I waited five years for my Bahamas Carnival experience to come to fruition. In 2020, I started working with Goombay Concierge to coordinate my then solo carnival adventure. Ashton helped to register me with Bahamas Masqueraders in the Golden Empire section. Then the COVID-19 pandemic put everything on pause. Bahamas Carnival returned in 2022 but for ’22 and ’23 I wasn’t financially ready. In 2024, I was committed to taking the Delta GEMS to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. In 2025 my time to get on the road arrived.
Know Before You Go
For the unfamiliar, Carnival, as I experienced it, originated in Trinidad and Tobago in the late 18th century “emerging in a ritual called Cannes Brulees (French for “sugarcane burning”).” The highly valuable sugar cane export was burned in protest of plantation slavery. Cannes Brulees became Canboulay and today it’s called Carnival. Bahamas Carnival began in 2015 and is an additional diasporic celebration that can feature elements of Junkanoo.
Junkanoo is the 200-year-old tradition of the Bahamas, also honored from the Cayman Islands to South Carolina, celebrated on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Junkanoo is veneration, celebration, and protest. “…the tradition dates back to when enslavers gave their slaves a day off during the holidays as reprieve. Enslaved people often used this time for celebration and subtle protest, creating the foundation for Junkanoo as both a fete honoring the African diaspora and a form of resistance.” Bahamas Carnival 2025 marked 10 years of the experience. Carnival chasers, veterans, and baby bacchanalists like me, traveled to Nassau to spend four days celebrating together.
Learn Me Something
I was introduced to Carnival via linesisters attending Caribana and following writer Wanna Thompson on Twitter. Seeing Wanna share her costumes from Caribana and Trinidad made me want to understand an event that looked like a lot of fun, but I knew meant so much more. My curiosity and lurking on West Indian Twitter introduced me to Global Carnivalist and Cris, aka Bahamianista. Almost everything I have learned so far about Carnival across the globe is thanks to Wanna, Globey, and Cris. Learning from Black Women makes my still growing knowledge base sweeter.
I soak up the traditional roots, how the season flows across countries, how mas bands work, the history of j’ouvert, how to respectfully conduct yourself as a guest, and grow my absolute love for soca. I learned that Carnival requires pace and Trinidad is not for the faint of heart. It was suggested for beginners try out Miami Carnival, Bahamas Carnival, or Hookie Weekend in D.C. I wanted to be in the region for my first celebration and Bahamas Carnival was the perfect choice.
I appreciated Ashton reaching out each year to see if I was ready to come to Nassau. Pushing it back multiple times wasn’t my preference, but the right time came at the right time. This year I wouldn’t have a solo adventure, one of my best friends came with me! The Double Trouble package set us up perfectly to enjoy Bahamas Carnival. We picked our band, Bahamas Masqueraders, our section, Amun-Ra designed by Anthony Knowles, and the fetes. Accommodations, transportation, and costume pick-up was handled for us, assistance that I greatly appreciate.
Gearing up for the trip, I double checked my 2020 purchases to assess my needs. Essentials were covered: boots and a seamless mask for j’ouvert, tights, nipple covers and pouch from Carnivalista. Added clear shower caps, gel shoe inserts, and a garment bag to transport my costume home. Lastly, I needed road march footwear. Heeled boots are sexy but I’m not ready for 7 hours in them. Sneakers are a great option, but I wanted a bit more drama. I kept returning to a pair of white combat boots with a chain detail and knew they were perfect for me. With all particulars settled, it was time to go!
J’ouvert
My mantra for the weekend was “surrender to the experience”. My inner critic and saboteur do a number on me, they weren’t allowed a voice this past weekend. Straight off the jumbo jet, it’s go time. My friend and I took a 30-minute power nap and got ready for our first event, Dutty Crew J’ouvert. J’ouvert starts past my bedtime, but the Dussé shot at the door helped. Following the music truck is slightly hypnotic. This is when I started to understand the phrase “free up”. J’ouvert is ancestral veneration, church for the spirits that like to shake a leg.Tossing powder, shooting paint around, and jamming to my favorite disc jockey, DJ Jel (one of four times I heard him spin), was a euphoric experience. Especially at the end when we were joined by a Junkanoo band.
