Lost Tribe's Lost in Time delights SunsetWKN

PATRONS swarmed the North Park of the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain, which was transformed into a Carnival playground for the Tribe Group's highly-anticipated SunsetWKN Launch Land event.

The drinks-inclusive affair, which started at 7 pm, was pulsing with activity, before the group comprising Tribe, The Lost Tribe, Bliss and Harts – could even present its Carnival 2025 mas designs on July 6.

While the beginning of the costume presentation was a bit confusing, as patrons were observed moving from one stage to the next to view the costumes, it became clear after a while that all of the bands would eventually be presented on both stages.

Both Bliss and Harts did not deviate from the feathers and gems mas which their followers adore – if the appreciative yells from the crowd were any indication.

However, it was The Lost Tribe's Lost In Time presentation that had the crowd in an apparent frenzy as patrons were visibly gushing over the designs that told the story of the band's themes through the years, dating back to 2016, with designs inspired by the band's archives.

Shawn Dhanraj's The Lost Tribe section, Seven, appeared to be a favourite among the women. One particular Seven design roused the greatest reaction. It was created with lilac fabric, intricately layered with cascading pastel, multihued material and centred by a colourful appliqué, starkly juxtaposed against gems reminiscent of dew drops.

The four bands have various themes: Tribe's 2025 theme is AGRA, The Lost Tribe’s theme is Lost in Time, Bliss’ is Aura, and Harts’ is Gemstone Dreams.

Elaborating on AGRA, creative director Valmiki Maharaj said: “We wanted to do something that hits the core of what Tribe is. Hit the core of what our masqueraders’ love – which is something that is visual, something that’s cultural. But most importantly, something that’s imaginative.

“AGRA gives you a space developed on the idea of a space – not necessarily an actual space itself. It is culturally inspired, not culturally just derived.”

At the North Park large, metal containers were set up, bursting with brightly-coloured motifs, loud music and three-dimensional designs encapsulating the themes of the four bands, which was a clear hit among the patrons. Some played video games, danced and took selfies, before making their way to one of the two large stages where the costume presentation began at 10 pm.

Maharaj explained Tribe’s technological drive to create a more immersive experience for patrons, saying, “Art reflects life, it reflects the world around us. And, the world around us is tech.

“We speak about storytelling, and storytelling used to be many years ago only on the road, but we have moved our storytelling from the road to the internet – where we launch our bands, our pictures, our websites, our experiences altogether…We can’t say we have lost storytelling from the mas, but it has moved from one space to the other.”

Traditional mas was also at the centre of this year's launch as moko jumbies were seen modelling designs, and patrons were also enthusiastically interacting with the stilted masqueraders as they made their way through the throng.

The Lost Tribe designer Atiba Borde, section leader for the Carnival 2024 section titled Fly (Sanctuary) told Newsday there will be “moko costumes” in the 2025 presentation, Lost in Time. Borde's section was artfully expressed by a moko jumbie model during the presentation.

“I wanted to create a very high-fashion young lady. And, if you see the moko jumbie, I wanted to create a very street wear, very cool fella. That man who is underrepresented in Trinidad and Tobago's Carnival. That’s who I wanted to create for, and that’s who I always create for.”

Borde said the presentation is a celebration of all the sections from past Carnivals and was based on TT's birds.

The costumes were made with handcrafted artificial, vegan feathers.

“It’s just a celebration of everything about Fly, everything about who we are as a people in Lost Tribe.”

In addition, Borde said the section is an “ode to all the people we have lost over the ten years of the Lost Tribe.”

He said his creative process always involves prayer and connecting with self.

“It’s very important to connect with yourself. That’s how you create what you were here for. Nobody is like each other. And the best thing you can do for the world is to be yourself.”

Borde had this advice for aspiring designers – be prepared.

“Always prepare. In those moments when you think no one is looking that’s when you should be perfecting your craft. Sketch, learn to sew, learn to cut – learn as much as you can…Absorb as much information as you can because then you can translate yourself into whatever theme that we want to do for Carnival.

“So, be yourself, read, learn.”

Lost Tribe turns 10

On The Lost Tribe celebrating its tenth anniversary, Maharaj, who is also the band’s leader said he feels like a proud parent.

“I feel like maybe how parents feel when they see their kids graduate. Seeing them (costumed models) lined up behind stage tonight was a full circle moment. I remember the first time in this very space when we launched the band – it’s a different time, it’s a different space.

“I’m just happy that we are still here and I’m happy to see the growth, and I’m happy to see the love and the community that we have generated, developed and grown to over the years.”

Maharaj said the first ten years of The Lost Tribe were developmental.

“It was meant not only for the world to know who we are but for us to know who we are ourselves. That was really important.

“I see Lost Tribe growing way beyond Carnival in terms of a brand. We are a lifestyle brand, we are a supportive, creative community and I want to see different activities. Not necessarily events but activities happening throughout the year.”

On what people should expect for Carnival 2025, Maharaj summed it up simply, saying, “amazingness.”

The four bands' themes and section titles are:

Tribe: AGRA

• Amaya
• Amina
• Heya
• Hikaya
• Laila
• Noor
• Rayana
• Sheba
• Siraj
• Yara
• Zahara
• Tajine

The Lost Tribe : Lost in Time

• 2016 – The Revolution (It in We Blood)
• 2017 – Riddim
• 2018 – Seven
• 2019 – Taj
• 2020 – Anansi
• 2021 – Lavway (The Face of Life)
• 2022 ­– Hope
• 2023 – 202WE
• 2024 – Fly (Sanctuary)
• 2025 – Found

Bliss: Aura

• Azalea
• Colibri
• Amethyst
• Absinthe
• Vermillion
• Oxum
• Ember
• Athena
• Celestial
• Wyld Fleur
• Elle
• Demure

Harts: Gemstone Dreams

• Ametri
• Lapis Azure
• Rose Quartz
• Malachite
• Amethystia
• Cerise
• Celestite Geode
• Morganite