by Mell P
On February 19, the American Museum of Natural History transformed into a living, breathing portal to the Caribbean, inviting visitors to step into history and celebration through an immersive daytime experience honoring Canboulay, the 19th-century Afro-Trinidadian tradition that laid the foundation for Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival.
- Advertisement -
A Day Rooted in Remembrance and Resistance
Guests were not just spectators but participants in a powerful cultural remembrance. At the heart of the daytime program was the Sousou Workshop, led by acclaimed griot and storyteller Michael Manswell. With commanding presence and warmth, Manswell guided attendees through the call-and-response tradition that emerged after Emancipation from slavery, a communal practice that gave voice, rhythm, and solidarity to newly freed Africans in Trinidad.
The air pulsed with drumming, dance, and the electrifying cracking of sticks as participants, from young to old, witnessed and engaged in the practice of the Boi men and women. These traditions, rooted in resistance and communal pride, echoed through the museum halls, reminding all present that Carnival began not merely as festivity, but as defiance, an assertion of identity, culture, and joy in the face of oppression.
The gathering felt like sacred remembrance. Manswell, in his customary animated voice, did not disappoint, weaving history, rhythm, and audience participation into an unforgettable experience that connected past to present.
An After-Hours Celebration of Caribbean Culture
As night fell, the celebration expanded into a high-energy, after-hours fête. In collaboration with I Am CaribBeing and the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute (CCCADI), the museum transformed into a vibrant cultural marketplace and performance space.
Visitors explored pop-up marketplaces featuring local makers, sampled beloved Caribbean flavors from Trinciti Roti and Allan’s Bakery, and wandered through the museum’s exhibitions after dark, including the mesmerizing Invisible Worlds immersive experience. The curried patties and coco bread from chef Kwame Onwuachi of Tatiana were a crowd favorite.
Towering Moko Jumbies moved gracefully through the space, embodying ancestral protection and spectacle. A stunning installation of a grand Mas costume by Jamaican artist Annaixe captivated guests; her Carnival creations, crafted from found and sustainable materials, reimagined tradition through a historically conscious lens.
Down in the basement ballroom, DJ YoungChow kept the energy soaring late into the night, spinning infectious rhythms that turned the museum into a full-fledged Carnival fête. And for those who missed Trinidad Carnival this year, it was a tiny reprieve from what we like to call ‘tabanca’ (an intense feeling of heartache, depression, or deep longing).
Honoring Legacy, Resilience, and Joy
For those who missed Trinidad Carnival this year, this was more than a consolation, it was a powerful tribute to the Caribbean’s enduring legacy of resilience, resistance, and joy. From Canboulay’s rebellious roots to the glittering spectacle of Mas, the evening proved that Carnival is not confined to one island or one season. It lives wherever the diaspora gathers to remember, resist, and rejoice.
On this February night, inside one of New York’s most iconic institutions, Caribbean culture was lived.
