What to know about Caribbean Carnival history before your next visit
More than just a party, Carnival is a tradition steeped in history. We delve into unique celebrations across the islands, from stickfighting and chipping in Trinidad to Junkanoo in the Bahamas.
It's Carnival season in the Caribbean. Here's how to experience it.
In Barbados, Grand Kadooment Day is traditionally held on the first Monday in August every year to mark the end of the six-week celebration, Crop Over, and the end of the sugarcane harvest.
In Barbados, Grand Kadooment Day is traditionally held on the first Monday in August every year to mark the end of the six-week celebration, Crop Over, and the end of the sugarcane harvest.
In Barbados, Grand Kadooment Day is traditionally held on the first Monday in August every year to mark the end of the six-week celebration, Crop Over, and the end of the sugarcane harvest.
In Barbados, Grand Kadooment Day is traditionally held on the first Monday in August every year to mark the end of the six-week celebration, Crop Over, and the end of the sugarcane harvest.
More than two dozen countries make up the Caribbean, each with its own vernacular, history, food, and culture. Despite these distinctions, one tradition connects every island—Carnival. Born from the ingenuity of enslaved African people determined to survive in the face of brutality, the tradition has survived over the years with much of the same song, dance, and even mockery that were integral parts of its original movement.
An illustration published in the Journal Des Voyages (1891) captures revelers at Carnival in Port of Spain, Trinidad.
Print Via Bridgeman Images
Historians believe that Carnival started in the late 18th century in Trinidad and Tobago, where enslaved people banned from participating in the masquerades and pre-Lenten celebrations of French plantation owners created their defiant rituals. The discarded garments of their oppressors were made into costumes for satirical re-enactments of the opulent balls they could not attend.
Coded language to communicate and drumming would birth Calypso music. Bodies deliberately covered in black mud and paint celebrated the skin tone the enslaved were punished for. Today, celebrations like J'ouvert reenact this symbolic gesture, as people—with skin that gleams in black oil and hands that hold broken chains—fill the streets in revelry and remembrance from dusk to dawn.
Nearly 300 years later, Carnival draws thousands of people around the world to the islands with the height of celebrations culminating around Ash Wednesday. I've been fortunate to have experienced nearly every Caribbean Carnival, and each time I leave, I feel a tabanca—a Trinidadian word used to express a longing for what once was. The energy of Carnival is undeniably captivating, evident by the popular recaps on social media that have made it more mainstream.
As the tradition continues to grow in popularity, my hope is that its roots and the enslaved people who made it possible will not be forgotten. So much more than glittering costumes and non-stop partying, Carnival is a testimony to resilience and the ability to find joy through the most difficult times.
Delve into the history of five islands Carnival celebrations on five islands and how to best experience the island on a visit.
(Related: Top 10 things to know about Mardi Gras.)
In Fort-de-France, band members perform during the Carnival parade on the French Caribbean island of Martinique. The island's Carnival celebration culminates on Ash Wednesday, when Vaval, a giant papier-mache figure symbolizing the king of the carnival, is burned.
Photograph By JEAN-MICHEL ANDRE/AFP via Getty Images
Carnival in Martinique
Martinique's rich Carnival history originated in the town of Saint-Pierre in the 17th and 18th centuries. While wealthy island colonists attended lavish parties, enslaved Africans used satire and their traditions of music, dance, and costume as a means for creative freedom and celebration.
Today, Martinique's Carnival kicks off with the daytime parades of Dimanche Gras (Fat Sunday) and sightings of the Nèg gwo siwo—people who smear their bodies in sugarcane syrup and charcoal as a remembrance to the legendary fugitive slaves from the region. Burlesque parties on Monday's Lundi Gras and the red devil dress theme on Tuesday's Mardi Gras bring thousands to the street.
For a great taste of the energy of Martinique's nightlife during this time of year, join a party with Ethnique Carnival on Lundi Gras, and don't miss the quick-to-sell-out, stylish soirees of event planners A Beautiful Life Mood. Both offer great opportunities to support local businesses that seek to keep the tradition of costume parties alive. On Ash Wednesday, the final day of Carnival, parade goers watch the ceremonial burning of King Vaval, an effigy that symbolizes the social issues of the time.
Women in traditional clothing parade through the streets to celebrate Carnival in Martinique.
Photograph ByA group of majorettes march in the 1950 Carnival parade in Fort-de-France, Martinique.
