Leve Vaval to kick off carnival in Kalinago Territory

kalinago carnivalWe have all heard of the traditional ‘Tewey Vaval’ on Ash Wednesday which symbolically signals the end of the carnival season.

But ‘Leve Vaval?’

Well, this is a new component being added to carnival celebrations in the Kalinago Territory.

One of the organizers at the Kalinago Carnival Committee, Prosper Paris, said this new addition will add an element of surprise that everyone should look forward to.

“Leve Vaval is something new and we are trying to enhance the whole carnival business because since we are burying the Vaval, so why not raise up the Vaval?” he told DNO.

Paris said the the event, slated for Saturday, is “going to be a spectacular resurrection with color, music, and dance and drumming …it’s going to be a big surprise for the Kalinago people themselves and the general public.”

He said the event is a series of activites planned for the celebration of Carnival in the Territory.

He noted that on Saturday there will also be a parade of bands which will include Kalinago pageant contestants, ‘darkies,’ traditional mass, among others.

The parade will begin at Crayfish River and end at Bataca.

Following this there is also expected to be a carnival singing competition (Chante Mass) during which each band will be singing one song.

Then the official opening of carnival will begin after that.

Other activities for the season include a calypso and mother’s queen show at the Karina Cultural Village on March 2 from 7:00 pm.

There will be J’ouvert on Carnival Monday and on Carnival Tuesday there will be the judging of the various bands near the Salibia Primary School in St. Cyr.

Tewey Vaval will take place on March 5 at Bataca.

 

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17 Comments

  1. February 14, 2016

    “Leve Vaval” was added to carnival in Kalinago Territory in 2014, and this news article was posted on DNO the same year. It is now 2016.

    The alcohol consumption, lewdness, and revelling is sufficient to draw demons into the carnival. But making Leve Vaval part of this activity is creating an even greater danger. Making it a one time thing is bad enough. Please for the sake of your people I hope it will not be ongoing.

    This is something that attracts demons and demonic activity. The full effects may not be known immediately. But you have no idea the dangers you are exposing people to.

    According to one DNO commentator there are eighteen religious denominations represented in Kalinago
    Territory. But is anybody preaching the gospel to your people? By the gospel I mean the good news of Jesus Christ according to 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, and Romans 1:16. They need to hear how they can be delivered from the power of darkness.

    Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist.

  2. Rastafari
    February 23, 2014

    Pure none sense, when Christian folk try and demobilize everything other people try doing. Allu almighty has let allu down, let go of this crap, allu have no idea what you have done to this world. Stop trying to fix what is not broken, leave people alone and try not to stress yourselves so darn much with people’s affairs. Stay in your closets and let us be! We no longer need a religion that has forsaken us over, and over! Sheeeesh!

  3. SN
    February 21, 2014

    The only logical way you can continually bury Vaval over and over again is resurrecting him.

  4. countious
    February 21, 2014

    the evil spirit of african invocation is in our midst with the Hatian garde’ zafe’the evil spirit of so called christian dividing the Kalinago people with 18 religeos deomination amoung them, what then can the ancestors of a people change, we want political change so oo we want cultural

  5. John bess
    February 21, 2014

    Sounds interesting but is crayfish river to bataca the kalinago territory ? it could have started in the central area of point.

  6. Potential Detector
    February 21, 2014

    Mr. Paris
    Sir you have no idea of the implications of this activity, that you are undertaking. Please speak with a pastor from your community. You are about to invoke spirits of revelry, which you have no control what what can manifest in your community. Then you are going to try to bury them or it. do you know what these spirits come with? ALAS I feeling sorry for your community.
    I pray that GOD will be enthroned and continue to be ALMIGHTY over this beloved nation, even during this activity. ( Hope you can control your spirits to have them remain in the Kalinago Territory only. Sir, stop playing with fire, and please reconsider.)
    That wonderful brain of yours that thought of this idea, can surely come up with another idea of something else to do, like an opening ceremony with a different parade etc…….
    I am so concerned about the way our young people are already behaving around that time, when all spirits are loose, so invoke some other types my friend, is putting our lovely island in greater trouble.
    Humble yourself sir, seek advise from a spiritual leader, and do the honorable thing. Im sure you want progress in your community, not pain, trouble, murder, drunkeness. Thanks for pondering on this pleaseeeeeee

    very concerned citizen.

    • INFORMED
      February 21, 2014

      o please potential detector go detect ur foolishness elsewhere.

    • Rivers
      February 21, 2014

      Potential Detector, I totally agree with you. In his attempt to add more excitement to the carnival celebrations Mr. Paris might be unleashing some deadly spirits on his community and the island. This is not something to joke about. That is a bad idea and one the should be strongly rethought before we get a lot more than we bargained for. The idea of “invoking” Vaval is a very scary thought and one that is putting chills down my back. That is a BAD BAD idea…

      • Kalinago & Proud
        February 23, 2014

        So true. This vaval thing has no connection to Kalinago culture and Prosper needs to know that.

        As a matter of fact, this foolishness needs to stop.

    • Kalinago & Proud
      February 22, 2014

      Yes! I do concur with you. First of all, this satanic ritual has no connection with the Kalinago people’s cultural heritage. This was brought in from Guadeloupe a few years ago and the people are blindly practicing something oblivious of the ramifications.

      Additionally, Paris as a leader of a cultural group in the Kalinago Territory knows better than that.

      This foolishness needs to be stop.

    • true
      February 22, 2014

      I guess you are one of those that afraid to walk in the cemetery at night?
      what foolishness is this, you believe in god and yet you believe in evil spirit.

    • Roach
      February 23, 2014

      You see what Cabral and Tommy lee sparta start to do????????????

    • Rastafari
      February 23, 2014

      LOL, you have no idea what you are saying! :-D

    • February 14, 2016

      Potential Detector:

      My friend I share your concern.

      Your comment is now several years old but I just found this news article along with your well written comment now in 2016.

      I am an evangelist in Canada who has conducted gospel crusades in the Caribbean. I care about the people of Dominica, and have a burden for Kalinago Territory. I want the Carib people to hear
      about the Savior who died to set them free so thy can be forgiven ALSO delivered from the power of Satan and translated into the kingdom of God’s dear Son according to Romans 5:6-9 and Colossians 1:12-14.

      I am posting this comment now hoping that you and others will find it even at this later date.

      Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist.

      • Kalinago
        March 1, 2017

        Rev. Donald Hill, Evangelist,
        Isn’t your religion the very same religion which was brought to our shores by Columbus and forced upon us, causing us to be beaten, tortured and killed, being taught in a language that we could not understand, about something that we didn’t understand, just to cause us to humble ourselves and then to be conquered and enslaved? Too many people were murdered for your religion, something that I doubt God smiled about…. to this day, many claim to be Christians and followers of your flock; many preach about “loving your brothers and sisters” yet despise and look down on the Kalinago people? I am sure the Savior would not approve.

  7. Mem bet Mem pwelle
    February 21, 2014

    Excellent Paris, go for it. I like that.

    • Mem bet Mem pwelle
      February 21, 2014

      I hope you get some assistance from the corporate citizens in the vicinity as well as outside.

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