TJJ here on d scene again, and this time reporting to you live and alive from Atlanta! It’s Saturday May 23rd 2009 and we, as usual, were given a warm welcome to the Official 21st Annual Atlanta Caribbean Carnival hosted by the Atlanta Caribbean Carnival Bandleaders Association.

Well it’s 11am and with some sleep still lingering in my eyes we made our way to the Civic Center Marta Station to meet up at the start of the Parade of Bands. As excited as the TJJ crew are about carnivals on the whole, it wouldn't be difficult to imagine us running through the streets of downtown Atlanta to catch up with the first band. People who lined the streets of Atlanta, who we can tell by the way, were obviously from many different parts of the Caribbean from the the various flags they were waving, were looking at us like we crazy. But we carrying the “Caribbean Flag” flying high because wherever there is a Carnival, we dey!

Ironically, the theme this year is ONE FLAG, promoting unity amongst all the Caribbean Islands, an ideal which is near and dear to my own heart. Speaking of near and dear, oh my oh my! The first queen of the band at the start of the parade looks simply gorgeous in her costume. Anyways, camera out ... it’s time to get to work! Smile Miss Queen ... Snap! Snap!

Photos By Neil B. & Franz J.
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The parade started promptly at noon and I’m glad that it did, because it looked like the bands were bursting with anticipation ready to go! As we follow the bands on West Peachtree Street, I must admit that any feeling of tiredness is no longer there. Both sides of the streets are lined with hundreds of people of all different shapes and colors. Many of them are dressed in shirts and pants and other Caribbean wear. The first 5 minutes of the roll call I could make out Barbados, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guyana, Antigua, Bermuda and of course, always present in any Carnival – Trinidad and Tobago!! All beautiful! The bands are a little smaller than what you might be accustomed to, but trust we, that didn’t stop them from jumping, waving and wining all over the place.

One of the bands, 'We Kinda Ting' just reveled all over the place to the soca beats. 'Thunderbirds USA' also brought a light to the parade with the beautiful portrayal of their costumes. Even in the parade line-up was a girl marching band, all dancing and stepping in line, twirling their batons in the air. First time we see that but ... they were having a ball. Dozens of trucks crept through the streets of downtown Atlanta, with both masqueraders and onlookers alike following behind having a good time chipping to the blaring sweet soca music. Couple times we had to ketch we self from getting lost in the niceness! What was nice to see throughout the parade, was how well the organizing committee had everything set up. From the coordination of the bands, to crowd control, everything was on point. There was even the support of Atlanta's finest ... the Atlanta Police Department ... in full effect, literally!! Thanks guys!

After about 2 hours, the parade made its way safely to it's destination, on the corner of Auburn Avenue and Fort Street. Once inside, we really could not believe our eyes and ears... and more so ..... our nose! For the next 8 hours, until 10pm tonight, downtown Atlanta would be transformed into exactly what the name proclaimed – Atlanta Caribbean Carnival! On the right – vendors selling all types of food from almost every Caribbean island. Jerk chicken, macaroni pie, stew chicken, fry fish, callaloo, roti, ox-tail, pelau, curry chicken, roast pork, corn soup, beef patties and even pineapple smoothies and coconut water. Food, food and more food. Allyuh know TJJ already, so one time we had to go take care of we belly... first things first, before the start of the evening proceedings! When I was done with that important matter, it was back to business.

On the left, vendors again, but this time selling a ton of arts and crafts. From Bob Marley t-shirts to hand-made leather bracelets, and from flags of all sizes to CD’s of the latest soca, reggae and dancehall music – whatever it is that you were looking for, was being sold! We felt like we was back in Trinidad, when one rastaman call we out, “Aye Trini Jungle Juice, mih boy, watch mih, ah have d latest 2009 here fi yuh”. Although ah was tempted, ah had to respectfully decline! Yuh done know TJJ respect we artists and culture enough to support their music in the right way. We were on the move again.

In front of us this time, was a beautiful stage that was set up to entertain the now very large crowd that had assembled. On stage, was the one and only host Nigel Fabien doing his thing. He had the crowd laughing and having a good time, all the time shouting his cliché nickname “Doi doi doi”. DJ Jungle Jim was flinging tunes left and right and back to the left again. Even the rain that decided to fall could not hold back the masses from having a good time. I guess it didn’t matter since everybody in the session was done wet and sweaty!

Shortly after the rain decided to give us a break and we could re-emerge without fear of damaging our cameras, the first of many many wicked and energizing performances began. In no specific order, coming one after the other to entertain d winers and jammers was 2 Greedi, Rudy, Impact 2 Band, Caribbean Music Farm, Natural Hye, WCK, Sugar Band, Burning Flames, Benji, Trini Jacobs, Denise Belfon and Ziggy Rankin! Whoa whoa whoa ... what a lineup! Performances nonstop from 2pm till all d way up to 10pm!

By this time the crowd had started to thin out just a little bit as the evening was on Auburn St. was coming to a close. We guess being that some people were going home to freshen up and rest up before heading out to another fete later that night.

All in all though, no matter what country you were from, or no matter your age, there was something for everybody to see, eat, listen to or enjoy at the the Official 21st Annual Atlanta Caribbean Carnival. Nuff love out to the promoters once again who took care of the TJJ family! True, Patricia, Marci and Gary, good job and thanks. All I know is that after 21 ... comes 22 .... so I look forward to enjoying the 22nd one of these! Who say Atlanta Carnival 2010? Me ... Mister Benz say so! Over and out ...

Is ah love,
Mister Benz