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subtitle

By Joe Aytch

San Francisco Carnaval 2001
(click on images to enlarge)

Maybe you were one of the many thousands of people that lined Mission Street in San Francisco on the SF Carnaval Sunday before Memorial Day. Or one of the hundreds that crammed into Oakland’s Mosswood Park on Carajama Monday. In either case you got to shake your rump, or watch somebody else shake his or her rump at one of the Bay Area’s best Carnival celebrations in recent memory.

If you were in attendance, then you saw the culmination of weeks and months worth of hard work by people solely dedicated to promoting the cultures of their native lands: The culture of Carnival.

Many of the Trinidadians and Brazilians began planning back in December. The ones that could went home for the February festivities. The ones that couldn’t kept the fire alive Limin (rotating house parties) or attending the many pre-Carnival fundraising events hosted by the various contingents, clubs and event organizers.

On Sunday April 22, 2001 Theolonius Westin Williams was voted King and Elizabeth Soberanes was crowned Queen of San Francisco Carnaval 2001 at Roccapulco in San Francisco's Mission district.

King Theo, an Oakland native, is an arts administrator and Director for Caribelina, he is also a stand out dancer with Fogo Na Roupa, the Afro-Brazilian performance group, led by Carlos Aceituno. The self proclaimed "People’s King," he considers the multiculturalism of growing up in Oakland as the foundation for his success. "The Carnaval spirit allows the community to ignite creativity and deal with the best and worst of life with passion. We all need to release," said King Theo.

Fogo Na Roupa, who won best Brazilian contingent in two previous Carnaval celebrations can now add 2001. For SF Carnival 2001, Fogo Na Roupa won 1st place in Brazilian Music & Brazilian Visual; 2nd place in Brazilian Dance and an awesome 3rd place for the Grand Prize, behind "Bolivia Adina Caporales," and 1st place winners "Abada/Loco Bloco."

It was the Loco Bloco drummers that played for Elizabeth Soberanes the night she became Queen. "The mostly Loco Bloco drummers, organized by Jose Rivera, were crucial in creating an environment of spontaneous abandon that energized and moved me," said Queen Soberanes. Abada/Loco Bloco, a youth group formed from the Mission Street Beacon Program also took 1st in Brazilian Dance and Best Float; 2nd in Brazilian Costume and Giant Costume, and 3rd in Brazilian Visual.

Queen Soberanes received a BA in Dance Ethnology from SFSU. Since then she has choreographed and performed throughout the Bay Area. Dancing with Aluadomar Dance Company, Ginga Brasil Dance Theater, Escola Nova de Samba and various independent artists, she has continued to study, completing a year long Performing Arts Workshop to teach creative movement and ethnic dance to children. In 2000, she participated in her first Carnaval in Salvador-Bahia, Brazil with Malè de Bale and Timbalada. While there, she also attended workshops with Santo Amaro Dancers and Musicians and Balè Folklorico da Bahia.

"Going to Brazil last year and participating in Carnaval in Bahia really brought it all home for me. I realized that there comes a point when you have to let go, stop trying to control things and just let things happen on their own," said Soberanes. She added, "Dance and art teach creativity and problem solving skills in a structured way— something that conventional teaching methods do not. I taught dance for three years in the public school system and it is hard but rewarding work."

The parade down San Francisco’s Mission Street, in SF’s trademark grey weather, featured 41 contingents. Two judges in each category evaluated the groups as they marched past the exhibition platform. A delay between marchers was among the biggest complaints. Event organizers explained that some delays were caused when some groups stopped at the judges’ platform.

In the Caribbean category, D’Midas International, led by Tomi "Tabu" Seon, and Debra Hosam won 1st prize in Caribbean Costume & Caribbean Visual with Mas Makers taking 1st in Caribbean Dance & Giant Costume and 2nd in Caribbean Visual & Costume. All Ah We won 1st place in Caribbean Music, as well as third in three other categories.

The amazing Buena Vista Elementary School won in five categories, including a 1st place in Costume Open & Visual Open.

