As a long-time patron and former participant in the NY West Indian Carnival, I am voicing concerns after speaking with other patrons and several masqueraders. The 2025 WIADCA carnival was not much improved from previous years. It is getting further away from the ‘carnival spirit’.
Let’s start with the 2025 title. VIVE LE CARNIVALE? SERIOUSLY? When did we sell out our culture, and for what reason? Whose crazy idea was this? Has carnival culture become a Latin American phenomenon now? Has the Hispanic community headlined their parade ‘Bacchanal Festival’ or ‘Dingolay de la Hispanidad? The carnival is a celebration that honors the West Indian community, teaches its heritage to younger generations, and showcases our cultural uniqueness (hence the West Indian American Day Carnival Association).
Secondly, Dance-Hall is NOT carnival. That comes under a different umbrella. Why try to rewrite the script? This event can take place at an alternative location, such as the Brooklyn Museum (the central location for CARNIVAL activities). The actual Caribbean carnival consists of Soca artistes, calypsonians, calypso tents, carnival fetes, kiddies’ carnival, steel bands, carnival shows (kings, queens, individuals, ole mas, traditional mas, Canboulay), and, of course, J’ouvert. Long-time and true artisans want to use their skills, talents, and abilities to showcase mobile art that is beautiful, colorful, spectacular, and to feel a sense of pride from their accomplishments.
Thirdly, the actual street parade was a disaster. Throngs of feisty, disruptive youths were moving from band to band. There was an apparent lack of costumed bands that were far outnumbered by the non-costumed bands. Other carnivals outside the central Caribbean island have surpassed the New York carnival in many ways (Miami, Canada, and the UK). There are more visitors, more crowd control, more costumes, and a genuine display of what Caribbean carnival entails.
In an attempt to be everything to everyone (especially those who know NOTHING about the origins and the journey of carnival over the years), it has become the great ‘sell-out.’ Political impressions were rampant (an over-abundance of ‘reserved’ signs accompanied by a sense of self-importance
and then 