Crucians had an opportunity to learn more about the territory’s masquerade traditions Tuesday night during “Masked Memory,” a roundtable discussion held at the Dorsch Cultural Activity Center in Frederiksted.
The discussion was hosted by Stephanie Chalana Brown, who runs the “Keeping Masquerade Traditions Alive” initiative with help from a grant from the St. Croix Foundation. Brown told the Source that she’d seen masqueraders in many forms as a young woman — and that she’d seen the practice dwindle over the years.
“I wasn’t even necessarily at the forefront of practicing those things, but I think it’s so important that — while we’re moving forward and we have contemporary costumes — that our parade and our festival are balanced,” she said. “So I just wanted to make sure that we knew the roots to why we put on costumes in the first place.”
Tuesday night’s discussion brought together a full panel of culture bearers and ambassadors, including Kendell “KC” Henry, Sandra Gerard-Leung, Crucian Heritage and Nature Trail Director Frandelle Gerard, Dembaya Arts Conservatory founding member Shanarae Matthew, Asta Williams and Baba Onifade, a marine scientist and Babalawo.
Speaking to the Source Thursday, Brown marvelled at longtime cultural stewards like Williams, who spoke Tuesday night about teaching masquerade at St. Croix schools even as traditions changed over the decades.
“A lot of my people have gone,” Williams said of those she used to troupe with, “and I really, really miss them, because they — if it was three or four — they were there with me.”
Brown said it was sad to hear the community’s elders talk about how they didn’t feel like they were a part of a tradition they helped keep alive.
“And I’m just hoping — people have done this work long before me,” she said. “I’m just hoping to continue. So I just want to give reverence to her, because she’s been doing it since she was quite a young woman.”
Tuesday’s event was only one part of “Keeping Masquerade Traditions Alive.” Brown said the initiative holds rehearsals “almost every other Thursday” at 5 p.m. at the Boys and Girls Club in Frederiksted. Younger masqueraders rehearse first before adults practice at around 5:45.
“We have a live drummer there, and we’re also providing people with the opportunity to learn the drumming that is synonymous to masquerading,” Brown said. “Because that is another element to keeping masquerading traditions alive — both the music and the actual movement.”
