In Guadeloupe – as in Martinique, St Martin and St Barthélemy – Ash Wednesday has no religious meaning: it’s the day the funeral of King Vaval, the king of carnival, is celebrated. Catholics will receive the ashes the following Friday… This Wednesday, February 26, the carnival lovers had an appointment in the two major cities of Basse-Terre and Pointe-à-Pitre but also in the towns to say goodbye to their king. In Pointe-à-Pitre, the crowd gathered mainly on Légitimus Boulevard, Frébault Street and Place de la Victoire to see the different groups parade (Tonshi Mass, Mass LaPwent, Toumblack, Origin’ All, Double Face, Guimbo All Stars, Mas Ka Klé, Nasyon a Nèg Mawon etc.). Like every year, black and white were the two required colors, but other colors such as purple have appeared in recent years. This year, we did not meet in the city King Vaval’s widows in tears; even though they were sad, the carnival lovers greeted His Majesty’s departure by laughing, singing, dancing and playing music until very late at night. The group Guimbo All Stars accompanied with a popular jubilation the burning of King Vaval organized by the Groupement pour la Culture et le Carnaval en Région Pointoise, GCCRP, in La Darse.
In twenty days, at Mid-Lent, carnival lovers will be back in the streets of the Guadeloupean archipelago dressed in red and black…
