The Trinidad and Tobago Carnival is a vibrant celebration of culture and tradition, with various masquerade groups participating in street parades. However, there has been a decline in the number of traditional characters, including the iconic blue devils. This decline is alarming to Mark Ayen, the president of the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival Bands Association, who emphasizes the importance of preserving cultural elements. In the remote village of Paramin, where the blue devils originated, there is also a decrease in the number of people taking on this role. Curdell Gibbs, a local man and advocate for the blue devil tradition, believes that increased accessibility and exposure can help revitalize the tradition.
The blue devil masquerade has its roots in the days of slavery, chosen by freed slaves to represent their view of slave owners. Originally known as “Jab Molassie,” the character was covered in the sticky black substance of molasses. Nowadays, blue devils can be covered in various substances such as pitch oil, mud, cocoa, and come in different colors. The vibrant blue color of the costumes is achieved through a process involving boiling water, laundry bluing cubes, and lard, which is then applied to the skin.
Despite their portrayal of the devil, many blue devil masqueraders, like Leonardo Joseph, maintain their faith as altar servers in the Roman Catholic church. This demonstrates the love and appreciation they have for their culture and traditions. Leonardo, along with Curdell and their masquerade group, Next Generation Underworld Creepers, organizes workshops to teach young people about blue devils and other aspects of Carnival, such as costume making through wire-bending. They believe that by passing down these skills and knowledge, they can preserve the traditional elements of Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival.
However, the decline of traditional masquerade characters is a cause for concern. Curdell expresses sadness at witnessing the slow demise of the masquerade tradition. To combat this, the group is taking initiatives to bring the community together and increase awareness and participation in blue devil masquerades. The blue devil costumes are visually stunning, comprising horns, wings, tails, and other accessories. The blue devils even showcase fire-breathing as one of their standout tricks, adding to the mystique and excitement of their performances.
The efforts of Curdell, Leonardo, and their group are crucial in preserving and reviving the blue devil tradition in the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival. They hope that by instilling a love for the culture in the younger generation and increasing accessibility to traditional elements, the masquerade tradition will thrive once again. These costumes serve as an empowerment tool, allowing individuals to express their identity and cultural heritage
