Jennifer - the Queen

Another costume to feast your eyes on this beautifully designed and decorated costume which is played by Jennifer elegantly floated through the streets of Kingston carnival aswell as the rest of the other costumes at the carnival. As you can see the whole of this costume COULD NOT EVEN FIT IN THE PICTURE! due to its incredible advantage of height!

Nolan - the king

This was taken at the Kingston carinval on sunday the 2nd of September the King who is played by tall stallion Nolan donned his costume in the small town of kinston. He took to the streets in this beautiful gold and white costume. TRUELLY AMAZING!

Taking Shape

I haven't been at Paddington Arts for a week. Walking in to the hall where the main construction is taking place the costumes are taking shape.

Winning Costumes

Paddington Arts Elimu Mas Camp won first prize at this years Childrens Carnival Splash at Alexander Palace last Saturday.
Marlons design was worn by Theo Calvin (age 11). Theos costume represents the spirit of youth and growth-wholeness, truth and trust.
When Theo was interviewed for the press release he said "It's good when you are at carnival because you get the chance to show off your costume, at the splash I got to dance my own style. I was relieved when I heard that the judges had given me and my costume first prize."



Elena wore the Female Junior costume which also won. Her costume represents the guardian of prosperity and the good life. She manifests herself in dreams giving the dreamer an abundance of hair. Her hair represents physical and spiritual strength.

Sewing in the Pyramid Room....

....on Tuesday 14th August.
I asked people how long they had been coming to MAS Camp


Rebecca attaching sequins. This is her 11th MAS Camp.


Sophie and Jacquelin.
Sophie has been in the band for 27 years.
Jacquelin can't remember how many years but a lot.

Tanya.. no photo, but 23 years coming to MAS Camp.

My guess is that must add up to around 80 years experience in the sewing room this evening.


Rebecca and Chinyere who is pattern cutting and sewing.


Rebecca in the skirt with the sequins on the inside.


Jacquelin sewing


Chinyere pattern cutting

The Spirts Wanted to Travel.

Nanse Ntontan

Marlon Griffith is the Artist who has created the concept and design for this years MAS Camp, he writes:-
"Commemorating:

• The Bicentenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act.
• The Bicentenary of the birth of the Shakespearean actor, Ira Aldridge.
• The 20th anniversary of Black History Month.
• The 50th anniversary of Ghana's independence.

The winds and waters of the Atlantic brought our ancestors from Africa to the west; their bodies in chains but their souls inexorably tied to mother Africa.

This presentation is about that journey - its spiritual, physical and physic dimensions.
The portrayal shows how spiritual life, dance and song took root and grew in the new soils of the Caribbean. Elements of this survival can be seen in our language, dances and beliefs.
Today as survivors of that African- Caribbean Diaspora, we remain individual sparks from that original source. Our survival have been protected and guided by the spirits. this protection and guidance have enabled us to become who we are drawing on the heritage of the ancient civilisations but creating from them and evolving invented legend of our passage through history.

These spirits are the custodians, sentinels and guardians of this heritage. These spirits are our protectors, symbolising fortitude, constancy and eternal stability as they deal with the cycles of birth, life, death and rebirth.

The pantheon of these spirits is represented in the MAS as a complex Spider's web.
Nanse Ntontan - The Spider's Web. "



Working drawings


Asking Marlon about the concept... he tells how was talking with a friend of his, a Brazilian Priest. They were talking about the immense power of the spirits of Africa. How when they were so powerful did they allow the capture and enslavement of people from the African continent that they protected?

The Spirits Wanted to Travel.

It is an empowering thing to reclaim and rewrite our own histories.