The Division of Culture, in collaboration with the Kalinago Council and the Ministry for Kalinago Affairs, is holding a Tèt Mas Training workshop at the Kalinago Barana Aute in the Kalinago Territory on Saturday January 10, 2015.
Tèt Mas is the typical head piece of the traditional carnival costume of the Kalinago during the 1950s and 1960s. It consists of a frame made from Roseau reeds which is covered and decorated with paper, crepe paper and other similar materials. The frame is shaped like a boat or mwina, the traditional Kalinago hut.
In recent years, there has been a noticeable decline in the Tèt Mas tradition. The workshop organizers have been concerned about this decline and have organized the training workshop in order to address this.
The workshop’s immediate objectives are to make innovations to the costume in order to enhance its aesthetic appeal and to increase the number of trained costume-builders.
The workshop will explore the use of various plant and man-made or synthetic material for making the Tèt Mas and the inclusion of the waiku and other designs in the costume ensemble. At a broader level, the workshop hopes to revitalize the Tèt Mas carnival costume tradition and stimulate the formation of a professional carnival troupe in the Kalinago Territory.
About 35 participants including school teachers, students, band leaders, cultural group members and Tèt Mas specialist craft persons are expected to attend.
The workshop fits in with the national objective of enhancing Dominica’s carnival product and increasing its aesthetic, marketing and visitor appeal.
The Kalinago Council, the Ministry of Kalinago Affairs and various community-based organizations have been collaborating on the organization and enhancement of carnival in the Kalinago Territory. Leve Vaval and Tewe Vaval are examples of initiatives in this regard.
The Division of Culture, for its part, has been giving increased attention to the development of the cultural industries sector of which carnival and related traditions are a part.
Through its research, documentation, training and special events programmes, the Division is playing a vital role in the survival, development and promotion of cultural traditions, art forms and the creation of cultural products and services. It hosts the annual Old Mas Festival each year and efforts are ongoing to improve and expand traditional drumming programmes and drumming ensembles on the island.
The Tèt Mas Training workshop runs from 9.00 a.m to 5.00 p.m. and is being coordinated by Gregory Rabess, Cultural Projects Officer of the Division of Culture and Prosper Paris, Kalinago Cultural Officer attached to the Kalinago Council.
the Caribs a traditional people they do not forget. the matter is money are not given to them so they cant by the material sometimes we here of money given to persons to help organized but is a small amount just to by rum and pay transport to them to opening of carnival in Roseau . i am calling on the organizers of the workshop to put a budget in place to help the kalinagoes on there various arts and culture.
Go for it reintroduce the DA culture especially the Kalligano people. I say bring back the milk and honey.
Stupes! Stupes! Stupes!