Method

Tag: `History`

Keylemanjahro and Dragon: Two Drummers Speak on Two Cultural Forces

—Published on 19th December, 2025.

Image Caption: The morning of Carnival Monday finds Dragon clad as a blue Jab commanding his troops across the Traditional Mas stage of The Savannah. Leader of the Keylemanjahro School of Arts and Culture for four decades, Glenn 'Dragon' de Souza has made himself and his group legendary. Generations of Trinbagonian Moko Jumbies have been taught—or had their skills honed—at his Cocorite yard affectionately known by some as 'De Dragon Den', or else the Valleyharps Panyard where he temporarily operated around 2019. In addition to collaborations with Designer Laura Anderson Barbata, Mas Man Peter Minshall (albeit a short-lived relationship), and German Photographer Stefan Falke (producing the very popular book 'Moko Jumbies: The Dancing Spirits of Trinidad'), many Trinbagonian children of 1990s remember seeing his feature on Jim Henson's Sesame Street; a segment which won attention and acclaim to Trinidad and Tobago. In September 2024, his life-long devotion was recognised in his winning of The Hummingbird Medal (Gold). In-camera JPG via ‘Method Moda II’ custom Picture Style. Adjustments via RawTherapee. The Savannah—3rd March, 2025. #keylemanjahro—Click to read this article.

Four decades. Four decades of pride and power, shifts and swings have defined the storied history of The Keylemanjahro School of Arts and Culture and its fearsome leader Glenn ‘Dragon’ de Souza. Drama, drumming, dance—but also sanctuary for youths facing troubles and challenges beyond their years—are the group’s origins, though today most know Keylemanjahro for Moko Jumbie. Read More »

Gifted Hands that lifted Moko Jumbie Mas: A Biography of Moose

—Published on 30th December, 2024.

Image Caption: —Click to read this article.

In a small riverside home of Waterhole, Cocorite can be found Andrew Roland 'Rolo' Alexander, aka 'Moose'. He's lived for Mas and art of all forms—performing art, visual, music, dance, sewing, song-writing, carpentry, wire-bending, and more. At one time he was a crucial part of a well-known Moko Jumbie band of Cocorite. Today, he is a father and grandfather. He adores children, including those of his own 'Watusi Cultural Caravan'. Read More »

De Moko Jumbie Man: A Biography of Dexter Stewart

—Published on 26th September, 2020.

Image Caption: The hand of the enigmatic Dexter Stewart holds a photograph from his early days as a Moko Jumbie. Hailing from Point Fortin, South Trinidad, he began walking bamboo sticks in the 1970s, using an improvised costume to take part in Children's Carnival around the age of eleven. Later mentorship by John Cupid and Dave Robeson would then expose him to opportunity and the mythologies of Old Mas and Moko Jumbie. Point Fortin—12th March, 2020. #caribbean #culture #daverobeson #dexterstewart #johncupid #history #pointfortin #methodmoda #mokojumbie #stickwalker #stiltwalkers_caribbean #stiltwalkers_trinbago #stiltwalkers_worldwide #trinbago #trinidad #trinidadandtobago—Click to read this article.

Stewart mobilised a group of his stickwalking students under the banner 'Dexter Stewart and Associates'. They were recruited by Norvan Fullerton for various shows, including the 1995 Carifesta VI and a Dimanche Gras production featuring costume designs by legendary Masman, Wayne Berkeley. Read More »

A Prince’s Estate

—Published on 30th August, 2018.

Image Caption: Sitting just outside the main house of the old cocoa estate, an area of old bottles can be found. These would have been discarded by the house's residents. Today, they are artifacts. 15th July, 2018. #archeology #artifact #caribbean #time #twine—Click to read this article.

A visit to an early twentieth century Moruga cocoa and coffee estate. Read More »

Power Stacks

—Published on 4th March, 2018.

Image Caption: The stacks of the decommissioned T+TEC / Powergen Wrightson Road facility glow orange with the reflected, golden, early-morning Light of sunrise. 4th March, 2018. #alpenglow #architecture #portofspain #powergen #trinidadandtobago—Click to read this article.

In 1946 T&TEC served 6,000+ customers and operated one power station—the Port of Spain Power Station located on Wrightson Road. Read More »

Kairi

—Published on 15th October, 2017.

Image Caption: Various Amerindian communities from Trinidad and the Western Hemisphere do a smoke ritual on Abercromby Street, outside the Red House on 12th October, 2017.—Click to read this article.

Trinidad, once called 'Kairi' (or possibly 'Iere') was aboriginally inhabited by many groups of Amerindian peoples who populated the Caribbean and South American region. Read More »