Best Carnival ever! - Revellers all smiles after Road March

F or Delano Seiveright, senior strategist in the Ministry of Tourism, "There is no doubt that this is the best carnival in Jamaica ever."

And the response from revellers in the three bands seems to give credence to that statement.

Xaymaca, Xodus and Bacchanal participated in Road March 2019 yesterday. Masqueraders lined the streets of Kingston in their brightly coloured costumes, some leaving nothing to the imagination. As they 'chipped' down the road, they were joined by many curious onlookers who were unafraid to 'tief a wine' from the revellers, many of whom did not seem to mind.

Xaymaca International yesterday made yet another bold statement as it underscored its belief that it's the best band in town.

The music had hardly stopped playing at nightfall when masqueraders began expressing their eagerness to do this again next year. Some even wished that road march was held twice a year.

"My first experience was amazing. I'm here wondering how the hell I've never done this before," Mellissa Thorpe, 29, told The STAR.

"Listen, I'm already sad it's coming to an end. Next year can't miss me. I'm officially a carnival baby."

Her sentiments were shared by several other soca debutants and even repeat revellers like Sophia Vargas, who flew in from Florida for this year's fete.

Carnival 2020

"I spent a lot of money to come here year after year, but you know what? Every year it's worth it. Carnival just keeps getting better. I am already waiting on Carnival 2020. I'm watching for November when the bands will officially launch and I get to do this all over."

Revellers appeared unfazed that Xodus Carnival's Road March stopped frequently. Trisha came to march with Xodus from New York, with her roots being in Trinidad and Tobago.

Regardless of that, Jamaican Carnivals are her brand. "I jumped with Bacchanal the first two years I came. Then last year I did Xaymaca last year."

Though her travel partner came to jump with Xaymaca, she decided to go with Xodus. "Best experience ever. Best."

Sandra Forlemu from Nigeria also said Xodus was the best experience ever, compared to her previous year jumping with Xaymaca International and jumping with Bacchanal Jamaica before that.

The 'big brother' of the three bands, Bacchanal Jamaica, lived up to its 'Invictus' theme, with a strong passion for soca being the defining quality of the band that stimulated majority of its masquerades most call, "serial Bacchanalists" - based on the loyalty to the band.

The route was smooth sailing as the 'gods and goddesses', as was the preferred name selected by the band members, trekked through the city's capital commanding the attention of spectators.

Soca music was unconquerable as the disc jockeys were challenged with selecting the most appropriate dancehall and hip-hop to fuse with the preferred genre - soca - at moments when their creative impulses took control.