Author: N Oji

Rethinking Black History Month

By N Oji Mzilikazi

Originally published in the Montreal Community Contact Volume 23, Number 02 January 24, 2013

Even though Black History Month is geared to instil pride in People of African Descent and sensitize non-Blacks to the accomplishments of Blacks, and in the early 90s I did the lecture thing on Black History at a couple high schools for its celebration, I’ve always found Black History Month problematic…

 

The Case for Carifiesta on Saturday June 29, 2013

By N Oji Mzilikazi

Originally published in the Montreal Community Contact Volume 22, Number 24

December 20, 2012

For anyone tempted to think “It’s Christmas, so why the concern and/or why draw attention to Carifiesta,” the answer is simple. Success is predicated on vision, planning, preparation, paying attention to details, the willingness to engage in critical analysis, being open to criticism and advice, the intelligent directing of thoughts and actions, and unfailing commitment.

Canada Day is a public holiday. July 1, 2013 falls on a Monday. Since business, entrepreneurs, and people always seek to capitalise on long weekends in one form or another, it makes sense for CCFA to stage Carifiesta 2013, on Saturday June 29, 2013.

Any other day undermines community empowerment, betrays, and exposes weak leadership, and overall community weakness…

 

Parang All Day All Night

By N Oji Mzilikazi

Originally published in the Montreal Community Contact Volume 22, Number 24

December 20, 2012

The creeping assault on Christmas in the very nations that once professed to be Christian, and which have several Christian holidays as public/national holidays, is changing the spirit of what was once christened, “The most wonderful time of the year.”

In affirming the separation of the church and state, a pluralistic democracy, and in pandering to religious diversity, fear of offending members of other religions, as well as the militancy of adherents to other religious beliefs and atheists, Christmas expressions in public spaces are being curtailed, and Christ is increasingly being taken out of Christmas.

“Cause when dey come here
looking for rum, wine and whiskey
All dey getting from me is some bitter mauby
And when dey come here for ting to eat
make no mistake
all dey getting is a hard piece of dry bake
cause it have no Christmas this year by me
it eh have no parang, no lime,  sorry”
- The Grinch
- Myron B

Commercialisation has long taken the original religiousness of Christ, and Christian devotion out of Christmas, much to the chagrin of true-believers, die-hard Christians. (I can vividly remember my father commenting that Christmas has two “S” and they both stand for $ signs, and that was when I was yea high, and donkey years ago.) Still, there is perceived offence in the capitalism driven merriment of Christmas because it contains “Christ.”

Political correctness has resulted in the “Christmas Tree” relabelled “Holiday Tree,” employers refraining from having Christmas decorations displayed in offices and/or disallowing it. Department stores and businesses that serve the public expressly forbidding their employees to greet, wish, or say “Merry Christmas” to customers.

Employees must use the non-offensive, the generic “Happy Holidays.”

“Happy Holidays” and “Season Greetings” are being pushed, elevated, enthroned, to trump the traditional, and specificity of “Merry Christmas.”

Even companies that make Christmas Cards have reduced their output of religious themes, religious messages, Christian iconography, and those that say “Merry Christmas.”

“Christmas Bells are ringing, everybody singing
church bells are dangling, young couples romancing
my lover from Trinidad sent me a little post card
I open it and read
and this is what the little post card said
have a Merry Christmas my dear
and have a Happy New Year
prosperous in everything you do
Happy Holiday to you”
- Post Card (1958)
- Unknown artiste

Some schools have banned Nativity plays and/or change lyrics in certain Christmas songs for their Christmas Holiday pageant.

A few years ago, a Jewish girl attending a Catholic School in the USA made a stink about having to sing Christmas Carols. I guess transferring to a Jewish school was out of the question. And, ironically, some of the best known/popular Christmas songs were written by Jews.

“Ah only sing one verse, de crowd start to bawl
sing Ally sing, doh stop at all
Caribbean parandero, we joyful, we glad
when you singing parang, we must behave bad
the parang on fire - in Lopinot
the parang on fire - come leh we go”
- Parang On Fire
- Alison Hinds & De’ Illist

Crèches with Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus in a manger have been removed from state property and/or prohibited. And where there was compromise, traditional statues of Mary and Joseph are replaced by Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus.

Santa want calaloo, with flying fish and cou cou
pelau with pig tail so tasty
but what he want is Sumintra roti”
Santa looking for a wife
from the Caribbean”
- Santa looking for a wife
- Brindley B

There was a time during the Christmas season, going downtown to window shop, to check out the Christmas displays in different stores was a big thing, romantic for couples, and for the guys – to check out the ladies, even when covered from head to toe in winter garb. Competing mega-stores would spare no expense to have a beautiful electronic display. Today…

“So when they come fuh me
ah want yuh go with we
then yuh go see
how de parang does have me
now yuh go know
why ah love meh parang so
just come along
you doh bong to learn the song”
- Come Go
- Baron

Regardless if Jesus the Christ was or wasn’t born on December 25, and/or Christmas is rooted in a pagan celebration, and irrespective to one’s religious identity, you couldn’t grow up in the West Indies and not love Christmas. And it had nothing to do with the pre-eminence of Christianity.

The Christmas season brought forth unqualified joy, friendliness, tolerance, sentiments of goodwill to others, and the display of compassion and acts of charity. Things that reaffirm the brotherhood of man, and which by nature are contagious.

Christmas celebrations also strengthened the bonds of closeness and friendship in respect to family and friends. Can anyone say those aren’t good things?

“Oh, there’s no place like home for the holidays
cause no matter how far away you roam
when you pine for the sunshine of a friendly gaze
for the holidays you can’t beat home, sweet home”
- There’s No Place Like Home
- The Mighty Sparrow

West Indian multiculturalism, religious tolerance, and the spirit of not having to wash one’s feet to jump in the dance allowed Hindus, Muslims and others to enjoy the manifestations of Christmas without engaging in Christian worship. Likewise, for Christians to partake in Eid, Divali and other non-Christian celebrations, and not compromise their beliefs.

“Last year we went by Baliram
he played smart and hide de ham
bring one bottle ah babash
de ting finish with one lash”
- Is Christmas
- Baron

Though I take issues with a number of Christian religious beliefs and doctrine, I am a fan of Christmas – the religious aspect, the feasting, going from house to house, the bacchanal, the music, and parang.

“A heading for Paramin, for Christmas,
Paramin this Christmas,
to hear a string bass and a mandolin
Paramin is parang, Paramin, real parang
the kind that Daisy Voisin used to sing”
- Paramin
- Singin’ Sandra

Many think of parang in terms of parang soca’s ode to rum/spiritual liquors, wild meat and pork, sexual innuendoes and overall rowdiness, but parang roots is far from.

Parang lies in Spanish/Venezuelan Christmas tradition of musicians known as paranderos, celebrating the birth of Jesus, bringing Christmas cheer.

Armed with cuatros, guitars, chac chac, scratchers and so on, paranderos go house to house partying, singing folk songs, sacred Spanish songs and aguinaldos (songs on the life of Jesus), and of course imbibing. Theirs was good clean fun, not riotous.

The parang on fire - in Lopinot
the parang on fire - come leh we go
they call fire brigade, they call ambulance
trying to out the fire was real disturbance”
- Parang On Fire
- Alison Hinds & De’ Illist

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and yours