Masquerade,
a.k.a. “playing mas,” is a tradition of carnivals all over the world to dress
in costume and/or parade as part of a mas band. The phrase “playing mas” comes
from Trinidad during the time of slavery when the slaves were allowed to dress
in costume and play instruments for six weeks of European Carnival. Due to this
history, the mas incorporates both African and Western elements, and when the
East Indians were brought into Trinidad as indentured servants they contributed
their own cultural styles as well. Historically, playing mas in carnival is a
celebration of the freedom of Trinidadian slaves, and today it’s a celebration
of a multi-racial, multi-cultural world.
Masquerade also
honors both teamwork and self-expression, and in the Notting Hill Carnival
you’ll find all kinds of costumes all handcrafted by designers specifically for
the comfort and preference of the wearer. “Mas camps” are typically where
carnival costumes are made, and one of these bands, which has become very
popular for carnival, is called Masquerade 2000, or M2K. It was founded in 1992
by designer Lincoln Rahamut and began as a voluntary organization. The band was
created to give the Caribbean community a greater opportunity to celebrate
their heritage through the art of costume design that would also provide
experience and understanding of the Caribbean culture to a wider community.
Below is a
launch video for M2K and the Notting Hill Carnival of 2012, as well as a link
to Masquerade 2000’s website.
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