Tag Archives: History

1941: The arrival of US troops as a result of the Anglo-US bases Agreement changes the pop culture of T&T as these soldiers become T&T’s distribution outlet to the world and patrons of Calypso culture. Stokely Carmichael (aka Kwame Ture), inventor of the term ‘Black Power’ is born in Port-of-Spain. Inventor of Soca and Jamoo Ras Shorty I is born in Lengua Village, Princes Town. André Tanker father of T&T fusion music is born- his mother is a descendant of Cazabon, Trinidad’s first great painter.,…

1923: The father of bikini and bead mas Edmund Hart is born. One of T&T’s greatest actors Errol Jones is born 1924: Ken Morris T&T’s great copper-smith is born. Errol John (one of T&T’s greatest international actors and playwrights is born 1925: The goat races begin in Tobago as a working-class alternative to horse racing. First general elections. Arthur Andrew Cipriani- champion of the barefooted man’ wins seat on City Council. 1927: Jason Griffith, father of Sailor Mas is born in Belmont. Ramdeen “John Agitation”…

1881: Canboulay/Carnival riots in Port of Spain. Oppressive Captain Baker and the police are driven back by the revelers and the State has to negotiate with the Carnival. Tamboo bamboo bands begin after the banning of the drums 1882: 2 British Warships were stationed in the harbor, troops and volunteers on full alert for Carnival 1884: The Muharram/Hosay Riots – where Hosay celebrants resisted a ban on Hosay processions. Muslims, Hindus, Africans and East Indians unite against the colonial powers who fear Hosay’s power to unite the masses….

1791: Toussaint L’Ouverture and the Haitian revolution- the only successful slave revolt in human history 1793: British retake Tobago. 1797: British conquest of Trinidad; Picton becomes first British governor. 1805: Spanish (and French) naval power broken at Trafalgar: British possessions in West Indies secure. 1806: Chinese indentures come in, but most of them die out. 1807: British Parliament unilaterally declares the abolition of the Transatlantic slave trade. 1808: Great Fire razes Port of Spain. 1813: Our first great artist Michel Jean Cazabon born 1816: Demobilized Africans who…