Photograph By Michel Huet / Contributor/ Getty Images
Travel tips for Carnival in Martinique
For the best view on any day, plant yourself on the corner of Fort de France's Rue de la Liberté, lined with cafes and lively bars. Travelers can get a first-hand experience of the inventiveness that defines Martinique's Carnival with Sylvaine Eneelda, an artist who creates papier-mâché masks inspired by Martinican folklore. Stop by her Atelier ARTPERKUT studio in the capital city of Fort-de-France, located in Palais de Justice.
The best accommodation to be near the daily action is the 95-room Simon Hotel, just steps away from many of Fort-de-France's restaurants and bars. To cool down after the crowds subside, visitors should consider the intimately chic French Coco Hotel, and don't skip a visit to the wellness retreat of Bouliki Bio, where riverside massages and cocoa body scrubs in a peaceful rainforest will leave you centered and ready to return for more.
When hunger strikes, make your way to Galanga Fish Bar, where fresh catches of the day get sliced and diced into tataki and ceviche or fried to accompany chips. For dining in the heart of capital Fort-de-France, Yellow House serves a memorable duck confit and an extensive wine list.
(Related: 6 of the best Italian Carnivals beyond Venice, from north to south.)
Martinique's Carnival draws thousands of people to the streets of Fort-de-France.
Photograph By JEAN-MICHEL ANDRE/AFP via Getty
Junkanoo in the Bahamas
Junkanoo, a uniquely Bahamian celebration, is held on Boxing Day and New Year's Day. Originating in the 16th century, this celebration embraces African traditions used by enslaved people to celebrate their culture during the holidays.
Today, the music-filled parade is a colorful spectacle of handcrafted costumes called 'junkanoo suits' that glitter along Nassau's downtown streets. Participants spend months preparing kaleidoscopic floats and the impeccably detailed costumes worn with pride down streets for thousands of onlookers. Children are also involved in this annual tradition, and it's impossible not to be impressed by the level of detail in both choreography of movement.
In the Bahamas, performers take part in the traditional Bahamian Junkanoo celebration in Nassau's Parliament Square.
Photograph By Jane Barlow/PA Wire/AP Images
Travel tips for Junkanoo in the Bahamas
For a better understanding of this sacred tradition, visit the The Bahamas Museum of Junkanoo. Beyond the crowds of Junkanoo, consider Bon Vivants' highly curated cocktail list, with offerings that deliciously marry Caribbean fruits and spirits. For revelers looking for a luxurious beachside homebase, The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort, serves up a fresh catch of the day and silky ceviches with sea views on a prime slice of white sand.
(Related: Everything you should know about the Bahamas.)
Bahamian performers march down Nassau's Bay Street in elaborate crepe paper costumes and bang on cowbells as they celebrate Junkanoo, a traditional festival celebrated on Boxing Day and New Year's Day in the Bahamas.
Photograph ByCarnival in Guadeloupe
From the first Sunday in January to Ash Wednesday, the island of Guadeloupe comes alive with one of the world's most culturally rich carnival celebrations in the Caribbean. Unlike the big parties of Trinidad and Barbados that have become more mainstream, Guadeloupe's carnival remains centered on the people of the island and their pride in their culture and tradition. From the sounds of goatskin-stretched drums echoing through the streets to stilted figures called moko-zobis that tower above crowds, it is impossible to leave this carnival without feeling its electric authenticity.
An aerial view shows a long procession of giant dolls towering over the people on the streets in Olinda. This parade starts at Largo do Guadalupe and then proceeds up the slopes of Olinda's historic center.
Photograph By Rafael VieiraAGIF/ Associated Press
Travel tips for Carnival in Guadeloupe
Charging through the streets with military step precision, Klé La continues the tradition of the carnival 'po group' that taps into ancestral sounds of chanting and drumming to fuel their communal gathering. Along with other spectators, you can witness their dynamic energy every Sunday leading up to Carnival on the streets of Pointe-à-Pitre and beyond alongside other spectators.
Beyond Carnival festivities, visitors to Guadeloupe can experience the island's rich cocoa history with a workshop at Gwakako, where you'll learn about the maturation of cocoa pods and even make your own cocoa tea and bars. For a quick bite to eat, try the island's bokit—a handheld sandwich similar to a lightly fried naan bread that comes filled with options like grilled chicken or steak—or enjoy a seaside dinner at Le Grand Bleu.