Brazilian Costume was won by "Aquarela Dance School." Music Open and Dance Open was won by Mission Cultural Center For Latino Arts. "Espiritu Adino" won in the Traditional Dance category and also took 2nd in Traditional Visual.

The march culminated in a Festival at the Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco featuring King of Salsa Oscar De Leon. This was a first for MECCA who charged a nominal fee of $5. The festival was an attempt by event organizers to offset some of the costs of producing such a tremendous event, absent serious sponsorships.

The festival featured 3 Stages of Entertainment, a Children's Area, live performances by Carnaval Contingents', Ethnic Food, and Arts & Crafts. Other bands that performed were Garifuna Boyz, PePe Y Su Orchestra, Caliente, Zulu Spear, Sambada, and Pan Ecstasy.

Oakland California’s Mosswood Park located at the infamous corner of Broadway and MacArthur was packed on Memorial Monday 2001! Carajama attendance was the highest its ever been by far in its thirteen-year history. "It’s the people’s Festival," noted co-founder Jackie Artman. "It’s a celebration of cultures and generations."

Jackie and Margaret Haines (owner of the old Caribee) coined the name combining Caribbean and Jamming. Carajama Oakland Carnival, Mosswood Park and the City of Oakland have produced the festival over the years with little sponsorship. The People’s Carnival is free to the public and in 2001, lived up to its name.

Oakland is one of the few cities in the area that presents a predominately black sea of faces at a very good African/Caribbean music & cultural festival. It is a mixture of cultures joining together in a positive celebration of Carnival, Caribbean style.

"The difference between SF Carnival and Carajama is that we try and maintain the identity of the Caribbean. We need something strong and positive in Oakland, a whole exposure of everyone to everything," said Jackie.

With sound in three different areas, Carajama was burning fyah. The amphitheatre was wired for sound and Clique International and other solid DJs gave the people what they wanted. Dancehall, Dancehall, Dancehall. The effect was seductive. The youth packed the small amphitheatre, attracted together like like cells in a lab dish, forming clicks of grinding, gyrating bodies egged on by friends with devilishly grinning faces. Others skanked to the rhythms enjoying the vibes. Others watched in wide-eyed amazement.

The main stage drew the largest portion of the crowd. The early birds captured good picnic spots facing the stage. The slope of the park helped. Fresh of their SF Carnival prize-winning performances were Caribbean Mas powerhouses D’Midas International, and Mas Makers (complete with the giant costumes that won 1st place in SF Carnaval). Unfortunately, Fogo Na Roupa did not get to perform.

With Joan Savory serving as MC, dancers in traditional African or Caribbean costumes mounted the stage, dancing to music provided by drummers of all ages. A Blues band brought us home for a spell, then Salsa took center stage. Soon it was a blend of R&B, a little hip-hop and a lot of soca non-stop.

On the opposite side, the third section was in full swing most of the day. H.A. Productions was coming in loud and clear with soca and calypso. A flatbed truck served as a stage, MC Fred Dixon kept it all professional, and several bands performed: the hot new Insomnia and Ecstasy lead by Ashton Craig.

The food may not have been as impressive as in the past, but the increase in Arts & Crafts booths was noticeable and welcome. People wandered back & forth, others ate or shopped, looking was everyone’s favorite pastime, and it was one big family picnic party.

The bottom line? Carajama Oakland 2001, The People’s Carnival, was a tremendous success. Keep it Bacchanal!

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Joe Aytch is a San Francisco Bay Area Photo Journalist whose writing and photos have appeared in various publications throughout the United States, including The Reggae Calendar International, Exodus, The Buffalo Soldier, Forward, Dub Missive, The African Voice, The Guardsman, The Bayview Heritage and more. He is currently an Editor/Writer for CityFlight Newsmagazine and was formerly an editor for the Reggae Review. He appears on several web pages, and has been a featured MC at the Afribbean and One Root Festivals. He can be reached at jtaytch@aol.com or at P.O. box 90384, San Jose, CA 95109-3384.