The Rebellion

Draped in regal feathers and glitter, with hands swaying in the air,

Their eyes catch the judgements and the curious stares.

Welcome to Carnival,

Where the care-free are mocked,

And masqueraders are damned,

But not even rain or hurricane could stop this jam.

Draped in regal feathers and glitter, in all their glory and fame,

They make their way into the spotlight,

This is freedom. This was worth the fight.

Joy explodes with the vibration of the music,

As bystanders gasp and stare with inspection,

‘A wha dis?’ they murmur in confusion.

“This ana jus fa you!”

“Carnival ah fo arwe too!”

They navigate the treacherous streets,

With an unapologetic expression so infections,

We shall call them The Rebellious.

The warmth of their bodies stings the intensity of the crowd,

As shapes contour, and parts collide,

The parade vibrates with their strides,

Judgement cannot contain these vibes.

Glorious backpieces

Elaborate headpieces

Every shape

Every size

Everybody, every body

Everybody, every body

They ascend into town,

Beautiful and a sight to behold,

Floating with ease, daring to claim their space in this space,

Freedom is Carnival, and it is afforded to everyone.

Welcome to The Rebellion.

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Listen to part 1 and part 2 of an IG live discussion with Linisa George and our co-founder, Nneka Nicholas, on carnival bodies, body positivity, and Caribbean feminist storytelling.