Visit the The Mémorial ACTe Museum, which features exhibits that retrace the history of the slave trade all the way to present day. It's a powerful opportunity to understand Guadeloupe's history and heroes of resistance in one of the largest cultural centers dedicated to the memory of the slave trade.
For an accommodation option, the beachside La Creole Hotel & Spa is centrally located and offers junior suites for larger groups.
(Related: Beyond the beach: Top things to do when visiting Guadeloupe.)
Dressed-up revelers run to join the carnival parade in Basse-Terre in Guadeloupe.
Photograph By CEDRICK ISHAM CALVADOS/AFP via Getty Images
Mas Dominik in Dominica
The lush island of Dominica draws revelers to its streets, flanked by teeming rainforests that provide the ultimate paradisiacal setting. Also known as Mas Dominik, Carnival here embraces similar traditions of its neighboring islands, including J'ouvert, pageants, street parades with Calypso music, and a kiddie carnival.
People on stilts march in Dominica's Carnival parade.
Photograph ByTravel tips for Mas Dominik in Dominica
During my first visit to Dominica's Carnival, I was equally enamored with both the nonstop celebrations and the island's topography. It's easy to see why the country is referred to as Nature Island. Seventy-five percent of the island is covered with rainforests, alongside bubbling hot springs, waterfalls, and over 300 rivers. Make InterContinental Dominica Cabrits Resort & Spa—which sits along a flourishing natural reserve—your homebase for all the celebrations. The property is currently offering a Carnival Package that includes breakfast and transportation to two Carnival events.
To understand the beauty of Dominica in a more remote setting, check into the cliffside, all-villa Secret Bay Resort. Black sand beaches, private plunge pools, and an outdoor chef's table experience are just a few perks that heralded awards for the best luxury hotel in the Caribbean.
(Related: Big-time adventures on an island where nature rules.)
Crop Over in Barbados
While the culmination of events for many Carnivals occurs around Lent, Barbados's celebration, Crop Over, takes center stage every summer. In the 17th century, the island was one of the world's largest sugarcane producers. When the harvest season ended, typically in the summer, enslaved people who sustained the booming economy celebrated, hence the name 'crop over.' The celebration of Barbados's resilience and critical influence in the Caribbean's agricultural economy makes this time of year a source of pride for many Bajans. A series of events culminates into Carnival Monday, called Grand Kadoomen, where a sea of feathers and bacchanalia sweep across the island.
Musicians play in the street during the Crop Over festival in Bridgetown, Barbados.
Photograph By Bob Thomas/Popperfoto via Getty Images
Travel tips for Crop Over in Barbados
You can also experience Bajan culture first-hand with visits to island mainstays like the weekly Oistins Fish Fry, beachside La Cabane, and Cuz's Fish Shack, famous for their addictive fried fish sandwiches called cutters. When thirst strikes, take your pick at some 1500 rum shops around the island, which is considered the birthplace of rum. For a more formal tour, schedule a visit at Mount Gay for a variety of experiences that include chocolate and rum pairings and a cocktail masterclass.
(Related: Where to eat in Barbados, from fish shacks to innovative restaurants.)
Carnival in Trinidad
Often called the greatest show on earth, Trinidad's Carnival is the blueprint for many first-time or repeat bachannalists. The island is also considered the birthplace of Carnival, created by enslaved Africans who burnt sugarcane (called Canboulay) as an act of rebellion against plantation slavery. After slavery was abolished in 1838, the British government tried to prohibit Canboulay alongside other sacred practices like drumming, masquerading, and steelpan music. The formerly enslaved Trinidadians fought back in a series of riots—a stance that would ensure Carnival would continue today.
Taken March 1946, this photo captures men playing steel drums during a street carnival in Port of Spain, Trinidad.
Photograph By Earl Leaf/MichaelMuch of Trinidadian culture perfectly complements the energy of Carnival, including words that refer to partying and socializing—like limin', fetin', and gettin' on bad. Trinidad's Carnival requires pacing, as celebrations are offered around the clock, and sleep can quickly become a distant memory.
Carnival Monday and Tuesday take over the streets of Port of Spain, while other fetes commence on hillsides, beaches, and boats. Stickfighting, the Panorama steelpan competition, and chipping (dancing) down the road during J'ouvert are all integral parts of the experience, too. Then there's the soundtrack for it all—soca. This mashup of East Indian and West African sounds is the lighter that ignites every moving body during Carnival.
