‘The competition in those days was enjoyable and unique’
This Sunday, April 30, the long-awaited return of the King and Queen of the Band competitions will take place. The Daily Herald spoke to Edward Radjouki, President of St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF), about his competition days and why he brought back the long-forgotten tradition.
Being one of the young operators of a giant “pirate ship” float alongside his older siblings, while he blew powder into the crowd of spectators, is one of the fun Carnival memories cherished by the now adult Eduardo Radjouki. It was the first time he had ever experienced mas, and it was a moment that shaped the way he viewed Carnival, instilling in him the determination to want to play mas on a bigger scale when he was older.
So, when the opportunity rolled around as an adult, he did just that – he played mas just about every year and with just about every troupe that was around at the time. Topping his list of playing mas, though, was competing in the King and Queen of the Band competitions. “The first year that I participated in King and Queen of the Band was in 1993. I did not place in that year. However, when I played in 1994, I won. I won in 1994, in 1995, in 1996 and in 1997,” said Radjouki.
Asked why he thinks the competition faded from Carnival over the years, he opined, “The years after I won it, I think the troupe leaders did not see it fit anymore, because there was no competition at the time; and from then, the others did not come back out after that, and it died a death just like that.”
Radjouki was instrumental in sparking the return of King and Queen of the Band in this year’s Carnival. “After it went dormant, I always said to myself that anytime I get the opportunity, I would bring it back. It makes a difference in parades. It makes the parade bigger because once there is a King or Queen of the Band, they represent the troupe and whatever they are portraying in culture that would be the representation that you would see coming from a distance when the troupe is approaching.”
To those competing in King and Queen of the Band this year, Radjouki advises to give it your best shot. Put on the best show while displaying the theme of your costume. “Portray what your costume means in dance, and make sure you do it in a way that everyone can see the love that you have for the costume you are portraying.”
