Tobago Tambrin Music
Tobago, Trinidad and TobagoTambrin Music The Tambrin, Tobago's indigenous drum, originated from slaves who crafted it from cheese boxes covered with animal skin after their drums were confiscated. Today, it is made from Latan or Wild Cassava wood and goat skin. The she-goat's skin is preferred for the high-pitched Cutter drum, while the ram's skin suits the deep tones of the Boom and Roller. The Tambrin drum, used in ceremonies like weddings, christenings, and Thanksgiving, requires 2-3 months to craft. It is heated before playing to achieve the right pitch. A typical Tambrin band features five players with various instruments. 1 Cutter 1 Roller 1 Boom 1 Fiddle (lead instrument) 1 Triangle or Steel Currently, several Tambrin bands exist in Tobago, including: The Royal Sweet Fingers Tambrin Band The Mt. Cullane Tambrin Band The Unity Tambrin Band The Division of Community Development and Culture is working to revive the art form in Tobago's schools and villages.
Tobago Art Galleries and Museum
Tobago, Trinidad and TobagoName: The Art Gallery Address: Hibiscus Drive, Lowlands, Tobago Owners: Mr. Martin and Rachael Superville Contact: 1 868-709-9988 Name: Dillon's Art Studio & Gallery Address: Tamarind Villa, Lambeau, Tobago Owner: Dillon Richards Contact: 1 868 330 0418 Email: mrdillonrichards@gmail.com Opening Hours: Mon - Fri 10:00 am - 4:00 pm Name: Dive Museum Address: Bacolet, Tobago (The Cotton House) Contact: 1 868 639 2727 Opening Hours: Mon - Fri 9:00 am - 4:30 pm Sat 8:00 am to 12 noon Name: Fort King George Address: Forth King George, Scarborough, Tobago Contact: 1 868 639 3970 Opening Hours: Mon - Fri 9:00 am- 4:30 pm Entrance Fee: Adults:$10. Teens: $5. Children: $2.
Folktales
Tobago, Trinidad and TobagoFolktales, passed down orally through generations, reflect a people's traditional culture. Tobago boasts a rich oral tradition and legends rooted in African ancestry. Superstitions in Tobago involve beliefs in the unknown or supernatural, with characters like Mermaids, Fairy-maids, Soucouyants, La Diablesse, Duennes, and Jumbies. Mermaids
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Tobago Goat Racing
Tobago, Trinidad and TobagoFor nearly 80 years, Buccoo, a small village in southwest Tobago, has hosted goat racing, a tradition started in 1925 by Samuel Callender as a more accessible alternative to horse racing. While Easter Monday featured horse races for the elite, Easter Tuesday became a day for goat racing, bringing entertainment to the broader community. The Buccoo Goat Races, initially held on Chance Street, moved to the "Battery" before settling 21 years ago near Buccoo Beach. Organized by the Buccoo Goat Race Festival Committee, the event is traditionally on Easter Tuesday but now features in events like the Tobago Heritage Festival. Mt. Pleasant has also embraced the sport in recent years. Good racing goats require strength and speed, achieved through dedicated training by owners, trainers, and jockeys. Over two months, goats learn to increase their speed, mimic race-day conditions, and follow a muscle-building swimming routine and strict diet. While nanny goats are faster, billy goats are preferred for their longevity, with proper care extending their lifespan up to 13 years. Jockeys play a crucial role in goat racing, ensuring their speed matches their goats to avoid disqualification. Training, diet, and physical activities are regulated for this test of endurance. The Buccoo Goat Race Festival classifies runners as follows: * First-time runners * Runners from the previous year * Two years of experience * Most experienced runners The event begins with a lively street parade, featuring booths with crafts, T-shirts, food, and drinks, while locals offer delicious cuisine at their homes. The Goat Race Festival has become a major event in Tobago's tourism calendar, sponsored by the Tobago House of Assembly's Department of Tourism. It has evolved into a family tradition, where locals and visitors alike come together to celebrate in a festive atmosphere.
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Moriah Ole Time Wedding
Tobago, Trinidad and TobagoThe Moriah Ole Time Wedding re-enacts traditional Tobago weddings, showcasing European influence. Village elders fondly recall the "free for all" weddings, where guests would join a lively procession through Kitty Bamboo Gully to Lincoln Gap. The Moriah Ole Time Wedding, a highlight of the Tobago Heritage Festival, draws hundreds of spectators each year. Men wear black stovepipe hats, three-piece suits, bow ties, gloves, and umbrellas for their partners. Women, equally stunning, don bustle dresses, wide-brimmed hats decorated with flowers, and plenty of jewellery. Wedding activities start on Friday with Bachelor Night featuring Tambrin music, traditional dancing, food, and drinks. On Saturday, the Bridal Affair showcases the bride's preparation, followed by the wedding, a trek to the reception, and a show. Weddings are lively affairs, with the bride and groom often teased by family or a jilted lover. To the sounds of fiddles and tambourines, guests "walk de wedding" and dance the "Brush Back" from the church to the streets. The reception features cultural entertainment, food, drinks, and hilarious speeches that keep everyone entertained. In true Tobago style, "come leh we go" for the unforgettable Moriah Ole Time Wedding experience.
