Brian Mac Farlane

In history classes, children learn that before Columbus came, T&T was inhabited by the Caribs and Arawaks. This is followed by the description of the Caribs as ‘warlike’ and the Arawaks as ‘peaceful.’ The Arawaks were decimated, but there remains a strong Carib community in the town of Arima—which diligently celebrates the Feast of Santa Rosa every year. For the 2009 Summit of the Americas, visiting US president Barack Obama and the other dignitaries will get a cultural history lesson on these indigenous peoples from reigning bandleader Brian Mac Farlane.

Their legacy would form part of the opening presentation, expected to take place at Hyatt Regency Hotel, Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain on April 17. The show, expected to take 45 minutes, will include a 600-member cast. As Mac Farlane, who will embark on a journey to tell the story of Caribbean colonisation, said yesterday: “The story begins with the Caribs and Arawaks. They were the first people.

“It is followed by the consecration of the space. Then, you have the influences of the Europeans. “You have conflict between the French, Spanish, English and Dutch.” “There is going to be an elaborate section with the slave trade, emancipation and indentured labourers.” It will be followed by a second act, symbolic of the new world. Mac Farlane has also created a space for the youth. “They would be more involved in the Caribbean theme.

“Through this sea which unites us, the waters would bring us together and bind us. Different races and cultures. We would be looking at the sustainability of the environment, aspects of our energy, and business through oil and gas,” he said, The show will culminate in a grand finale of Carnival and its grand characters. As the thespians unravel the story reflecting the forging of Caribbean identity, they will rely on a script and a narrator.

Other highlights
Mac Farlane said a score or whole piece of music would be composed. “It will incorporate tassa, African drums and tambu bambu,” he said. Among the prominent names in the entertainment industry, expected to perform included David Rudder, Machel Montano, Ella Andall and Montserrat’s Arrow. “We will be using a bit of Arrow’s Hot Hot Hot and Bob Marley’s music. We are trying to get one of his sons, maybe Ziggy, to perform,” said Mac Farlane.