Free Event
The island of Carriacou may only be a speck in the Grenadine archipelago, but it packs a cultural power out of all proportion to its size. It’s known as the place that has retained more direct African heritage than any other Caribbean Island, and this has been passed down through generations since slavery days. Its expression is the 129 songs and 26 dance styles of the Big Drum Nation Dance. These were documented by the local folklorist Winston Fleary and American ethnomusicologist Alan Lomax, and are kept alive wherever the Carriacounian diaspora has settled. One of the most important ambassadors of the tradition in Britain was Mr George George, and he nurtured its teaching and performance in Huddersfield.
This event is a taster of that culture, performed by the local Shaping Care Big Drum Dancers, including relatives of Fleary. It also features the Mash-It-Up Band, playing Parang, a Latin-inflected form of calypso performed, mainly around Christmas time, from house to house in Carriacou and Huddersfield.
The performance is a celebration of the life of George George, who passed away in 2023. He would have encouraged audience participation in this event, and so do we.
Produced by hcmf//
Getting There
Venue: Atrium, Richard Steinitz Building
Accessibility: Accessibility information is available here. Further information on campus accessibility is available on the University of Huddersfield website.
What three words: ///opera.flock.anyone
Address: Queensgate, Huddersfield, England, HD1 3DH, United Kingdom.