After the abolishment of slavery in Trinidad in 1845 free blacks began celebrating Canboulay every year on the night before Carnival. They dressed in costumes which mimicked their former slave owners and focused attention on the conditions they were subjected to. This celebration, which took place in the streets of Trinidad's larger cities, in defiance of the British colonial government, involved clashes with the police which culminated in the Canboulay riots of 1881 in Port of Spain and again in 1884 in San Fernando and Princes Town.
The Canboulay riots are a critical piece of Trinidad's movement to independence and are commemorated each year with a reenactment in the streets of Port of Spain followed by a traditional Mas featuring the characters common to the original celebration.
Credits:
All photos © 2017 Bob Williams