Have you ever experienced J’Ouvert, the pre-dawn procession from dark to light before the West Indian Day Parade? Come learn about this exciting Caribbean tradition on August 19th from 2-5pm at Brooklyn Public Library, Central Branch. We’ll kick off the celebration with a session on the history of steelpan and ole mas in Trinidadian J’Ouvert and have a conversation with pan and mas artists. Then we'll head upstairs and outside to experience the music and dance in all its pulsating colors — steelbands, rhythm bands, mas bands, and stick play. Make your own mask, join a procession, and dance to Brooklyn’s top Caribbean bands!

Featuring performances by Kutters, Legend Stars, Oil Downers, La Troupe Zetwal, and Something Positive, Inc.

The Art and History of J’Ouvert
Tradition as Resistance
Saturday, August 19, 2017
RSVP on Facebook

2-3pm: Meet the Artists Session
Central Library, Dweck Center

3-5pm: Music, dance, and mask making
Central Library, Plaza

This program is presented by Brooklyn Arts Council, Brooklyn Public Library, The Hitchcock Institute for Studies in American Music and the Caribbean Studies Program at Brooklyn College, J’ouvert City International, and Something Positive Inc. Thank you to Blue Mango, LLC for their additional program support.

Photo by Keith Getter (c) 2017.