By: Robert Taylor and Jermaine Cruickshank
Canboulay marks the true beginning of Carnival. It is not merely a reenactment, but a tradition steeped in history, the very beginning of what we all enjoy today as Carnival. It carries a deeper meaning far beyond the revelry in the streets of Port of Spain. Whether you’re just visiting or born and bred Trini, it is something you should experience at least once in your lifetime. This is Canboulay the origins of Carnival.
Let us take you on a photographic journey through Piccadilly Greens, captured by senior photo editor Robert Taylor, and immerse yourself in the spirit of it all.
Canboulay (derived from the French cannes brûlées, meaning “burnt cane”) is a vibrant, pre-dawn reenactment held on Carnival Friday in Port of Spain. It commemorates the historic 1881 Canboulay Riots, when freed Africans courageously defended their cultural expressions against colonial suppression. What unfolds along Piccadilly Street is more than theatre — it is living history.
How you get a seat?” I overheard an attendee ask.
It was 3:30 a.m., still thirty minutes before the scheduled start of the event.
Yet Carnival Friday at Piccadilly Greens in East Port of Spain was already buzzing.
The response came calmly:
“I here since one.”
Kambule – The Ritual Enactment of The 1881 Canboulay Riots – written and directed by cultural activist Eintou Pearl Springer, is a staple for Carnival enthusiasts.
The script generally remains the same, but year after year, the free theatrical presentation of the pivotal moment that transformed the celebration of Carnival has grown in popularity.
From the sound of rhythmic drums to beautiful voices being heard in the pre-dawn hours – “Moma Moma yuh son in de grave already….” patrons remain captivated and are even encouraged to participate.
“You looking like my baby daddy” a Baby Doll asked a somewhat embarrassed middle-aged gentleman seated behind a metal railing -.
“Where yuh catch yuh cold, go and blow yuh nose” legendary stick fighter Joe Talmana reminds her.
Most of these patrons and some new faces will return on February 5, 2027, hopefully by 1 am to get a good seat and to “tell Captain Baker he ass in trouble”
