Nearly 10 years ago, when Elka Cools-Latigue left her native Caribbean country of the Commonwealth of Dominica to live in the United States of America, she took with her some of the fondest memories of her island, particularly the native culture and the various aspects of the island’s Carnival or Real Mas.
Although she resides in the US, Elka still considers Dominica home.
“I don’t think I have ever truly left. I just live here now. Dominica is still home,” she said.
She has made it her mission for the past eight years to bringing maximum exposure to parts of her Dominican heritage, particularly aspects of real Dominican Mas.
“We will always portray something pertaining to our country to increase the awareness of the Dominican culture in North American festivals,” she said.
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[youtube width=”640″ height=”400″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXM6apzRPu8[/youtube]
This she has demonstrated through the formation of a carnival group called Riverland Mas. This group has been hosting a carnival band on the streets of Miami for the annual Miami Carnival. No other Dominican has been able to consecutively host such an event and bring exposure to the Dominican culture.
“After participating in many Caribbean festivals over the years in the United States, it was evident to us that the one island still virtually unknown was Dominica. Because of our great desire to increase the awareness of the Dominican culture in North American festivals, Riverland Mas was created,” she explained.
The name Riverland Mas came from the 365 rivers, which can be found on the Commonwealth of Dominica.
“Riverland is a small group of enthusiastic young West Indians who are all committed to promoting our culture and traditions in North American Caribbean festivals,” she said.
Formed in August 2003, the first T-shirt band was named Riverland, attracted over 175 registered carnival revelers in the Broward/Miami carnival celebrations. The Broward Carnival is host to over 75, 000 people from nations worldwide, and continues to grow each year. This presents an excellent marketing opportunity for companies and individuals seeking that Caribbean connection. Broward Caribbean Carnival is a cultural experience with spectacular displays of color and pageantry.
The group was not able to host a band in 2004 due to unforeseen circumstances.
However, Riverland Mas was back in 2005, with a renewed vigor since its initial formation, and was partially sponsored by a company out of Curacao called San Pablo Rum.
“They saw the publicity we could give to them and used it,” said Elka.
The group has since presented a carnival band over the years.
In 2005 the group presented “Tour Guides of the Nature Isle”, which portrayed tour guides from the beautiful nature island of the Caribbean.
“Our Tour Guides were dressed and equipped to take all the on ookers into the rough terrain of the country. Our costumes were simple, to suit the simple but beautiful people. The colours were mainly green and red to blend into the terrain and exquisite sites available to all in the lush green forests,” she noted.
In 2006, Riverland Mas burned up the streets of Fort Lauderdale, with it’s portrayal of “Nature Island on Fire.” The Antiguan community in Florida sponsored the popular Burning Flames band to play for Riverland Mas, with partial sponsorship from a US based company, Value Pawn. “The official count was 218 registered members making us one of the largest bands in the carnival. Unofficially we were the largest band with hundreds of other Dominican and Caribbean nations’ revelers following the band,” Elka said.
“Natives Gone Wild”, was presented in 2007, a year which proved the success of this venture.
“2007 was the best year yet for Riverland Mas, with the portrayal of Natives Gone Wild. Over 300 Dominicans from all over the US came together to make this band the biggest and most organized in the Broward Caribbean Carnival celebrations. Revelers were in festive spirits. We were free, we were colorful, and we were wild. After much disappointment, and a no-show from our very own WCK, Riverland Mas, was again accompanied by the Red Hot Burning Flames band of Antigua. Once again, Riverland Mas and Red Hot Flames put on a spectacular show that stunned the road side audiences,” she said.
“Water” was in 2008. This portrayed the abundance of water on the island and “Shades of Black” in 2009. This year, Riverland Mas presents “A Festival in Paradise.
The group is calling all Dominicans to come to Miami/Broward on October 10, 2010 to celebrate in Dominican style as one carnival on the streets of Miami. It will be a festival to be remembered.
I salute the efforts and vision of Elka Cools-Latigue and the Riverland Mass crew.
[youtube width=”640″ height=”400″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqjsnlk_86g&feature=related[/youtube]
I attended Reverlasnd Mass for the first time this year and hats of to Elka, Sammy, Margeret Rose, Lesel B and their Mom for making my experience positive and memorable. These people opened their home and sheart to all Dominicans who wanted to be there. The food was awsome and they treated us like we were family. There is nothing bad I can say about Elka or any of her family.
Kudos to you and continue doing what you do. I will definately be back and I will join the band next time also. It would be remiss of me not to mention that they make the Best bakes north of Portsmouth Dominica….. Black pudding too! Thanks for giving me a slice of home away from home.
Good job young lady. By the way is tant the The Band called CONTAGIOUS from Houston? If it is then good choice. Them Harry boys can thrown it down big time. All they need a a good promoter and nuff blows on WCK and then. Gwameg and Euse…….Bawi massive keep it rolling!!!!
