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Never to be forgotten the Shades of I-She series rolls into Tobago this weekend 14th and 15th September, 2019

The Office of the Prime Minister (Gender and Child Affairs) in collaboration with the Member of Parliament for Tobago East (the Honourable Ayanna Webster-Roy) and the Member of Parliament for Tobago West (the Honourable Shamfa Cudjoe) invites you to RSVP and attend…….

This event will feature a play entitled ‘Shades of I-She: Every Woman’s Story’ (an Indigenous Creative Arts Network Production, written and directed by Eintou Pearl Springer which focuses on Gender Based Violence. These initiatives will allow for a different kind of dialogue and engagement on the topic of gender based violence utilizing the creative arts.

The Office of the Prime Minister (Gender and Child Affairs) in collaboration with the Member of Parliament for Toco/ Sangre Grande will be hosting A Community Outreach Addressing Gender Based Violence through the Arts which is carded for:

This initiative will allow for a different kind of dialogue and engagement on the topic of gender based violence utilizing the creative arts. The Office of the Prime Minister (Gender and Child Affairs) hereby wishes to extend an invitation to you.

Together we can change the world! #EndGenderBasedViolenceNow #StopChildAbuse #PuttingPeopleFirst #Vision2030

‘Kambule’ will be showcased at Carifesta 2019 to be held in Trinidad between the 16th and 25th of August 2019. Kambule pays tribute to our warrior ancestors of the Mas and brings their achievements to the attention of the entire society. The Carnival that we now take for granted was fought for by the former enslaved of the barrack yards, not only in Port of Spain but also in the East and South of the island. The riots of 1881 in Port of Spain were however the most significant.

The play documents the victory of stick-fighters and ordinary Africans against the colonial administration who tried to stop the celebration of Carnival in 1881. The battle between the community and the soldiers is set against the backdrop of the barrack-yards of Port of Spain – poverty-stricken urban settlements inhabited by the poorer classes. Kambule gives context to the confrontation by chronicling relevant historical details and highlighting the relationships and conflicts that led to the creation of mas such as traditional characters, and the survival of Stickfighting, an African form of martial arts

We were just informed by the Ministry that the community outreach to Talparo is postponed until further notice. This is due to circumstances beyond their control. As soon as they let us know about the new date we will let you know.

We are pleased to invite you to a performance of Shades of I-She, a play by Eintou Pearl Springer addressing issues such as Gender-based violence through her poetry. Eintou will be accompanied on stage by Caribbean songstress Mavis John, singer Seeromani Maraj-Naraynsingh, musicians led by Marva Newton and other talented performers.

The play is being put on by the ngo, the Indigenous Creative Arts Network – ICAN, under the auspices of the Office of the Prime Minister, Gender and Child Affairs Division, as part of an alternative approach to solving problems within communities. ‘Shades’ first takes place on Saturday, June 29th, 4 pm at the Misir Community Centre, Morvant. It will then be held throughout Trinidad and Tobago. See proposed schedule ICAN_OPM Dates of Community Outreach on GBV through Culture and the Arts.

The community outreach is intended to stimulate discussion within affected families and motivate behaviour change using theatre arts as the vehicle for encouraging dialogue. The involvement of key stakeholders is also meant to facilitate greater coordination amongst agencies, and emphasise the relevance of creative solutions to societal problems.

DARA HEALY, director of Zante Carnival and Theatre Camp and founder of the NGO Indigenous Creative Arts Network (ICAN), feels that there is so much negativity against TT’s Carnival. Healy is also a Newsday columnist.

She wants young people to understand that TT’s Carnival “has value that is beyond what is seen in the media” and beyond “the promotion of pretty mas.” She wants them to also understand that TT’s traditional characters have a story/worth and that it came out of a particular kind of experience.

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