It's easy to get overwhelmed by the number of events listed online, but I've never been disappointed by any production by the Trinidadian festival production company, Caesar's Army, particularly A.M.Bush, a themed extravaganza that ends in paint, powder, splashes of rum, and even waterslides.
Miss Universe 1998, Wendy Fitzwilliam, performed with a band for a "Shimmer and Lace" act as part of the Trinidad Carnival at the Queen's Park Savannah in Port of Spain, Trinidad (2018).
Photograph ByTravel tips for Carnival in Trinidad
Fuel up with some of the island's most delicious foods, including corn chowder, doubles—two fried pieces of dough stuffed with chickpeas and mango chow—and a fruit salad with lime juice and spices. In the northern part of the island, Maracas Beach is home to sunbathers and Richard's Bake and Shark. Line up with the rest of the crowds to try the island's famous fish sandwich, housed between two pillowy soft pieces of bread called bake and topped with condiments that include mango chutney and tamarind sauce.
Trinidad is also home to a leatherback turtle nestling ground at Matura Beach. You can witness hatchlings first-hand with a conservation group called Nature Seekers. When sleep finally does call, check into the centrally located Hyatt Regency, home to a rooftop pool and plenty of guests from around the world.
(Related: 8 of the best Caribbean carnivals.)
Kristin Braswell is a travel journalist and founder of Vogue, Bon Appetit, USA Today, NPR, Architectural Digest, and the Los Angeles Times, among others.
is a travel journalist and founder of Crush Global Travel . She has penned pieces for, USA Today, NPR,, and the, among others.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Boston Globe
2 days ago
- Boston Globe
A Sikh Captain America? Why religious diversity matters in the comics universe.
Representation of non-Abrahamic religions and spiritual traditions, particularly in the mainstream comics universe, is minimal. Even when they are portrayed in comics, their presentation, as Singh and others in the field point out, is often inauthentic and sometimes negative. Recently, however, comic book writers and academics who study the intersection of religion and comics observe a renaissance of sorts, which they say is happening because people close to these faith traditions are telling these stories with a reverence and sincerity that resonate with a wider audience. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Singh's journey to make that connection began after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, triggered anti-Sikh hate incidents. Having faced hate and exclusion throughout his life, he decided to spread his message of kindness and inclusion by capitalizing on the appeal of comics and superheroes — an area where he found Sikh representation to be 'virtually zero.' Advertisement He suited up as Captain Sikh America in Manhattan for the first time in summer 2013 — one year after a self-proclaimed white supremacist opened fire inside a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, killing six and injuring four others. Advertisement New York's reaction to Captain Sikh America was joyous. 'Strangers came up and hugged me,' Singh said. 'Police officers wanted photos with me. A couple wanted me to be part of their wedding ceremony. I felt I had a certain privilege I'd never had before.' In 2016, Singh gave up his full-time job to travel around the country to schools, government agencies and corporations to share his story and educate youth about his culture and faith. He doesn't speak directly about religion but rather the core values of Sikhism. 'I talk about equality, justice and about the universal light being present in every speck of creation,' he said. Marvel's Black Panther heralded better representation for Africana religions in the U.S., according to Yvonne Chireau, a professor of religion at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. However what is seen in Black Panther or other comics is a synthesis of different African religions and cultural practices, she said. For example, one page might talk about the Orishas, divine spirits that play a key role in the Yoruba faith of West Africa, while another might feature Egyptian gods. One of the first superheroes with African religious roots, Chireau said, was Brother Voodoo, created in the 1970s by Marvel publisher Stan Lee, writer Len Wein and artist John Romita. He was the first Haitian superhero. The turn of the last century was a time of revival for Black-centric comics, she said, adding that immigration from African and Caribbean countries, including Haiti, led to increased understanding of religious practices originating in those places. 'It's definitely gotten a lot better and much more authentic because the people who are telling these stories care about those religious practices,' she said. Advertisement Brooklyn-born Haitian American comic book writer Greg Anderson Elysée said he didn't learn about African and Caribbean religious traditions until he was a teenager. Elysée was raised Catholic, but he now considers himself agnostic. For the past decade, he's written comics about Is'nana, the son of Anansi the Spider, the god of wisdom, knowledge and mischief in the Akan religion of West Africa. What drives his vision and his creativity, Elysée said, is the need to see more Black mythology, deities and spirituality showcased with the same level of respect as European fairy tales and Greek mythology. 