For the 40th anniversary of the Caribana Festival the Organization of Calypso Performing Artistes is pleased to join with Theatre Archipelago and the Toronto Islands Mas’ Band to present a guest band for the Saturday, August 4th Caribana parade entitled:

MAS FO’ TRUE: IT HAD A TIME WHEN….

Mas Fo’ True: It Had A Time When… is an ole mas band accompanied by ‘live’ musicians and singers. It pays homage to the tradition of satirizing the society in the carnival and promotes the idea of actively reclaiming the true carnival spirit by making our own costumes and music.

Mas Fo’ True: It Had A Time When… invites all artists, performing arts groups and supporters of the arts to join together to celebrate Caribana’s 40th anniversary and to memorialize the bicentennial of the abolition of the British slave trade. Come sing free and hi'...!

The band is based on a theme in which current issues both local and international are parodied and satirized. It is made up of:

• traditional characters of Trinidad carnival, e.g. Dame Lorraine, Midnight Robber, Moko Jumbie, Fancy Sailor, Blue Devil, Baby Doll.
• players in ole mas costumes created by the individual based on the band’s chosen theme
• costumed musicians and singers playing assorted drums and percussion instruments (irons, cowbells, shakers, rattles, scrapers). Singers will be led in ‘call and response’ chants, led by a chantuelle (a lead singer) and accompanied by the drumming and percussion rhythms.

The tradition of this mas descends from the emancipated African slaves who took to the streets on Emancipation Day (August 1st, 1838). Later on, they used the pre-Lenten carnival to mimic and to comment on the establishment. It is similar to the role of the calypsonians who commented on issues of the day in song.

Mas Fo’ True: It Had A Time When… will be one of the several guest bands leading off the Caribana parade. At the end of the parade route all our band participants are invited to assemble at a special tent that will be provided along the lakeshore. The tent will offer participants refreshments and entertainment for the remainder of the afternoon.

Please e-mail ocpa2007@gmail.com for more information.