Name and description of item or character
Masquerade costume. This costume consists of a very brightly coloured and busily patterned shirt and trousers over which is worn an apron which has small round mirrors attached to it. Over the shoulders is worn a cape with a wide collar which covers the front part of the chest. The cape is fringed with tassels which also have small round mirrors and many different coloured ribbons attached to it. The dancer often (but not always) performs in a mask decorated with tinsel ribbons and rosettes.
The piece de resistance of this ensemble is the headdress which consists of approximately 8 bunches of 6 long strong peacock feathers attached to a brightly coloured cardboard crown. The crown also has a small round mirror or two and may be garnished with colourful rosettes and plumages. In the hand is carried a small wooden axe.
Event/ occasion item is worn
Masquerade can be seen at any national holiday or special event on the island of St Kitts and Nevis.
Origin of item
The St Kitts and Nevis Masquerade costume has very strong roots in the Yoruba tradition of the Oyo region in Nigeria. The Yoruba culture which believes in ancestor worship considered the wearing of feathers a strong method for attracting heaven. The small round mirrors represented the windows to the soul of the world and reflected the image of the viewer connecting them with the spirit world which the dancer was said to represent.
Designed by
The style and design of costume is thought to have developed over time from the enslaved Africans who were bought to these islands from the Oyo Empire in West Africa.
Meaning behind design
It is thought that various elements of the Masquerade costume have different meanings, for example the attachment of multiple ribbons, handkerchiefs and other bits of cloth is said to be synonymous of rituals performed during Yoruba funerals. Despite the many differing colours of ribbons and cloth one of the main colours of the costume is red. Red is the favourite colour of Shango the Yoruba God of Thunder whose father, according to Yoruba belief, founded the city and empire of Oyo. Music, dance and costume are all thought to be ways of attracting Shango’s attention.
Materials used
The trousers and shirt of this costume are made out of cotton/ polycotton, but the apron and cape are made out of velvet. The cape often dark red or burgundy in colour is trimmed with ornate tassels and is covered with satin ribbons and cotton handkerchiefs. The Apron which is black is plain apart from the many small round mirrors. The headdress is made from cardboard, peacock feathers and other colourful dyed feathers and plumes.
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Name and description of item or character
National costume of St Kitts and Nevis. The female version of this costume consists of a head wrap in two parts, a dress with contrasting sleeves, a lap skirt and a soda wrap. Firstly the head is covered with an off white scarf or cap that is worn so as to cover all the hair and the top of the ears. The second part of the head wrap is the traditional Madras cloth particular to St Kitts and Nevis which is wrapped in a band around the head exposing the crown of the head (covered by the white scarf/ cap) and a sliver of white at the hairline
The dress is off white and has a bodice which reaches the collar bone finished with a frill. The skirt of the dress is full and reaches the ankles. The sleeves are puffed or ruched pulled tightly by drawstring made from the SKN Madras and are in the same fabric as the over skirt. The back of the dress is laced up in the SKN Madras.
The lap skirt sits over the dress fastens at the back with a single button and is several inches shorter than the main dress thereby exposing the white cotton fullness of the dress. The soda wrap is long piece of gathered cloth tied high on one hip and hanging low on the other thereby enabling the folds and gathers in the fabric to act as a carrying device. Attached to the waist is a small drawstring bag.
The male version of the national costume consists of a lined wide brimmed hat with a band around the base made out of SKN Madras. The shirt is V necked and short sleeved with pockets at the front and splits up either side. The trousers are long and loose fitting.
Event/ occasion item is worn
National celebrations and festivities.
Origin of item
The basis of this costume has originated from what was traditionally worn by enslaved Africans on the plantations and blended with influences from West African cultures. The costume has elements of 18th century European dress (laced back bodice, puffed sleeves, long full skirts) as well as elements of West African dress (head wrap, V neck split sided short sleeved shirt). These costumes also include details that have changed and developed for practical purposes i.e. the lap skirt; which was for the purpose of protecting the dress so would have been as long as the dress but has been stylised for modern purposes, and the soda wrap which was for carrying cane soda used to fertilise the sugar cane fields.
Designed by
Dwayne Weekes, Grace Woodley, Vaughan Woodley, Joylette Woodley.
Meaning behind design
The idea behind the national costume was that it captured the true essence of “Caribbeaness” combining the influences of both Europe and Africa and in so doing explain what it is to be truly Caribbean.
Materials used
The female dress and male shirt of this costume are made from off white cotton whilst the dress sleeves, lap skirt and males trousers are made from hessian type of fabric. The soda wrap, head wrap and additional detailing are made from Madras cotton particular to St Kitts and Nevis in that its colours reflect the flag of the country; red, black, green and yellow.