Martinique Carnival, Party in Fort-de-France, Martinique
Carnaval de la Martinique is the annual celebration in Fort-de-France where streets fill with music, colorful parades, and dancing groups throughout February. The festival features vibrant costumes, floats decorated with Caribbean themes, Bwadjaks that are noisy old cars painted in bright colors, and traditional figures like the Red Devils and Nèg Gwo Siwo who dance with drums and horned masks.
The carnival started in pre-Lenten religious practices and grew into a major event combining local traditions with influences from other cultures over time. Figures like the Nèg Gwo Siwo honor the history of enslaved people and their resistance, while the closing ritual of burning Vaval, the carnival king, maintains the link to its religious past.
The carnival blends African, Caribbean, and modern music styles visible in colorful costumes and dance groups that freely express their creativity in the streets. Traditional figures like the Red Devils or Nèg Gwo Siwo, who represent historical resistance and freedom, and the Bwadjaks, decorated old cars that roar loudly through the city, show how the celebration honors the island's past while everyone participates.
The festival lasts several days in February with different activities each day, and arriving early in the morning is best if you want to see the parades. Wearing comfortable clothing and bringing cash for souvenirs or food is advisable, and using public transport or walking are better options than driving since parking becomes difficult during the carnival.
The Bwadjaks are old cars specially modified for the carnival with loud engines, honking horns and vivid colors roaring through the streets, creating a unique mix of noise and visual creativity. Each Bwadjak is personalized with great effort by its creators, turning them into mobile artworks that showcase stories, dreams, and local pride on the island.
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