'When I went looking for anything on African spirituality in the bookstore, I found it in the occult section as opposed to the religion or mythology section,' he said. Common depictions of African faith as voodoo and witchcraft are colonialist narratives aimed at demonizing Indigenous spiritual practices, he added. 'When I started going to ceremonies and rituals, I saw how much power there is in it. When we know who we are — whether you believe in the religion or not — it fills you with joy, a purpose and a sense of being.' Elysée is excited and relieved by the reaction to his work. 'While this is entertainment, you also don't want to offend those who believe in it and truly get so much power from it,' he said. 'Some of my portrayals of these religions in my comics may not be 100% authentic, but there is a level of research and respect that goes into every piece of it.' Zen Buddhism has informed much of John Porcellino's work. For over three decades, he has produced and self-published King-Cat Comics and Stories, a largely autobiographical mini-comic series. Porcellino was drawn to Buddhism in his 20s after what he describes as a period of intense mental suffering and health problems. Advertisement As a punk rock fan, Porcellino saw commonalities between punk and Zen because 'they are both concerned with the essence of things rather than appearances.' Both are ways of life — simple yet nuanced. He gave the example of a wordless story titled 'October,' featured in King-Cat's 30th issue, that shows him as a high school student walking home one night from school. When he gets home, his mom asks him to take the dog outside; as he steps out, he sees the stars. 'It's the experience of being in everyday, mundane life ... and then suddenly breaking through to some kind of transcendence,' he said. Porcellino views these comics as a healing presence in his life. 'They are an important part of my spiritual practice,' he said. 'Any time I have a major crisis in my life, my first reaction is to sit down and start making comics and put my focus into that. It just helps ground me.' Teresa Robeson, who wrote a graphic novel about the 14th Dalai Lama, said that even though her mother was Catholic and raised her in the faith, her grandmother was Buddhist. She grew up in Hong Kong, with memories of relatives praying to Buddhist gods, taking in the fragrance of burning incense and the sound of Buddhist chants. Though she practices neither Catholicism nor Buddhism at this time, Robeson jumped at the opportunity to tell the story of the Dalai Lama in graphic novel form because the book focused on a pivotal moment in the spiritual leader's life, when he fled Tibet for India after the Chinese occupation. Advertisement Robeson liked the idea of representing a religion and culture that do not get much attention in media. 'Children's books are like mirrors and windows for kids,' she said. 'It's helpful especially for children of immigrants who don't often see themselves in mainstream literature. They don't see anyone who looks like them or prays like them. At the same time, it also helps kids who are not Asian or Buddhist to learn something about those communities.' Amar Chitra Katha was a comic book company started by the late Anant Pai in Mumbai in 1967 as a way to teach Indian children about their own mythology and culture. The first title was 'Krishna,' an important god in Hinduism and protagonist of the Bhagavad Gita, one of the religion's main sacred texts. Pai was an engineer turned comic books seller who used varied marketing techniques, including walking around with planks, nails and hammers in his bag so he could build shelves for bookstores that refused to display his comics because they lacked shelf space, said Reena I. Puri, the company's executive editor and a 35-year veteran of the business. Pai started with Hindu mythology and gods but soon expanded to other faiths, releasing a globally successful comic titled 'Jesus Christ' and others about Buddha, Sikh gurus and Mahavira, who founded Jainism. Later came secular comics about historical figures and folktales. But religion remains the mainstay of Amar Chitra Katha, and books that teach children about faith, history and culture are also the most popular in the diaspora, Puri said. Advertisement 'Most recently we've also portrayed (Indigenous) religions and have gathered folktales relating to these traditions from all over India,' she said. Amar Chitra Katha comics faced criticism in the past for their portrayal of gods as fair-skinned and 'asuras' — often the antagonists to the gods — as dark-skinned with demonic facial features. But that has changed, Puri said. 'We've educated ourselves and realized that our ancient texts were not as racist or colorist as we may be today,' she said. 'We're correcting those misconceptions now.' British comic book writer Mike Carey is known for his 2000-2006 DC Comics series 'Lucifer,' which depicts the titular character's adventures on Earth, in Heaven and in various realms after abandoning Hell. Carey counts himself an atheist who went to Sunday school only 'for the fun, stories and chocolate.' Carey portrayed Lucifer as the 'son of God, but as a rebellious disobedient son who wants to find himself as distinct from his father.' He has also explored pagan themes, particularly what he called the 'weird interface between British folklore and British religious traditions.' Carey delved into the concepts of faith, God and morality in a series titled 'My Faith in Frankie,' which tells the story of a teenager with a personal god called Jeriven who gets jealous of her boyfriend. Even though many of his comics and novels explore religion and ethics, Carey said, he has never 'felt any temptation whatsoever to believe.' 'I've become more and more entrenched in that position, because organized religions are like any organization that sustain themselves, amass power, wealth and authority,' he said. 'So I've never really grappled with religious issues. What I do sometimes is explore, play with and tease out moral issues that were important and meaningful to me.' ___
