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Reflections On Carifiesta 2014

REFLECTIONS ON CARIFIESTA 2014

By N Oji Mzilikazi

Originally published in the Montreal Community Contact Volume 24, Number 14 July 10, 2014

The 39th staging of the Carifiesta Parade on July 5th was one of the best in years.

While my heart welled with pride for the thousands of community members that were participants — revellers as well as on-lookers — I couldn’t help but weigh the power of their presence, the financial and voting power they collectively constitute in their hands against community laissez faire attitudes, divisiveness, paralysis, and other shortcomings.

I couldn’t but weigh the potential power in our numbers against the continuous underfunding of Carifiesta by City Hall, the absence of funding from the Quebec government and the Montreal Tourist Board, and that Carifiesta is without a corporate sponsor…

 

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CARIFIESTA 2013: POLITICS IN MEH PARADE

Ah Want To Wine But Ah Cyah Wine…

CARIFIESTA 2013: POLITICS IN MEH PARADE

By N Oji Mzilikazi

Originally published in the Montreal Community Contact Volume 23, Number 13 June 27, 2013   

Musical intoxication, musical inundation, bacchanalia spirit possession…Suzuki (Victor), Cassian, Gold teeth, Short man, Inshan, Chen, Ferdie, Stacy, Linda, Pat Dillon, Dixie-Ann, Catherine, Penny, wifey, Colville, Maddy, Molly, Arnold Paris, and Doggy daubed with mud, grease, and engine oil…

 

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This article was crafted with lyrics taken from the following 2013 Trinidad & Tobago Soca Hits:

Iwer George – Bubble

Blaxx – No Getaway

Blaxx – Leh Go

Machel Montano, Kerwin Du Bois ft. Ladysmith Black Mambazo – Possessed

Machel Montano – She Ready

Patrice Roberts – Permission Granted

Drupatee & Machel Montano – Indian Gyal

Denise Belfon – Winning Queen

Fay-Ann Lyons – We Doing This Owah