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Nutmeg Nation with Carlene Humphrey
Nutmeg Nation is a show for anyone wanting to learn more about Grenada. It is a show that educates Grenadians on the issues they are facing everyday. Issues that affect them and the rest of the world. Life, relationships, family, work and all the relationships we have with people who are in our direct circle. What are people talking about in Grenada? What is the culture like? This is one of the main things we discuss on the show, and I hope you will join us on this new adventure with Nutmeg Nation.
Nutmeg Nation with Carlene Humphrey
From Steel Bands to Road March Part II
Uncover the rich tapestry of history and vibrant culture that defines Grenada's Spice Mass with Carlene Humphrey and Carry Onan on Nutmeg Nation! Discover the fascinating origin story of this spectacular festival dating back to 1877, and join us as we correct some common misconceptions about its timeline. Our deep dive into the past sets the stage for understanding how Spice Mass has evolved over the years, adding layers of excitement and tradition to its celebrations. We also explore the musical heartbeat of the festival, demystifying the differences between calypso and soca, and examining their cultural significance. Learn about iconic artists like Ajamo, Machel Montano, and Kes, who bring the festival to life with their electrifying performances.
Feel the infectious energy of Spice Mass as we bring you closer to the action leading up to the grand parade. Experience the thrill of the "Road March" and its pivotal role in energizing the carnival crowd. For those planning their first visit, we provide essential tips to make the most of your experience, such as the mesmerizing steel band orchestras that are a must-see. Whether you're a seasoned carnival-goer or a curious newbie, this episode is your ultimate guide to embracing all that Grenada's most famous festival has to offer. Don't miss out on these insights and stories that turn Spice Mass into an unforgettable celebration!
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you're listening to nutmeg nation with carlene humphrey. We are back and we're talking about spice mass. You know one of grenada's very popular events. It's a tourist attraction. I hope you already bought your ticket because if you haven't, it's going to be super expensive, like we're talking like 2000. I was looking up ticket prices carry onan and it's it's, it's high, it's way up there.
Speaker 2:Listen, it's always expensive to travel to Grenada, but if you're doing it during something like Spice Mass, then yeah, it's going to be more.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so we were talking about, like the history of Spice Mass. Yeah, but it looks like yeah, no, I think. I think we may have flubbed a little bit on the history.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, I think I think we may have flubbed a little bit on the history. So, from what I remember reading, spice Mass was first held in Grenada in 1877, almost 100 years after the first carnival event in Trinidad. So that's, I think, what we got wrong with the, with the time frame. But 1877, that's, that's what that's when it was held.
Speaker 1:OK, well, there we go. We have a historical moment there 1877, that's when it was held. Ok, well, there we go. We have a historical moment there 1877, that's a long time ago. And obviously, spice Mass has changed. They've added more events. And you know, there's one thing that we need to talk about when we talk about Spice Mass and all the events leading up to the big parade is the music. It's all about the music, right? So for those people that don't know the difference, like calypso, soca, like you know a little bit about both, yeah, yeah, genres of music yeah, so calypso is more of the traditional sense.
Speaker 2:Calypso is like a little bit similar to kaiso, which is from africa. I guess we can give an example, like the feeling hot, hot, hot, or like the cent price and ten cent dollar. That's, that's calypso, yeah, where it evolves along the way. Um, or another example, I guess like from ajamo in grenada, ajamo on the road. Again, my middle name is calypso. Like songs like that, that's calypso. Okay, soca, soca is the more soca is, the more fast, fast, faster paced, more upbeat tempo music. You have like more modern iterations. I guess more popular names would probably be like basha montano, kes. You know you've got bon tequila and then you've got other artists like that, inspecta and grenada as well, people like that. That's more calypso, sorry, soka, which is more upbeat, upbeat and faster.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah whereas calypso is a little bit slower, like in terms of tempo right yeah, and calypso also like, if we go back to like the whole political aspect, calypso calypsonians, I should say tend to put more messages in their music, uh, more political messages and whatnot. It's always trying to teach you a lesson or something in their music right.
Speaker 1:so, in terms of music, I find, like you know, every year there's like a hot song that leads up, that's leading the way to the parade, don't you find? Like? I think, like even in Trinidad, there's always the winner of like the most popular, not only the popular band Like, there's always the winner with that, but also the very popular song that was played over and over again during Carnival. You know what I mean.
Speaker 2:So yeah, you know what that's called.