New York Post
2 days ago
- New York Post
Why the Talking Heads are still making more sense than ever 50 years later
Fifty years ago this month, three clean-cut art-school students who called themselves Talking Heads played an audition night at the Bowery club CBGB. Different from the other newly minted punk bands putting the New York City hole-in-the-wall on the map, frontman David Byrne, bassist Tina Weymouth, and drummer Chris Frantz looked and sounded like no one else. The skittish, hollow-eyed singer accompanied his strange, keening vocals and obtuse lyrics with hyper-rhythmic guitarwork, while the petite blond bassist (a rare mid-'70s axe-wielding female) and robust mop-top drummer held down the propulsive groove. Their catchy 'Psycho Killer' — with its sing-along chorus — immediately caught the attention of club owner Hilly Kristal, who booked them for a series of dates, including opening for the Ramones. 7 Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth, David Byrne, and Jerry Harrison of Talking Heads, which this year celebrates the 50th anniversary of its founding. Getty Images for BAM Later adding keyboardist/guitarist (and Harvard grad) Jerry Harrison, the band would become 'the most original, musically ambitious, and rigorously creative rock group of their time,' writes Jonathan Gould in his riveting new biography, 'Burning Down the House: Talking Heads and the New York Scene That Transformed Rock' (out June 16). The book deftly interrelates New York City's cultural, social, and economic history (from its bankruptcy and the downtown art scene to Son of Sam and the '80s boom) as the band evolves into an expanded group of both African-American and white musicians, ambitiously exploring ever-more innovative sounds. A former professional drummer and the author of well-received biographies of the Beatles and Otis Redding, Gould says that 'having grown up in New York, a big part of my attraction to the subject involved the chance to write about the change in the city's social life and geography over the past fifty years.' He focused on Talking Heads, he relates, because 'having written books about the archetype of a rock group and the archetype of a soul singer that together comprised an extended exploration of the centrality of race in Anglo-American popular music, I wanted to tell the story of a second-generation rock group's engagement with Black music — as dramatized by David Byrne.' 7 Frontman David Byrne lives with Asperger's Syndrome, which has heavily influenced his musical delivery. ©Island Alive Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection 7 Talking Heads: Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz, Jerry Harrison, and David Byrne in an undated picture. ©Island Alive Pictures / Everett Collection Gould calls the Scottish-born, suburban Maryland-raised Byrne 'one of the 'whitest' men ever to front a rock group, but who transformed himself over the course of his career into a singer, musician, and performer embodying many of the most kinetic qualities of Black music while still maintaining an unequivocally 'white' identity.' From reinterpreting Al Green's 'Take Me to the River' to diving into the music of Africa and Latin America, Talking Heads released eight studio albums between 1977 and 1988. The group reunited once in 2002 to perform at their induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. More recently, the band reconvened for a public discussion at the Toronto Film Fest and with Stephen Colbert to celebrate the re-release of 'Stop Making Sense,' their seminal 1984 concert doc. 7 'Stop Making Sense,' the Talking Heads' seminal 1984 film, was rereleased last year for its 40th anniversary. Courtesy Everett Collection 7 Byrne in a scene from 'Stop Making Sense.' He was crucial in helping to refine and define the band's embrace of African-American musical traditions. ©Cinecom Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection In 'Burning Down the House,' Gould explores how Byrne's Asperger's syndrome affected his relationships, as well as how it 'exerted a strong influence on his creative sensibility, beginning with his tendency to approach most aspects of music-making without the sort of preconceptions that most of us accept as a way of trying to show other people that we know what we're doing.' Gould adds, 'David's Asperger's also contributed to his remarkable powers of concentration and observation, in part because people on the spectrum learn to pay very close attention to things as a way of navigating an unfamiliar and sometimes incomprehensible world. At the same time, I think it's important to put this in context. David's Asperger's was one of many influences on an artist who sought out and absorbed influences like a sponge. It was not the be-all-and-end-all of his personality or of his creative sensibility.' 