@A Good Reader: yes thks for saying that
i too felt a liloffended
Hey it is Josie’s mom sorry cant’t be with you guys all the best i know you can pull this off you guys are
cut out for this. Give the girls my love enjoy miss you guys.
mom
joan
@My View.:
This is so uncalled for. If you really knew these people you would not say that. None of these sisters are no where near being prejudice. These are some of the most down to earth people one can meet. Stop being a hater and lets build a better Dcan ppl. This is so typical dcan.
well done elka keep doing the good works i love the name that u choose it is sad that our own band could not be on the road but kuddos go out to u and ur group. oh how i wish that we could have costume bands on Eastern Parkway for the Labour day the groups in New York and surrounding State must learn from u and get a costume band on Eastern parkway for the labour day We are tired of going to other countries bands we need our own band on Eastern parKway. Once again thanks for doing wat u are doing u make me smile to see my flag waving high thanks again
@Fair & Square: sorry if u felt offended but that’s the best name i have ever heard of for a group in d/ca
i love it
sorry if u did not understand
with love
@Fair & Square: no i did not find fault
i was only congratualating them for choosing such a name as we r of course the RIVER LAND
i said they could not have come up with a better or more appropriate name
i love it not critisizing it
after all how could i bring down my own flesh and blood
read and understand before critisizing
please
@Fair & Square:
what is contradicting. I stated that she does a great job, thumbs up. Love me some Elka. I also said that a particular sentence could have been omitted in the story.
to those of u that r giving me thumbs down for being happy about the name RIVERLAND i’m wondering y
is it because i am living away or what
i said this name could not have been more appropriate
the name riverland because we r the land of many rivers duh
what is all that thumbs down about
well that’s life
anyhow i will continue to say how much i love the name lol
Well done Elka….. but most of all,thank you to the ” Broward and Miami-Dade county Commissioners” for voting to continue providing founding for this yearly event.
P.S
Tell dat fat sis of yours ( de one dat always bartending ) shout her mouth, take sometime out, learn proper “People Relation Skills” and stop treating people based on the color of their skin.
@D:
I think some of you folks don’t comprehend very well. How many Dominicans have consecutively lunched a carnival band abroad for an over 5 yr period. many Domincans have organized carnival bands abroad but it has not lasted. I think with the exception of the dcan group in the UK, Elka Dominates in area. Stop hating and give the young lady her props.
The key word here is consecutively.
“consecutive |kənˈsekyətiv|
adjective
following continuously : five consecutive months of serious decline.
• in unbroken or logical sequence.
• Grammar expressing consequence or result : a consecutive clause.
• Music denoting intervals of the same kind (esp. fifths or octaves) occurring in succession between two parts or voices.”
Well done Elka. Keep up the good work.
@ oh my!: but you contradicting yourself man? In one breath you saying: “Great Job, you work hard to achieve this. Keep up the great work” and in de next breath you saying: “Nice Story but This could have been omitted.” I see nothing wrong with the article saying: ““No other Dominican has been able to consecutively host such an event and bring exposure to the Dominican culture.” GIVE DE GIRL HER FLOWERS IF SHE DESERVES IT MAN!
@ ruth in sxm: you find faut with de name “Riverland”. Constructive criticism provides not only a critique but also an alternative; so, lemme hear your suggestion….what would be a good name for the group?
@Business man:
because its not true…duh! there are tons of other Dominicans elsewhere working to promote culture…
@oh my!: I quite agree!
@oh my!:
And your point is?? Can you name three Dominicans who have been doing a carnival band in the US consecutively???
great job elka
Great Job Elka and congrats.
@oh my!:
And why shouldn’t such an accomplishment be noted. Congrats Elka, Keep it UP….
riverland lol
u all could not have come up with a better and more appropriate name than that
lol
hey elka u were still young when i left dominica 26+ yrs ago
i hope u can still remember me
my name is ruth laville along with my cousin victoria (she use to take care of u both in roseau and loubierre) use to always be with all u
when i was singing ur mom use to make my outfits
u may remember me by the name VANDA because that’s how a lot of people in my village pichelin know me
well after living in sxm for so long i never thot i would ever get to hear about people like u anymore
well being a christian i don’t take part in carnival so i can’t eally encourage u on this but what i am proud of is u ptting dominica on the map
my kids they don’t really know dominica but we taught them so many things about dominica that whenever they travel all they can talk about is that they r from there and always boast about there
i love my dominica so much that although i am a christian i always play my s m chorale song loud and clear so that my neighbors may hear
in church for sxm national day i always sing OH DOMINICA
God knows how i love my island
anyow i just want to encourage u over there in the us that whatever good u and the others may try to do for this land of my birth continue doing so
p.s.how r magaret rose and sammy? lol
love to u and the rest of my beautiful dominicans no matter what part of the world we r in
i would also like to thk DNO for always keeping those of us who r away in touch with what is going on in dominica
thkx again
Great Job, you work hard to achieve this. Keep up the great work.
“No other Dominican has been able to consecutively host such an event and bring exposure to the Dominican culture.”
Nice Story but This could have been omitted.
Maximum respect,big up to Elka for representing DA Inna foreign….Continue to do your ting my girl.
Congrats lady Elka on a job well done. Keep up the good work.
keep up the good work to all those involve in this riverland mass….thumbs up to all of you.
congrats
Thank you first to god for strength and life.
elka there was once i was in barbados for crop over and a guy said if u want colour go to Trinidad but if u want backanal go to Dominica, so i can imagine how it is in miami. a special thanks to you and your team and for all those who help in this organisation (true Dominican). It would be nice if you could get one of our very own Tripple k, Swingstars or Wck to play to give american the real bouyon of how Dominica carnival just be, but still thank to the Hot burning flames. hope to be next year god willing.
I salute the work that Elka and her crew have done in promoting Dominica’s culture in Miami and in giving U.S based Dominicans an opportunity to participate in one of our most exciting activities, our carnival, even if they’re not home.
I know Elka to be a fun loving and passionate person who loves her sewo. Elka i guess you figured if you cant come home for carnival every year then why not bring carnival up with you? lol.
Keep up the great work and I wish you guys the very best! Perhaps you can send DNO pics of your band in action on october 10th?
hey Elka , how we can forget that , hail up Mothers for us and enjoy the weekend
Good job Elka
. Much more success in the future.
Hey Elka , for those of us who know you , we know your heart is pure DA , nuff love and
keep up the good work