Speaker 1:No, why don't you tell me Roadm, road, march, right, right, I'm, I'm learning.
Speaker 2:I'm learning my lingo here, I'm brushing up. You know, road march songs are usually the ones that get the crowd moving the most, so that's why it's sort of judges like as the crowd mover.
Speaker 1:That's why that's what road march and what other things do you think that you should know if you're going to a carnival for the first time?
Speaker 2:Watch out for steel band orchestras. They're usually on trucks or people have them on the side of roads at different parties, or is this? What's it called Panorama, which is like the competition for steel band bands? I should say steel bands. They have their competition as well, similar to like the Calypso monarch and like the sopa monarch stuff right there we go, which is, which is the competition for all of those different genres and stuff. Uh, what do you what? What else do you have? What else do you think it's people should okay?
Speaker 1:so there's. There's this. You know we were talking about the jab jab and how the jab jab is known for. You know their historical costume design when it comes to slavery. But there is also shortening. Did I say that, right, right?
Speaker 2:Shut me yes, shut me yes.
Speaker 1:So they're one of the most iconic and recognizable, and they're also known for scaring people, like I think they're scary because they have the powder and they're walking around, you know, down the street and you'll see all kinds of colors, textures. You don't see their face because they're wearing a mask, and it's also in terms of tradition. They're African and French and they've been around a long time, right? I mean, I don't know the history, I don't know the historical significance there, but it's definitely something you can't miss when you're in carnival, right?
Speaker 2:yeah, yeah, that's one as well.
Speaker 1:Yeah, absolutely so when you're going to carnival, what do you think you need before you head down to a parade like what's? What kind of things should you bring with you when you're attending? What are your must-haves?
Speaker 2:Maybe a pouch for your cell phone. So if it gets wet or anything like that, you know.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, okay, how about some water Stay hydrated?
Speaker 2:It's kind of hot, yeah Well, yeah Well.
Speaker 1:Well, you got to have your water on the road with you, so yeah, Okay, I guess we could talk about both ways, because if you're a spectator it's one thing versus being a part of the parade, right Because?
Speaker 2:when you're a part of the parade.
Speaker 1:They usually give you. You know they give you food, they give you water and stuff like that. But if you're just going to watch the parade or if you're doing a little cheap like Karen and doing, you know, juve morning, right, it's not cheap, I'm just razzing you there but it's a more affordable. Right, it's not cheap, I'm just razzing you there, but it's a more affordable Right.
Speaker 2:It's called maximizing your experience.
Speaker 1:What I do is I go to all the parties beforehand, or as many as I can go to, and then do juvie and then just enjoy the mass watching it, right, ok, so what do you mean? You go to as many parties as possible, because I know in Trinidad you guys are partying for a month. They don't party. I mean, they party a lot in grenada. I think it's the week leading up to carnival. It's maybe like a two, almost a two-week celebration, but I don't know. Trinidad's pretty extensive in terms of how much they plan it in advance, right?
Speaker 2:well, turn that like turn out, starts partying as soon as boxy day hits, up until carnival. So that's, that's. That's how it works in trinidad. So you get a lot more parties and everything is a party.
Speaker 1:So yeah, yeah, what do you think of the costumes, though? I think, like some of the costumes, like you know, it really is all about the colors and the feathers and the design, but some of the costumes are a little bit revealing. You know what I mean. Like why do you think? Like it's so out there, like it's kind of like.
Speaker 2:You know, depending on what kind of costume you get, there's some that I I don't know I think you take artistic interpretation to a level and then you know you say this is how I want to be, so I want to be free. Some people like the more revealing ones and others don't. Because there are variations of them. Right, you can get different levels of them. You can get like a full bathing suit, you can get a bikini top, you can get like a wire bra or something like that, you know. So there are variations of the costumes. So it's whatever people want to buy. They have the choice.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you know what? There's one more thing that I think we have to talk about when we talk about carn, you know what? Do you call it? Snow cone, oh snow cone yes yeah, you know, especially during carnival time, you're hot and then you get a nice little snow cone, you know, while you're attending the event and I don't know, what do you like to eat during carnival?
Speaker 2:Not anything in particular. It depends on, I guess, which country Both Grenada and Trinidad. Snow cone's a must. Yeah, when I'm yeah, what I mean when I'm internet in general, it's usually all about like any kind of food, basically, because the foods are so flavorful. You've got doubles roti, bacon shark, bacon shark. Yeah, there's also all these different flavors of ice cream, that like guinness ice cream. There's now like doubles ice cream. There's a whole bunch of other stuff that's there. Double have you ever tried.
