Yuma’s Echoes of Iere speaks to Trinidad and Tobago’s roots

An inter-generational mix of people attended the first bandlaunch for the upcoming Carnival 2025: Yuma’s Echoes of Iere. However, it was heavily skewed to a more youthful end.

Although threats of rain and Hurricane Beryl loomed, it did not dampen the first band launch out of the gate.

Bandlaunches usually take place from the end of June into July, August, and even early September, giving potential masqueraders a view of what they can get for their money as well as time to purchase what they like.

By 10.26 pm, people lined up outside of the International Waterfront Centre, Wrightson Road, Port of Spain. At around, 10.30 pm, they were let in and were greeted by the sounds of DJ Watty as he took them through a mix of musical hits from the 80s and 90s. The event’s scheduled time was 10 pm-4 am.

Yuma Vibe – known for its pretty mas and its use of feathers – did not disappoint its followers who were given 14 sections from which to choose their 2025 costume.

A member of the band’s media and marketing team, Acacia de Verteuil told Newsday, “We had this theme previous to 2020, we wanted to work on specific to the roots of Carnival. Of course, the pandemic happened and we did not quite go into it as we wanted to.

“We did not want to let it go, so we thought, 'let us find another way to show our connections to our roots in Trinidad and Tobago to capture the complexity, the diversity of our culture, of our people, all the things that make us who we are.'”

Initially the band’s theme was called The Spirit of Trinidad but was then amended to Echoes of Iere, which spoke more to TT’s indigenous culture, she said.

“Who we are, by essence, is Iere. That is how we started. We decided to use that word to capture the overall theme and I think we did a pretty good job,” she added.

The Yuma team was happy with the attendance at Saturday’s event and said there was a virtual watch for people outside of the country, which was also well-subscribed.

Despite increases in the cost of raw materials to produce the costumes, Yuma has maintained a standard for accommodating the TT budget, de Verteuil said.

“Of course, there might be rises in certain things from a logistical perspective or from a drinks or food perspective; there may be economies of scale we may benefit from because of the sheer number of people we have within the band.

“I expect our prices are going to be palatable to the market. I expect they (masqueraders) are going to be happy because for the last two years, coming out of a very tough time, we have been able to sell out completely, in excess of 4,000 masqueraders,” she said.

She said it was not a number the band had before, as it usually tried to stay between 2,500-3,000 masqueraders.

“We have increased in size and we were able to maintain a really good price point as well. So we are looking forward to maintaining that particular aspect.”

Even though discussions were raised during this year’s Carnival about visitors going to other islands because of the cost of TT’s Carnival, de Verteuil said the band welcomes people visiting other carnivals.

She said the band has exported its product to other islands and has affiliates in Grenada, St Lucia and all over the world.

“We don’t think TT’s Carnival is replaceable, to be quite honest. We think TT’s Carnival is the mecca. This is where it originates.

“While we encourage people to look at whatever else there is, we believe people are going to come back home at some point. I think this experience is unique within itself. I think this experience is holistic.

“There is so much happening around Carnival, not just the road. There is so much leading up to it and so much history and diversity across the country.”

She encouraged visitors to experience the people and culture when coming to the country for Carnival.

She said it is important for the country to continue to spread the gospel of its Carnival all over the world and let it be known that this was where it started.

Asked if there were fears of TT losing the essence of what makes Carnival so special and appealing, de Verteuil said, "No."

But, she said, Carnival is evolving and this is a conversation that needs to take place in a more realistic way. “There are going to be changes. Carnival does not look the way it looks now than way back when it started. It certainly did not look the way it looked then, the way it looked when it came from our ancestors...”

She said TT has to accept that there are going to be evolutions which is not necessarily a bad thing, as it is human to adapt and grow.

De Vertueil said it must be remembered that Carnival was a culmination of all of the peoples who came to the islands.

She said Yuma’s 2025 presentation captures that and its 14 sections are indicative of it.

Yuma, she said, sets the stage for the other bandlaunches, as it is usually the first. The band does not see the others as competition as people need to have a variety of experiences for Carnival, she said.

Besides, she said, she knows die-hard Yuma masqueraders are to stay.

The venue was set in a semi-circular fashion, with a similar stage set-up that gave the audience a clear view.

Popular social media entertainer Gervail “Jr Lee Ent” Sean Lemo and radio and television personality Whitney Husbands introduced the 2025 presentation at around 1 am.

Soca artiste Patrice Roberts entertained the crowd at the end of the presentation.

Here is a list of the 14 sections:-

1. Echoes designed by Rawle Permanand

2. Hibiscus designed by Lauren Austin

3. Nariva designed by Christian Chow Chung

4. Buccoo designed by Rawle Permanand

5. Riddim designed by JAM the band

6. Masala designed by Kwasi McDonald

7. Bae-Go designed by Alejandro Gomez

8. Doux Doux Dahlin designed by Krave the Band

9. Emperor designed by Alejandro Gomez

10. Magnificent 7 designed by Alejandro Gomez

11. Castara designed by Marie Collette

12. Flambeaux designed by Lauren Austin

13. Poui designed by Marie Collette

14. Iere designed by Kwasi McDonald