SPICE ISLE ASSOCIATES

CELEBRATING CARIBBEAN CULTURE THROUGH CARNIVAL

 

By Marise La Grenade-Lashley

 

            The name Spice Isle Associates conjures up images of our homeland Grenada, a breathtakingly beautiful Caribbean island blessed with an abundance of lush vegetation, verdant hills, beautiful beaches, talented people, and a rich culture.

 

The genesis of Spice Isle Associates can be traced back to 1996, when a group of Grenadians living in the Washington, D.C. area (Anthonia St. John, Allan Alexander, Tommy King, Alvin Phillip, and Denis Cruickshank) decided to join forces to put a band on the road for the D.C. Caribbean Carnival, a mammoth festival that showcases Caribbean culture in the nation's capital on the last Saturday in June of each year.

 

            Fueling the group's desire to participate in D.C. Carnival was the fact that prior to this date, Grenada had no formal representation in this festival.  In 1997, the first year the group actually participated in the festival, revelers portrayed the "short knee,"  a kind of mas that is quintessentially Grenadian and harks back to the origins of Carnival, which, as we all know, has its roots in slavery, specifically in the mimicking and ridiculing of slave masters. Although initial numbers were small, the first year's participants provided the group with a base on which it could build.  Each year, the members have sought to draw lessons from the mas experience and to hone their skills in order to enhance the event for revelers the following year.

 

            In 1999, the group started working with Lazarus Antoine and Associates.  Mr. Antoine is a seasoned and talented mas man and costume designer who lives in the United States and faithfully puts a band on the road each year for Grenada's Carnival.  Putting his artistic genius to work, he designed the costumes used by Spice Isle Associates in 2000 and 2001.  The 2001 band, "Totem Festival," featured colorful and eye-catching costumes depicting various aspects of the culture and dress of the native peoples of the Americas.  The visual impact of the band was stunning, as some 90 revelers, decked out in costumes of vivid and contrasting colors, paraded along Georgia Avenue. This year was indisputably the group's best year, both in terms of numbers and level of organization.  Most importantly, revelers had a ball!

 

            In 2000, the composition of the group changed, as it welcomed two new members into its fold: Anthony Mc Intyre and Marise La Grenade-Lashley. In addition to these two persons, three of the original members remain active in the group: Anthonia St. John, Tommy King, and Allan Alexander.  These five persons contribute their time and talent to the group on a purely voluntary basis, driven solely by a love of carnival and Caribbean culture, and, in essence, by a determination to play mas and to do so in style. 

 

            In order to ensure the long-term survival and growth of the group, its members organize a number of fund-raising activities to help defray the many expenses associated with putting a band on the road for D.C. Carnival.  One of the group's major events is its annual Fall Ball, which will be held this year on November 3, at the Sheraton College Park Hotel.  Building on last year's success, this event is sure to be a grand and memorable affair.  Other fund-raising activities will be held during the course of the year.  The group's website, www.spiceisleassociates.com, is an excellent source of information on upcoming activities and events and serves as a great forum for providing the group with feedback on its work and activities.  The group also receives sponsorship from many small businesses in the Washington Metropolitan area, the majority of which are Grenadian owned. 

 

            Casting its eyes towards the future, the group sees bright and exciting times ahead for Spice Isle associates.  While D.C. Caribbean Carnival will remain its primary focus, the group will strive to broaden its horizons, to give greater visibility to its acitivites, and to provide Caribbean artistes with a forum for expression of their talent.

 

 All the endeavors of Spice Isle Associates are rooted in the deep and abiding belief of its members that Carnival is the greatest show on earth, and that it represents a wonderful way to remember our pain and struggles as a people, and to celebrate our triumphs, diversity, talent, and our ability not only to beat the odds, but to succeed and excel in every sphere.

 

It would be remiss of us if we did not take this opportunity to thank our sponsors, band members, and all others who have contributed in one way or another to the success of the group.  To everyone, a heartfelt thank you for your unflagging support.  We could not have come this far without you!