Speaker 2:Um what? Yeah, exactly exactly. Have you ever tried Jack Daniel's Snoqual?
Speaker 1:No, I haven't See there you go. There you go.
Speaker 2:They got all kinds of stuff down there. So yeah, I wouldn't even like when I just go, I just have food in general.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no, it is about the food too, right, you know, even like when I'm in Grenada, I don't really like rum and raisin, but when I'm down there, like a good rum and raisin ice cream is really good, and I don't know, I like KFC better. In Grenada they add a little bit more spice to it. You know what I mean? And I don't know, people are always waiting in line for KFC. I don't understand it, but it's one of those things. It's not just about the KFC, it's about the authentic food, like you were saying. And for me, when I went to trinidad, I was only there for a day and when I did go, like we did go to a restaurant and we had roti and I'm I don't know if I'm kind of afraid to say this, because I'm from the island, but I don't really like mango that much, but I got to give it to the trinidadians because they put mango in the roti and it tasted amazing, it was so good.
Speaker 2:You should try it with pumpkin too.
Speaker 1:Yeah, Okay, yeah, for sure Next time. And you know how you're saying. You don't notice much of a difference. So I stayed longer in Tobago and I find that Tobago reminds me of Grenada because of the one beach that I went to. Yeah, yeah, a lot of nicer beaches I find in Tobago than Trinidad went to. Yeah, yeah, a lot of nicer beaches I find in tobago than trinidad.
Speaker 2:But to each his own. Everybody has a difference of opinion, right? No, yeah, no for sure, tobago has way nicer beaches than trinidad especially. You get that like that white sandy sort of beach style in in tobago. You don't get that in trinidad real, because I'll depend on which beach you go to. But yeah, you get, you probably get that more las cuevas or something like that in trinidad, but like Tobago is known to be like the touristy side and Trinidad is more the industrial sort of side too, yeah, whereas Grenada you get nice beaches basically on any one of them, right, any part of the island, I should say Right.
Speaker 1:Yeah, well, you know, if we're, since we're adding one more thing to this Grenada has is a three island state, so it's Grenada, caracoo and Petit Martinique, for those of you that don't know, and all the islands are beautiful, from what I've heard. Mind you, I haven't been to Caracoo, have you? Nope, I have not Okay.
Speaker 1:So that's on your list of places to check out. So tell me, out of all the things to do in Grenada, what is one of the things that you must do when you're visiting? Say you're going this year for a carnival, where would you head to first? Like you're getting off the plane, you land at the airport, where are you going to first?
Speaker 2:I just go visit family. Family is my main attraction in Grenada Family, you know. But if I were to visit a particular, I guess, place, I would say that's a good question. I don't really have a specific place.
Speaker 1:I'll say that okay, okay, yeah yeah, because I don't have a.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I don't have like a go-to spot, maybe just any beach, because I just love going to the beaches so just any beach, yeah but you don't have a particular beach that you like, like well, granddad's beach is the one that's basically most talked about, so I guess I can stick with that one.
Speaker 1:Well, I'm I'm biased in my opinion because I like Grand Anse Beach because it's close to where my grandmother lives, so, but there's a few other beaches I haven't checked out, to be honest, and I feel like I have to see the other beaches. Like, obviously, I've been to Bathway Beach in the country, but I haven't been to Magazine Beach, and there's a few others that are nice as well. But yes, like you said, the tourist attraction is Grand Isle Beach. It's right close to the water, beautiful views, lots of resorts there and the sand is absolutely gorgeous, right? So I mean, can't go wrong with Grand Isle Beach at the end of the day. So well, I think we touched on it.
Speaker 1:A little history on Spice Mass. So if you're going to Carnival this year, I hope you have fun and enjoy the festivities we're counting down. But I think it's important to know the history of Carnival because it's come a long way from what it was originally. There's more events now and I think it's good to check out what's going on before you buy tickets, or if you already bought the tickets, you know what I mean. It's always good to know in advance before you head out for the festivities, right?
Speaker 1:And like you said, and you also mentioned carrying a pouch for your cell phone. It's handy right.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so that way it doesn't get wet yeah.
Speaker 1:All right Sounds good. I'm Carlene and this is Nutmeg Nation. I'm with my co-host tonight, keron, and I hope 2024 is a great year for you and take care. Thank you for listening to Nutmeg Nation with Carlene Humphrey.
