14969: Burnham: Kanaval and roger rabbit (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: thor burnham <thorald_mb@hotmail.com>

>From Thor Burnham in the Republic of Port-au-Prince:

Things are heating up for Carnival. Last night after talking to a couple of
wide-eyed peace corp workers in town from the D.R. (they were staying at the
Olofsson (sp) and were intrigued by the festivities) I took a quick tour
through Champ Mars. The building of the stands is going on at a rapid pace
and you can feel the building sense of tension and expectation. At least i
can. Or it might be the fact that I was right behind a tap-tap spewing
deisel exhaust. You know the ones that leave a film of exhaust on your car
and face. Alas, i have no freeze so i got the diesel facial. I might have
been high on diesel fumes.

Bottom line is it looks like its going to be a big party. Already there are
a visible number of Djyasporas in town. Yesterday afternoon on Lalue I had a
young Haitian american call me a "cracker". I responded with a "what do you
want, Djaspora?" He laughed and then a few moments later caught up to me in
traffic and offered me what he thought would be 1st class ganja. When i told
him I was from Canada he asked ME for some. Unfortunately for me i didn't
have any. And i just want the list to know for the record--in the words of
Canadian Politician Allan Rock--that i have never smoked marijuana for
medicinal purposes.

The school just up from the cyber cafe i'm at this morning has been playing
the carnival songs over and over again. I noticed yesterday afternoon on
lalue a number of schools had the sound systems blaring. the students are
gearing up. does it mean anything? probably not.

My informal polling gives the group Kriz--they sing the "kale" song--a
slight lead in popularlity over Boukman. Don't worry Dorce, i never said i
worked for Gallup.

Kanaval rumours i've heard. I repeat, rumours. Not even informal polling.
Generally these come up when people ask me if i'm going to go shake my heiny
on Sunday.
#1. the group that sings "kale" is in hiding.
#2. the group that sings "kale" is not in hiding.
#3. the same group is being asked to go on a float by the private
     sector and will definitely "sorti".
#4. Boukman may not get a float, and if they do, it will be provided
     by the private sector. but they might not get a sponsor at all.
#5. Sweet Mickey is boycotting.
#6. A bunch of large companies would boycott, but have been
     threatened. by who i simply can't imagine.

the weekly entertainment paper "Ticket" [no. 17 27 fevrier 2003]
lists the selected bandes, or Bandes selectionnees [my apologies for
omitting appropriate accents]. These are the 15 bands chosen on Sunday, the
16 of February by a 7 member jury under the direction of the Commission
Nationale Provisioure du Carnaval 2003. These 15 were chosen out of a total
of 310 entries.
They are:
1. Soul Rasta
2. Relax Band
3. Raram
4. Fashion Matte
5. 4-50 Band
6. Grappe Plezi on the Move
7. Angranjan
8. Louloup Party Cool
9. Original Cash Band
10. Shabba band
11. Filalang Band
12. Original Bel Bebet
13. School Bande
14 L'as ou 9
15 Zap Zap Band