Fetes
We planned to attend three fetes, La Vie, After Mas, and Last Wine. I’ll tell you now, we did not make it to After Mas. We left it all on the road, the newbies needed rest. After creeping on La Vie for the last few years, I was ecstatic to attend. The food was tasty, I needed more of that roast pig and golden fish fry. There were hand rolled cigars, Ms. Venus breathing literal fire, multiple DJ sets, and a performance from Temptress. Last Wine closed out the weekend. My little neon green set finally got to come out and play. I had my fill of rum, ate fried chicken and fries on the Beach Soccer Stadium steps, and caught the best wine of the weekend.
Baby’s First Road March
‘Twas the morning of road march and like any good reveler I spent some time reattaching a few loose gems and feathers to our costumes. I had entirely too much fun with that glue gun. I’m proud to say we figured out how to put our backpacks together without assistance! We also kept bumping into each other in the hallway and elevator as we took pictures at the hotel. Right before we headed to the road, we saw Coco Gauff win the Women’s Singles title at Roland-Garros. Felt like a good omen.
With our extended photo session our band, Bahamas Masqueraders, left the stadium while we were en route. No problem though, our wonderful driver Clement took us right to them. We only missed 1.4 km. Was road march everything I wanted? Absolutely. I felt beautiful in my costume. The color, the details, I love it very much. Speaking of beauty, Black people…we are gorgeous. It is a sight to behold, the sun shining on our skin mixed with gems, feathers, and metallic trims. I’m grateful to all our ancestors for surviving so that we can exist. Mas is remembrance and veneration wrapped up in a real good time. Everyone looked so beautiful in our immaculate costumes.
As we made our way across Junkanoo beach, Spirit of Junkanoo played and marched with us for a little bit. It was a delightful surprise for me. I’m still thinking about the jerk pork from the rest stop, delicious fuel for the second half. I remembered my backpack etiquette! Walk sideways through the crowd to get past people. I did my best but still probably poked a couple people and I am so sorry. I don’t know if there’s anything better than being on the road. I regret nothing, other than wearing ankle socks without my stockings. Got a little irritation from my boot but I still felt amazing. It was one of the best days of my life.
Bahamian Blessing
In between feting and reveling, we found time for the beach. Sitting where the water and the sand meet talking with a friend is peaceful. We ended up there after retreating from deeper water due to the appearance of a wild sting ray. It glided by without upset but it was best to stay out of the way. A sweet little Black girl with beads in her hair came by with her cohorts to offer us seashells from her bucket. I brought mine home. Clement was kind enough to take us by one of his favorite spots for conch salad and conch fritters. Leaving without having any conch salad felt criminal.
As a rookie from the Midwest… As a neurodivergent introvert who starts rubbing her feet together in bed at 9:45 p.m… I had a BLAST! It wasn’t simply the wait but hearing soca everywhere. Blaring through speakers at fetes, j’ouvert, and on the road. Dancing under a glowing moon, a bright sun, green trees, with turquoise waters in sight. Wearing one of the most beautiful creations I have ever owned. I’ve never been in a new space doing something new-to-me and not felt self-conscious. For once I wasn’t comparing, I simply enjoyed myself like everyone else.
That’s one of the best parts, everyone is on one accord. The same page; one band, one sound. People come together to enjoy themselves, to celebrate, to partake in their culture and traditions. In Sinners (2025) Delta Slim says “With this here ritual we heal our people and we be free.” I’m grateful I was allowed to be a part; I was just happy to be there.
Carnival tabanca has set in, I’d heard about it and now know it. I held no desire to return to work but it’s the only way to get back to Nassau on June 6th, 2026. I’m grateful for my introduction to carnival and soca in 2017 and can’t wait to spend the rest of my days blessed with the opportunity to experience carnival across the Caribbean diaspora. Thank you to the Bahamas, for my very first experience.
