Tradition, talent and culture displayed at Black Rock Sea Festival 2025

 By Onica Dick (The Poetess Neki)

Petronella Archer - An icon of Black Rock 
at the Black Rock Sea Festival 
Photo credit -Tobago House of Assembly (Office of the Chief Secretary-Facebook Page)

The final village presentation on the Tobago Heritage Festival 2025 calendar was the Sea Festival which took place in the village of Black Rock. I have never been to the festival but this year I decided to accompany one of my colleagues to witness some of the activities.  A number of historians and various articles tell us that Black Rock got its name from the "dramatic volcanic rocks that line the shore; remnants of Tobago’s ancient geological past." We are also reminded that this village is "also home to one of the island’s most important historical sites: Fort Bennett which the Dutch constructed in the 1600s and was "later fortified by the British".

The Sea Festival which usually has an entire day of activities, begins with a traditional Wake Up Call followed by a procession at 6:30 in the morning. The procession which usually starts at the community centre ends at the Courland Heritage Park. My colleague and I did not arrive in time for the start, but we made it to the Courland Heritage Park to take in some of the other activities. 

The acitivities started off with the official blowing of the Conch shell followed by welcome greetings from the Chairman of the Black Rock Village Council Learie Paul who also encouraged each and every one to participate and enjoy the activities to the fullest.


Video 1. - The official Blowing of the Conch Shell to start off the proceedings 

Learie Paul -Chairman of the Black Rock Village Council delivers welcome remarks 

Representative for the Area Assemblyman Niall George was also on hand to deliver opening remarks. He highlighted to the very diverse and large audience present (some of whom had come from as far as the UK, USA and some from other parts of the sister island, Trinidad) of the importance of the festivities. "Today we are here to examine the intimate relationship between the community the boat, the seine and the sea." 

He further stated, "The entire community would have come out for this event. Many of the advances that we have today were brought on the hard work of fishermen and they are under appreciated because they were one of the main life bloods of society and they still remain part of the main life blood of society because if you can't eat you can't do anything. This Heritage festival is about teaching the younger ones of the way things were then."

Video 2. Area Representative, Assemblyman Niall George delivering welcome remarks at the Tobago Heritage Festival 2025 -Black Rock Sea Festival 

The proceedings then continued with a number of cultural dances from groups such as the Black Rock Primary School, Rhythmic Vibrations led by teacher and cultural activist Arlene Daniel and more. There was also the honouring of the icons including Ms. Petronella Archer, the demonstration of the mounting of the seine and the Christening of the Boat. Local food was also a major part of the proceedings. There were other activities throughout the day, but I was unable to stay to experience more. 

Marlon Callender was the emcee for the event, and his lively personality was an added highlight to engaging the full participation of those present. 

Below are some highlights of some of the activities that I was able to witness. 

Video 3. An opening traditional dance performance at the Black Rock Sea Festival 

Video 4. -Another traditional dance performance at the Black Rock Sea Festival 


Video 5. Petronella Archer - an honourary icon of the Black Rock Sea Festival. 
She has been participating since she was a teenager

 Video 6 -Rhythmic Vibrations delights the audience with their traditional dancing at the 
Tobago Heritage Festival 2025 Black Rock Sea Festival 


Video 7. The members of Dusty's Bike Club also participated in the Black Rock Sea Festival

Pic 2 - Members of Dusty's Bike Club at the Black Rock Sea Festival 

Video 8. Demonstrating to the audience at the Black Rock Sea Festival how to prepare the Seine

Video 9. Blessing of the boat 

Video 10. Blessing of the boat continues

Video 11. - Boat Christening at Black Rock Sea Festival 



















 





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Still The Same Kahlil

Image
                                               By Onica Dick aka Neki   It took some time before he was able to sit and have a conversation with me. However, when he was able to, he certainly did not disappoint. Born and bred in L’Anse Fourmi, in the vicinity of the oldest legally protected rainforest in the Western Hemisphere, Calvern ‘Kahlil’ Hernandez, the second of five siblings is a multi-talented creative.   Photo 1. Calvern 'Kahlil' Hernandez  “When I was young, I wanted to be a chef; I like cooking smoked bones. However, as I got older, I realized that my calling was more than cooking. There was an entrepreneurial side in me that was waiting to come alive because I had lots of business venture ideas.” The past pupil of L’Anse Fourmi Primary School, St Patrick Anglican and Signal Hill Comprehensive says that his days of growing up w...
Read more

MORIAH SHINES BRIGHT AT OLE TIME WEDDING

Image
  by Onica Dick (The Poetess Neki) The Tobago Heritage Festival was first held in 1987. It is generally held annually over a two-week period and basically highlights Tobago's cultural traditions. We see various stage productions, sample local tasty food, hear traditional songs in different villages across the island. The theme for this year's Tobago Heritage Festival is Time Longer Than Twine. Pic 1. ALL SMILES-This year's groom Lyndon Lashley with bride Tamia Palmer and Chief Bride Nikiesha Augustine Phillips  Photo Credit: Bianca  Pic 2. The beautiful bride greets guests at the 'Cake and Wine' at the Moriah Community Centre   Pic 3. Deryck Brathwaite aka Brother B -Host of Tobago Channel 5- Morning Show was a participant in this year's Ole Time Wedding. I grew up in Highlands Road in the village of Moriah. I attended the Moriah Government Primary School from 1985 to 1992. However, as a child I never got to experience much of the Ole Time Wedding even though I ...
Read more

The Natural Talent of Tonic G Musik

Image
  By Onica Dick (The Poetess Neki) Pic 1. Tonic G  Photo Credit -Rambo As a child I aspired to be an artiste; music is an upliftment which makes me happy; every time I sing, I always feel happy" - Tonic G Shirmatt Matthias Matthew 'Tonic G' Robinson comes from a musically inclined family and is accustomed to musical instruments such as drums, guitars and even the tambourine. The 32-year-old who was born on October 29 grew up in Bagatelle, Tobago and has one brother. He is a past pupil of the Scarborough Seventh Day Adventist Primary and the Signal Hill Comprehensive School. He remembers his favourite teacher Miss Manswell at high school who was his Form Mistress. Tonic G wanted to be a fireman as a child but certain family  restrictions, religious belief and other reasons did not allow for the fulfillment of his dream. His favourite childhood memories from high school include participation in beatbox/freestyle activities with fellow peers like Kaspa Di Lyrical, Moon, KD a...
Read more