Saint Lucian performers captivated audiences in Barbados at CARIFESTA XV while showcasing their unique “Papa Jab” Christmas masquerade tradition through colourful characters and vibrant storytelling during the cultural presentation.
The event ran from August 22 to August 31, 2025 under the theme “Caribbean Roots, Global Excellence.”
The Papa Jab Masquerade, also known as Papa Djab, is a traditional Christmas street theatre performance rooted in African heritage. Participants portray characters like Papa Djab, Mary Anset, and Ti Djabs (little devils), performing a dramatic death and resurrection ritual.
Ethan James, who played Papa Jab, said he was grateful for the opportunity to share Saint Lucian culture.
“It’s been such a comforting feeling to be around people with life cultures – spreading it and seeing how everybody’s accepting ours and learning it whilst we are performing on the go.”
James highlighted the distinctiveness of the Saint Lucian masquerade, describing it as “totally different from what I see throughout the Caribbean.”
He noted that audience reactions ranged from excitement to discomfort, with some participants “learning the chants as we go” and others “a little disturbed by what they were seeing.”
Saint Lucian poet Ras Isley performed a piece titled “African Soul” based on the sub-theme “Salt Water Tongues – We Came by Sea.” The poem acknowledged the significance of their location at Brown Beach, part of Carlisle Bay, which served as a major port where enslaved Africans landed in Barbados during the Transatlantic slave trade. Presentations from other Caribbean islands also echoed the theme noting the brutality of the slave trade.
Darwin Guard, chairman of the Cultural Development Foundation, described the event as deeply meaningful.
“It just reminded us of who we are and all the connections that we have,” he said, calling it one of the most authentic experiences of the festival.
