Carriacou, Grenada, West Indies – Carriacou’s Third Maroon Music Festival kicks off Friday 25th April until Sunday 27th. Carriacou’s number one festival, which is growing ever larger every year, is an annual exhibition of unique Maroon heritage, culture and foods, scintillating displays of Big Drum Nation Dance, String Band Music and Quadrille Dancing. The Maroon Festival will showcase cultural presentations and groups from Carriacou, Petite Martinique and Grenada dominating Friday night’s program. The events will begin with an official opening by Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell and include speeches from noted Caribbean folklorists.
The weekend will include the very finest of local, regional and international talent. These will fall into the following: Maroon Day, Carriacou Cultural Heritage, Regional, Roots, Culture and Art. Already confirmed are: Grenada National Folk Group, Tobago Cultural Group, Union Island Dancers and Ballet Kouyamba from Senegal, Africa. Square One and Allison Hinds will close Saturday night performing until daybreak.
Maroons are age-old ceremonies in Carriacou and Petite Martinique. It brings villagers together to express various aspects of their culture, which is based in the agricultural activities of the islanders. The day ends with the traditional Big Drum Nation Dance.
The ‘Drum’ is the lifeblood of the Maroon celebration as is true of many African rites. The dancers are colorfully dressed and sing songs in patois. The lyrics recall their history, trials, suffering, preoccupations, glorious moments as well as aspirations.
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
