Hailed as the current generation’s (version of) Peter Minshall by TriniJungleJuice founder and director Andre Choo Quan, following the launch of the 2024 presentation by The Lost Tribe in Woodbrook on Friday night, the band’s creative director Valmiki Maharaj humbly accepted all the accolades and compliments.
“I wish I could be half as talented as Minshall yes,” Maharaj replied, while chatting in the VIP area at Adam-Smith Square following the presentation.
Choo Quan’s comparison was affirmatively nodded at by Caesar’s Army director Jules Sobion, who added, “We know that Minshall is another level still, but he’s right in the sense that you’re the only person going the distance and taking it to these depths creatively in this time.”
Blushing briefly despite the heat, even as his brows simultaneously frowned (perhaps at the thought of the detractors these comments might attract), Maharaj has certainly made his presence felt since joining the band in 2008 and being appointed creative director of the Tribe Group in 2017.
The Lost Tribe subsequently claimed the Large Band of the Year title in 2019 and is still the reigning Band of The Year now after winning in February 2023. Challenged to top this past Carnival’s winning offering in a matter of mere months, Maharaj and company added more heat to a sweltering evening in Woodbrook. This was after having their licence to parade down Ariapita Avenue revoked just days before the much-touted “Sunset Weekend” of Tribe Group events.
Friday evening found the Avenue bustling with activity as minstrels, Indian chiefs, bats, moko jumbies and several other Carnival characters roamed the length of the route distributing mini national flags to pedestrians.
Port-of-Spain Mayor Joel Martinez was present along with a few foreign dignitaries; Carib’s Marketing Manager Antron Forte and a host of media personnel, brand managers, endorsees and influencers.
Following the official protocols and proceedings on the VIP stage, the actual launch took place in the square using three music trucks with the central one serving as the main stage.
Singer/actor, Nicholai Salcedo and the multi-talented dancer and teacher, Elisha Bartels spun a thread of running dialogue to introduce the many facets and cultural influences present in T&T, as an extensive cast of performers showcased the African, East Indian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Latin and other influences—in addition to some cultural nuances from Tobago.
Informative and educational, the lengthy cultural presentation preceded the actual costume reveals and focused the attention of the constantly growing assembly of Tribe faithful, Friday limers and curious onlookers alike.
Screams, whistles and catcalls punctuated the arrival of the eight Lost Tribe sections as part of their 2024 presentation, Fly. With no actual feathers used in their production, these costumes took flight onstage and into the minds of many with names such as Hummingbird, Scarlet Ibis, Wild Parrot, Toucan, King Corbeaux, Scarlet Macaw, Coquette and Bird of Paradise.
Initial and passing comments on the costumes from those assembled ranged from: “wows”, “gorgeous eh?” and “did you see that”, to “that looks like they recycled ‘Birds of a Feather’ minus the feathers though.”
Finishing a lot stronger than they began, the launch event and presentation were nonetheless littered with technical difficulties, gaps of silence, miscues and scores of confused attendees. Most of these production faux pas were explained away by the last-minute deletion of the parade component, which was originally intended to precede the unveiling of the costumes and had to be replaced quickly in a matter of days.
Still, the energy in the Sunset Theatre was low until near the very end when the crowd thinned out a bit and a light breeze made oxygen more readily available. Soca stars, KMC and Mical Teja arrived just in time to amplify the excitement levels and significantly reduce the oxygen levels at the same time with their powerful deliveries, as many filtered out of the park and back to their respective Friday limes.
The Sunset Weekend continued Sunday night with the launch of Tribe’s costumes at the Queen’s Park Savannah.