009) claims that Carnival is the country‟s most important celebration. Smaller islands, such as Grenada, have been picking up momentum with regard tothe magnitude of their respective Carnivals.