7 'Talking Heads and the New York Scene That Transformed Rock' is written by Jonathan Gould. 7 Author Jonathan Gould finished the project even more of a fan of their music than when he began his book some five years ago. Richard Edelman In a gripping narrative, Gould traces Talking Heads' journey from their hometowns to their art schools, Chrystie Street loft, and eventual global stardom. He sharply analyzes their work and includes rich portraits of individuals, art movements, and music scenes in their orbit. While Gould interviewed the band's longtime friends and colleagues, all four declined to speak with him. 'Though I was initially disappointed that they chose not to cooperate with my research,' he says, 'I've come to regard it as a blessing in disguise. I have the feeling that not speaking with them insulated me enough from their conflicting personal narratives to enable me to gain perspective on the formation and musical evolution of the band.' Gould finished the project even more of a fan of their music than when he began his book some five years ago. 'Initially, I was drawn most strongly to the trio of albums — Fear of Music, Remain in Light, and Speaking in Tongues — that had the greatest ambition and intensity,' he relates. 'As a drummer, I have a great appreciation of Chris's playing, beginning with his steadiness and solidity. And I consider David to be a genius — a word I don't use lightly — on account of the utterly distinctive nature of his singing, guitar playing, and songwriting. Simply put, I can't think of anyone else in popular music who sounds like him or writes like him.'
Engadget
2 days ago
- Engadget
Rescue African artifacts from colonizers' museums in the heist game Relooted
Relooted is a heist game about reclaiming African artifacts from the Western countries that stole them, developed by independent South African studio Nyamakop. Relooted is set in a future timeline where Western nations have signed a treaty to return plundered items to their African regions of origin, but things aren't going to plan. Western leaders are instead hiding the artifacts away in private collections, so it's up to a ragtag crew based in Johannesburg, South Africa, to strategize and steal them back. Relooted is broken into missions, and each one includes a briefing about the artifact, an infiltration planning stage, and the heist. Gameplay is a mix of puzzle and action as you case each building, set up your run, and then execute the plan. Once you grab your target artifact, the security alarms go off and you have a limited amount of time to escape, so thorough preparation is key. To view this content, you'll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the "Content and social-media partners" setting to do so. In the Day of the Devs reveal video for Relooted , producer Sithe Ncube cites a wild statistic from a pivotal 2018 report on African cultural heritage, saying, "90 percent of sub-Saharan African culture heritage is in the possession of Western collections. That is millions upon millions of deeply important cultural, spiritual and personal artifacts, including human remains, that aren't in their rightful place." The locations in Relooted are fictional, but the 70 artifacts you have to steal back are real, and they're all currently in Western and private collections, far from their original homes and owners. Nyamakop is one of the largest independent games studios in sub-Saharan Africa, with about 30 developers working on Relooted right now. Its previous game, the globular platformer Semblance , was the first African-developed IP to ever come to a Nintendo console, hitting the Switch in 2018. In order to get Semblance on the Switch, Nyamakop co-founder Ben Myres had to bootstrap his way around the world, buying one-way tickets and finding new partners on the fly in a daisy chain of game festival appearances. Here's how Myres explained it to Engadget at E3 2018: "The entry curve into being an indie game developer in South Africa is like a cliff face. Because you don't have the contacts, the platform holders like Xbox, Sony. You don't have reps that live in your country. The press that matter are all here. There isn't a big enough market locally to sell to, so you have to make works to sell to the West, which means you have to go to Western shows and you have to meet Western press. So basically, if you're not traveling a ton, you're not going to be able to make it." Nyamakop has grown significantly since 2018, and Relooted is an unabashedly African game built by a majority-POC team, Myres and Ncube said in 2024. "There is the thing about making games for Africans — we say that a lot," Ncube told . "We say that should be a thing, we should make games for Africans because we're playing games that were made in the West. But will people even play those games, if you make them? And then if you make games targeting people ... even if you were to make one that's really good, there's no guarantee that you'll have a lot of people playing it. So I think there's some level of confusion, I can say, in terms of unexplored aspects of the African games market." Relooted is in development for Steam, the Epic Games Store and Xbox Series X/S, and while it doesn't yet have a firm release date, it's available to wishlist.
