UWI Carnival plans 'Uprising', show of African themes

The UWI Carnival recently executed its band launch at the Mona Visitor's Lodge, going bigger and better with the set-up and theme for 2018. This year's 'Uprising' theme is conceptualised off various ethnic backgrounds of Caribbean people, which makes up more than 90 per cent of the University's population.

Planning committee member, Andre Spaulding, told The Gleaner, "Students can now explore their ethnic background in a fun way; each hall was given a tribe, based on their characteristics.

For example, the commuters' band was given the nomad tribe, as these are the students who live off campus and therefore they move from one place to another, while the Zulu tribe - the largest ethnic group in South Africa, is matched to the largest hall on campus, Rex Nettleford Hall.

Costume fete-ish

Research was clearly part of the preparation, as bands like Leslie Robinson Hall's Samburu tribe, incorporated traditional African jewellery in the costume design (undoubtedly one of the best on show) and Irvine Hall used the language and colours of the Wolof tribe in Senegal.

One Irvine Hall band representative, says, "We believe our gold line, Raaya, is bold, which is also the meaning and, no matter what size you are, the costume will give you the bold Wolof spirit on the ring road."

The carnival attire appears to be more diverse this year with over 15 bands consisting of an assortment of both T-shirt and costume designs.

The bikini and monokini costumes were colourful, feathered and made to fit all body types.

The T-shirt designs included short, long, sleeveless, as well as cropped and alter tops for the females. All with slogans some that personified the spirit of each participating hall.

The prices are also worthy of a student-budget with T-shirt prices ranging from $2,500 and $4,000, and costumes starting at $6,000. The most expensive costume, is $10,000.