REFLECTION & REASON

This curated list of 21 books about Caribbean Carnival is part of Kya Publishing’s ongoing commitment to encourage continued study, inspire deeper understanding, and celebrate the vibrant legacy of Carnival culture. From its historical roots to its contemporary expressions, these titles help document our journey across decades and generations — reminding us that Carnival is more than a festival; it is a living testament to resistance, creativity, and community. May these books inform, empower, and connect readers to the stories, traditions, and voices that keep our Carnival spirit alive. 01) Ms. V's Hot Girl Summer - A.H. Cunningham (2025) 02) Carnival Curves - Stacey Robinson (2025) 03) Caribbean Carnival Hoe - Rachael Reed (2024) 04) Carnivals and Cultural Festivals of the Caribbean - Anthony Berot (2024) 05) Malaika, Carnival Queen - Nadia L. Hohn, Irene Luxbacher (2023) 06) Rekindling Our Carnival Rhythms: Reigniting Our Soul -...

Kya Publishing's carnival-centric outlet @CarnivalSpotlight is featuring a six-part blog series, highlighting various aspect of Caribbean Carnival culture, in an effort to reflect, inform, and encourage the development and documentation of the cultural phenomenon that is celebrated and revered by Caribbean natives, descendants, and supporters around the globe. From a Canadian perspective, we will give an overview and list recommended next steps for those who are curious about and/or committed to sustaining and enhancing the culture that inspires the lives of thousand of international revellers, creatives, and participants each year. We are all stimulated by a range of external factors, and the power and influence of said factors can drive us to engage in particular behaviours, attend certain events, and invest our time in money in very specific activities. For me, that stimuli is music. It never fails. Particularly when it comes to Caribbean music, it's virtually impossi...

Carnival Nationz Mas Camp Shantal Otchere for Now Toronto It's tradition. After the spring launches of the individual Toronto Caribbean Carnival masquerade bands, carnival enthusiasts and participants across the city and beyond can also look forward to the Mas Camp grand openings and the true physical beginning of the carnival season in the city. The Mas Camp is the hub of activity, construction, design, and camaraderie in the carnival community. It is a dedicated space where costume designers and their teams begin to carefully construct their costumes in preparation for parade day. It is the home for the individual mas bands, working towards the coveted titled of Band of the Year, based on their creativity, adherence to theme, and cohesiveness of their group/band overall. Carnival Nationz Mas Camp, Shantal Otchere for Now Toronto At the mas camp, not only can you witness creatives at work, but you can also take part in the development of the mas band for the seaso...

Culture is defined as the collective manifestation of arts and human intelligence . It is something we all create, together, in order to represent our community's existence. Our culture is how we present ourselves to others. How we celebrate our unique belongingness. How we communicate what we view to be traditional, important, and significant. In Toronto, our annual Carnival celebration (formerly and affectionately known as Caribana) is the most visible display of Caribbean culture across the country. In fact, it used to be the largest street festival amongst ANY culture in North America. Used to be. This year looked kinda scanty. Naturally, there are individuals who take the various elements of their individual cultures very, very seriously. The foods they eat, the way they dress, how they conduct themselves, and the languages they speak. They hold on to these elements proudly, as it is these factors that solidify their purpose, and dictate how they interpret the world arou...

Now that Toronto Caribbean Carnival season has passed, and the festivities formerly known as "Caribana" are a few weeks behind us, I can't help but reflect on what this occasion has meant to the city, the country, and the Caribbean culture. Here are our thoughts, on behalf of myself and Kya Publishing (who have been involved in the administration and production of carnival on the mas band level since 2011), as posted on our speciality site: @CarnivalSpotlight earlier this week. "It's more than just  # JumpingUp  in costume, dancing on Lakeshore Boulevard, taking selfies with  # SocaArtists , having the biggest  # SoundSystem  and the prettiest truck  # OnDeRoad , and IG recording the  # WickedestWine . It's more than just  # CostumeDesign , and parade logistics, media appearances, and the coveted  # BandOfTheYear  title. Each year our  # TorontoCarnival  comes and goes. For 51 years we have looked forward to this ...