13 bands set to play mas at UWI Carnival
Published:Friday | February 16, 2024 | 12:06 AMShanel Lemmie/Staff Reporter
With just over a month left before their official carnival season, The University of the West Indies is entering the chat with ‘Rio De Janeiro’.
Historically the first carnival to be staged in Jamaica, UWI carnival made its debut in 1954 with the Eastern Caribbean students coming together to play like they did at home. Now 70 years later, the gathering has evolved into a weekend of activities, starting with the carnival integration on Thursday afternoon, the J’ouvert on Friday, road march on Saturday and a beach party on Sunday.
Setting the tone for the season, Guild Cultural and External Affairs Chairperson, Raynor Honeyghan, explained this showing will be a declaration of culture.
Taking the stage at band launch, Honeyghan said, “Tonight is a very wonderful night. UWI Carnival was the first carnival in Jamaica back in the ‘50s. Today is a very special day where we are starting something new. Our theme for this weekend is Rio De Janeiro, that’s in Brazil. With that you can expect a lot of vibrancy, a lot of colours and it’s one thing I can tell you, culture will be displayed in this carnival.”
Though T-shirt packages were out in sheer volume for the night, 13 bands took to the stage with Monday wear, male and female T-shirt packages and backpacks for the feting populace.
Exemplifying the South American motif, Chancellor Hall showcased their male and female T-shirt packages, along with a male costume centred around the Macaw theme. Taylor Hall, following the theme Dancing Bones, presented two male T-shirt packages and one female option, as well as three costumes, one of which included a backpack.
Elsa Leo-Rhynie Hall featured Samba-themed male and female T-shirt packages, along with three female costumes, each accompanied by two backpacks. Irvine Hall, with the Morpho theme, presented a male and female T-shirt package, along with both male and female costumes, all equipped with backpacks for the ladies.
Rex Nettleford Hall’s Saki theme featured two male and female T-shirt packages, each accompanied by three female costumes, one of which included a backpack and a male option. AZ Preston Hall, under the theme Black Gold, inspired by Brazil’s rich coffee history, displayed four female T-shirt packages and three options for men, as well as two female costumes.
Leslie Robinson Hall, embodying the Toucan, offered three female costumes equipped with backpacks and one male T-shirt package. Similarly, Mary Seacole Hall emphasised costumes, offering two female costumes and one female T-shirt package under the theme Sugar Loaf.
The George Allen Panthers, embodying Amazonia, introduced one male T-shirt package, two female T-shirt packages, and three female costumes equipped with a backpack. Commuter’s Hall, under the banner Copacabana, offered two male and female T-shirt packages and two costumes, one of which had the largest backpack of the night.
The only faculty in the mix, Sci Tech’s Brazilian Jewel, included a male and female costume each, balanced with a t-shirt package for both genders. Joining the mix, the Western Jamaica Campus, with their Golden Parakeet theme, offered two male and female T-shirt packages, as well as three female costumes, one of which included a backpack.
Rounding out the night, the neighbouring University of Technology offered two female costumes under the joint themes of Hummingbird and Brazilian Ruby.
UWI Carnival Road March is slated to take place on March 16 on the Ring Road.