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Tobago Bio's
Tobago, Trinidad and TobagoCalypso Rose, born MacCatha Lewis in Tobago, is a legendary icon in the calypso world. Starting her career at 15, she won the Calypso Queen competition five years in a row and broke the gender barrier in 1978 by winning the Calypso Monarch title with "I Thank Thee" and "Her Majesty." Rose has since taken Calypso Global, inspiring other women in the genre. Rose was the first woman to win the Road March title, holding it for 21 years until Sanell Dempster's "River" claimed the championship. In 1978, she was awarded the Medal of Merit by the Trinidad and Tobago Government, on the Queen's order. Shurwayne Winchester, a Caribbean soca artist from Tobago, began his musical journey at the age of 12. His talent for writing and singing impressive lyrics propelled him to success, allowing him to compete against top industry stars from a young age. He continues to bring variety and exclusivity to the soca genre, growing in both regional and international popularity. He gained valuable experience in the music business through his work with several bands, particularly Caribbean Traffic Jam, where he became a frontline singer. During his time with the band, Winchester won multiple Monarch and Road March titles. In 2004, he became Road March King with "The Band Coming," following up in 2005 with "Dead or Alive" to win again, solidifying his place in the industry. Inspired by limitless possibilities, the young man whose stage performance excites fans worldwide, formed his band, Y.O.U. (Yes One Unit), in late 2008, further breaking musical barriers. Mighty Shadow: Winston Bailey, known as The Mighty Shadow or Shadow, was born on October 2, 1941, in Belmont, Trinidad, and grew up in Les Coteaux, Tobago. He started singing at a young age, despite his grandfather's wish for him to become a lawyer. Shadow won the Road March in 1974 and 2001 with "Bassman" and "Stranger," respectively. He claimed the Calypso Monarch title in 2000 with "What's Wrong With Me" and "Scratch Meh Back." Known for his unique "skip-rope style" dance, he also received the Trinidad & Tobago Humming Bird Medal (Silver) in 2003. He was the first to win both the International Soca Monarch and Trinidad Road March competitions simultaneously in 2001 with his song "Stranger." Mighty Shadow P.O Box 1068 100 Alfred Crescent Bon Accord Integrated Development Bon Accord Tobago, W.I. divakay2007@hotmail.com PERFORMANCE HISTORY 2009 Jazz in the Pan Yard - RBTT Redemption Panyard - Bethel Tobago 2008 Kay Alleyne Victory Concert, Queens Hall, St. Ann's, Trinidad. 2008 Caribbean Gospel meets American Gospel featuring Pastor Shirley Caesar, Pastor Juanita Bynum, and Yolanda Adams at Madison Square Garden, NYC. 2008 Mother's Day Concert Featuring Lionel Ritchie and Brian McKnight Queens Park Oval, Woodbrook, P.O.S. Trinidad 2007 Miss Big, Bold & Beautiful Caribbean Queen, Antigua. 2007 Digicel Rising Stars Winner, P.O.S., Trinidad 2006 Greatest Love Mother's Day Concert with Maxi Priest, Regina Belle, Atlantic Star, Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes at Jean Pierre Complex, Trinidad. 2006 Plymouth Jazz Festival with Elton John, Tobago. 2006 JCarifesta IX - Tobago, W.I. 2005 Plymouth Jazz Festival with Diana Ross and Vanessa Williams, Tobago. 2005 Full Gospel Festival, San Fernando, Trinidad. 2005 Freddie Jackson feat. The Temptations, Queens Park Savannah, Port of Spain, Trinidad. 2004 Mother's Day Concert featuring Boyz II Men and Melba Moore at Pier II, West Trinidad. 2004 Kay Alleyne Gospel Concert, Aruba 2004 Gourmet Jazz Festival Featuring Stevie Wonder, Natalie Cole, Ojays - Plymouth, Tobago 2002 Bi-Annual National Music Festival, Trinidad. 2000 Yolanda Adams Concert, Centre of Excellence, Macoya, Trinidad. Awards 2008 Award for Best Original Composition "Lord I Will Lift You" 2007 Miss Big, Bold, and Beautiful Caribbean Overall Winner CROWNED QUEEN Antigua 2007 Digicel Rising Stars T&T Winner Trinidad & Tobago 2007 World Championship of Performing Arts 1 Overall Industry Award 2 Gold Medals 1 Silver Medal 1 Champion of the World Plaque Hollywood, California U.S.A. 2006 World Championship of Performing Arts 1 Overall Industry Award 2 Gold Medals 2 Champion of the World Plaque Hollywood, California U.S.A. 2002 Bi-Annual National Music Festival Overall Champion Trinidad & Tobago Hollywood, California U.S.A. 1999 * Bi-Annual National Music Festival * Merle De Coteau Albino Award * Best Junior Vocalist, Trinidad & Tobago 1999 * Bi-Annual National Music Festival * Gene Abdool Memorial Award * Most Outstanding Vocalist, Trinidad & Tobago 1996 * National Music Festival * Second Place Award
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