Advanced black is here !!! 😎. As Carnival 2023 approaches, this catchy refrain sounds like sweet music to my ears 🎶.
Yes, yes, people, Carnival is here!!! And if there’s one thing I love about Martinique’s Carnival, it’s the Neg gwo siwo. Who is he? Where does he come from ? Why this growing success ?
The Neg Gwo Siwo, an essential part of Carnival.
The “neg gwo siwo,” along with the Hommes d’argile, Maryann Lapo fig, the Diable rouge, Karolyn zié loli, is one of the iconic characters of our Martinican carnival.
The Carnival of Saint-Pierre, before the eruption of Mount Pelée in 1902, invented these characters which later reappeared in Fort-de-France, now the capital.
The neg gwo siwo is a tribute to the neg marrons who covered themselves in a mixture of soot and molasses syrup to escape the scrutiny of their masters. Today, the Neg swo siwo are more than ever part of our traditions. Men, women, children, families, or friends: Martinicans are increasingly numerous in perpetuating this tradition which is modernizing. Personally, since my first experience as a negresse gwo siwo, wearing my siwo costume remains the very essence of Carnival.
‘The Neg Gwo Siwo or freedom in your skin
What I like:
- What I like about it: The feeling of the siwo on my skin, plus my skin is all smooth afterwards as a little bonus! 😁🤭
- Scaring the carnival-goers who move aside when the group of siwos arrives 😂😏
- Perpetuating the tradition of the neg gwo siwo because it belongs to our culture.
- The feeling of freedom: yes, the neg gwo siwo is a rebel who only obeys its own rules. Its great pleasure is to come down while shouting its war cry ! /span>
- Not having to think about what to wear #teamlazy.
