Saint Lucia has just concluded one season of celebration – Carnival – and now transitions into another: Emancipation. The two are intrinsically linked. The origins of Lucian Carnival, like many others across the Caribbean, lie in acts of rebellion against the horrors of the transatlantic slave trade.
Carnival is said to have taken shape in Trinidad & Tobago in the late 18th century, emerging from the Cannes Brulees—the burning of cane rituals. Enslaved Africans used drums and sticks as percussive instruments, reconnecting with their roots and reclaiming their identity through acts of defiance.
In Saint Lucia, similar carnivals began to emerge in the 1940s. While the full history of our Carnival has yet to be written, its early days were marked by tension between Catholic influences, cultural appropriation by the bourgeoisie, and the rebellious spirit of the people, seen most notably in the steelpan. Perhaps the unfettered revelry, sometimes bordering on the lascivious, is itself a rejection of colonial and religious constraints. But that’s a topic for deeper exploration.
Today, Lucian Carnival, once a pre-Lenten festival like Trinidad’s, has shifted to summer. Though some cultural significance has faded, it remains a major economic driver.
Rather than lamenting what has been lost, we have an opportunity: to revive its meaning, educate this generation on its roots and creatively reintroduce historical elements. This year offered glimpses of that effort, and there is hope for more.
The same introspection applies to Emancipation, which, for many Saint Lucians, once passed without much reflection. But over the past three years, thanks to initiatives by the Government, the Folk Research Centre and the Cultural Development Foundation, that has begun to change.
Emancipation Day, observed on August 1 as a national holiday, should be recognised not just as a day off, but as one of the most pivotal moments in Black – and world – history. It’s a day to reflect on our journey, our struggles and our progress. It’s also a time to take a look at some of the vestiges of colonialism that may still have us in shackles, both mentally and physically, and push for their dismantling.
This shouldn’t be just another excuse for a beach day or endless drinking. We owe it to our children to dig deeper, to understand why we commemorate Emancipation and what it truly means to celebrate it.
Saint Lucia transitioned from French and British colonial rule to independence in 1979. Yet, the Governor General remains, representing the British monarchy in our Constitution and political framework. If we are to fully embrace Emancipation, this, too, must be addressed.
This August, a month-long programme of activities will mark Emancipation under the theme Understanding Our Past to Create a Pathway for the Future.
We urge everyone to participate, to engage thoughtfully and to celebrate our freedom responsibly, honouring those who fought for the liberties we too often take for granted.
