BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – REMINISCING on the recent J’Ouvert Jam that took place on Friday (Dec. 26), one cannot help but consider what the thought process was like for those individuals who celebrated the event by donning the weirdest and, in some cases, the most creative costumes and accessories.
Over the years, these individuals have been named by SKNVibes as the “Characters” of the street activities.
This year’s list of characters is just as impressive as any other year, as there were some repeated occurrences and some innovations.
Over the past couple of years, there is a particular man who had always participated in the street activities dressed in what appears to be a clown suit with matching clown shoes and a wig. His suit features the St. Kitts and Nevis flag and, as was the case last year, it is decorated with a number of female underwear; not brassieres of course, only panties.
If memory serves well, last year he was dubbed “The Panty Man”, but this year he may have had some serious competition for that moniker.
While this next character did not have an assortment of panties adorning his J’Ouvert clothes, he was regularly dressed but was seen brandishing a massive panty and, at first glance, it appeared that it could comfortably accommodate five people, but and at second glance, possibly eight!
Which of these is the true “Panty Man”? You be the judge.
Hilarity again! Or was it shock which many displayed when they viewed a man dressed in a black gown and drinking from what the older folks know to be a ‘po’ or potty? Each time he put the enamel receptacle to his head his face seemed to be lost in its vastness. After all, it was far from the norm of drinking from a regular cup, the size of which pales in comparison.
Upon taking a look at this next character, SKNVibes thought he was mimicking the Grim Reaper although he did not have the signature sickle, but he donned a long black hooded robe. Well, we were wrong! When questioned, he indicated that he was actually playing the part of the villain in the movie Scream 2, but he got so caught up in all the revellery that he somehow misplaced his mask. One wonders if he ever found it.
The entire world was concerned with the recent outbreak of the Ebola Virus and precautionary measures were taken by many countries to safeguard against its spread to their neck of the woods. Whoever this next character is, he ensured he protected himself from contracting that virus and also the popular mosquito-spread Chikungunya virus. He, most-likely, did it in jest but it did give one much food for thought.
It almost seemed as if the street activities would not be enjoyable if this next character was not on the road. Every year, without fail, he appears leading a donkey which seems to be the star of the show. The placards which both the man and the donkey wore read: “GOOD NEWS!!! The JACKASS is on his LAST LAP”. Pun intended?
Well who would have though the popular television characters, The Power Rangers, would be in our neck of the woods? And sources told SKNVibes that they were not here to fight off some sort of sordid troublemakers, but they came to get a sweet, sweet taste of Sugar Mas…the street activities in particular. And from the looks of things, they more than enjoyed themselves.
It is quite possible that after that good jam the Power Rangers are back to regular duties, but sources have suggested to SKNVibes that they are still on the rock waiting anxiously for the next street activity to come around. Keep your eyes peeled, you just might see them milling about over the next couple of days.
Men dressed in nightgowns, identities concealed with masks of goblins, ghouls and television characters, bodies painted with artistic precision and some haphazardly, the characters of the Sugar Mas 43 J’Ouvert Jam brought a particular something to the activity that only they could.
With that being but the first of the Sugar Mas 43 street activities, the characters are expected to be out in their numbers for the Grand Parade and Last Lap on January 1 and 2 respectively.
And in the event that we do not get to capture them all and you get a few snaps of them, feel free to share your photos with us by emailing them to newsroom@sknvibes.com. Be sure to include a caption and the individual to whom we should give credit for the picture.
Let the character watch begin! Enjoy!
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