Photo Courtesy: Newsday Newspaper
It is said that a stick fighter in born and that you cannot teach
someone the art form; what you can do is help them remember. The stick fighter
it is said, carries the knowledge in her DNA, her soul memory, the fight is retained in her
muscles and resides in her spiritual intuition. This may explain why most aren’t
drawn to enter the gayelle or to willingly enter the battleground or to offer the
blood sacrifice. Yet, most prefer to bare witness the worship in the brutality.
During my journey into the world of stick fighters I learnt A
LOT of things about the art form and about myself. I know most persons in
Trinidad and Tobago are not aware of the deep spiritual history and legacy of stick
fighting; nor why it is something important for us to preserve.
Camboulay Riots Reenactment- Female Stick Fighter
So, I decided to
share 6 things I think the everyday Trinbagoian SHOULD know about stick fighting:
1.
The proper name for the art form of stick
fighting is Kalinda. Some people think that the name Kalinda is
a derivative for Kali, the Hindu goddess of destruction. In truth there also
exists a stick fighing form in Indian called Kali Fighting, which while
different does have some fundamental similarities to Kalinda.
Chart: A limited list of Kalinda Techniques
2.
It is believed that Kalinda as an art form
entered the Caribbean in the 1720’s.
It is said that Kalinda was a ritual
practiced by slaves in the 1700’s. The ritual involved two men who would duel
against each other with sticks or “BOIS”. The space in which they fought was
called a
gayelle.
Stick Fighters During the 1970's
3.
According to Luis Mc.Williams Kalinda has 5
Phases:
(i)
The Challenge
(ii)
The Lavway Call and Response Calls
(iii)
The Karray- Display of physical prowess and dance
(iv)
The Bois- The Attack or the attempt to “buss”
the other man head.
(v)
The Pas- The defeated persons is taken for bloodletting
at the “blood hole”.
As you can tell this is A LOT of
excitement and very interesting to witness. In practice, a stick fighter enters
the gayelle as the drummers accompany the lavway call. During this time the stick fighter dancers
her way into the spiritual state of readiness to do battle. Other stick fighter
look on, and if one is moved- she enters the gayelle. Both fighters then dance
their personal warrior dance, while positioning themselves to attack. Strikes
are quick and brutal… some faster than the blink of an eye. The result can be
wounding or even death.
Footage from Mayaro Gayelle 2013
Photo Courtesy: Trinidad and Tobago Guardian Newspaper
4. In 1884, Kalinda art form was forced underground
and into rural communities.In the 1800’s in Trinidad and Tobago the
Canboulay Riots, was the people’s response against and oppressive colonialser
who sought to restrict their street processions. During this time stick
fighters where especially targeted by the authorities because of the damage
they could inflict with their bois but also because of the way the spiritually
affected the large crowds.
Camboulay Reenactment- Takes place every Carnival Friday morning at 4am in Piccadilly (Port Of Spain)
5.
Stick Fighting gayelles still exist throughout
Trinidad and Tobago, in places such as- Mayaro, Arouca, Manzanilla etc. In recent years, the
National Stick
Fighting Competitions, a feature of the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival, is being
met with thick crowds especially at the Finals.
Footage from TT National Stick- Fighting Finals 2016:
Photo Courtesy: Trinidad Newsday Newspaper
6. YOU CAN LEARN STICK FIGHTING TOO!!
You can visit your local gayelle or you can
visit Bois Academy of Trinidad and Tobago , see the FaceBook link below. They also have some video on the site as well as information on the recent movie "No Bois Man Ah Fraid".
TRY ONE SESSION!! YOU MIGHT LIKE IT!!
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