The Age of Mud
By Donna Lambert

There is something rejuvenating, as well as captivating, about being draped in mud from head to toe and “wining” on the streets of Notting Hill in London. I felt a sense of freedom to express myself in a very uninhibited way while listening to the hottest soca sounds from dawn till dusk. It was my first time going across the “Pond” to celebrate carnival in England. As I reflect on my experience, I think of the fun moments; forming a mud train, “wining” with random strangers and having my pictures taken by various spectators. The party was “So Sweet” I didn’t want to go home. As the TT Mudders band roamed the streets, all I kept singing to myself was “My Pressure Bad… Bad… Bad!”

The TT Mudders band, established in 1995, is one of the largest and most exciting "mud mas" groups. The revelers in the band are a very diverse group of people from many countries such as England, Norway, Finland, Switzerland, Trinidad, Barbados, Guyana, Dominica, St Lucia, Grenada and many more. The maestro, mud guru David Robertson, orchestrated the intricate, yet soothing and refreshing mud mixture commonly referred to as 'healing clays'. It was quite evident in my meeting with Dave that he possessed much love and passion for preparing the mud for Jouvert as well as enthusiasm to ensure everyone enjoyed their Jouvert experience.

The roots of Jouvert in Trinidad go back 200 years, with the arrival of French plantation owners. The French never colonised Trinidad, however elements of their culture remained. Jouvert evolved from the Canboulay (cannes brulee) festivals in the 1800’s, which were night time celebrations where the landowners dressed up and imitated the negres jardins (garden slaves). Following emancipation the newly freed slaves took over canboulay, now imitating their former masters imitating them. Canboulay revellers, who carried lighted cane torches, were seen as a potential risk by the authorities, and the tension mounted leading to the Canboulay riots. It was eventually banned, and then was re-established as Jouvert.

Jouvert personifies the true essence of the beginning of carnival day. The origins of the name J'ouvert comes from the French jour ouvert, meaning day break or morning, and signals the beginning of the festive bacchanalia which we call Carnival. Jouvert is a traditional celebration full of symbols culture and heritage. Playing mas involves participants known as “Jab Jabs” throwing coloured powders, chocolate, smearing paint, mud, or oil from head to toe on their bodies. It is Jouvert custom that no one is clean, and a common site to see a newcomer being hugged by a muddy revelers.
(Excerpt from “Carnival Jouvert” Itzcaribbean.com)

Jumping Jouvert with TT Mudders was an experience of a lifetime for me, one I will certainly cherish and want to duplicate again. I can truly say that I look forward to Notting Hill Carnival 2009 to be once again draped in mud and wining feverishly on the streets of London to the hottest soca sounds.

(Donna Lambert is a contributor to Island Vibes Magazine and writes about Caribbean culture. For comments, please feel free to contact her at donna@islandvibesmag.com.)