Traditional Mas is more than a celebration. It is a living expression of Grenada’s history.
Year after year, Traditional Mas brings together some of the island’s most recognizable cultural figures, Shortknee, Vieux Corps, Shakespeare Mas, Dame Lorraine, Moko Jumbie, and Wild Indian, each carrying its own connection to the generations that came before us.
Together, they remind us that Grenadian culture is not one single tradition. It is the result of many histories meeting and becoming something uniquely our own.
Shortknee is one of Grenada’s most distinctive traditional masquerades. The character is associated with the island’s African heritage and is known for its elaborate costume, rhythmic movement, music, and playful interaction. Shortknee celebrations are especially connected to the community of Carriacou, where the tradition has been preserved and passed down through generations.
Vieux Corps, meaning “old body,” represents one of the older forms of Grenadian masquerade. The characters, often dressed in old-fashioned clothing and masks, reflect the influence of European traditions that became part of Caribbean life during the colonial period. The tradition carries with it a sense of memory, bringing the past into the present through costume and performance.
Shakespeare Mas draws on the influence of European theatre and literature while giving it a distinctly Grenadian expression. Performers recite passages from Shakespeare, often competing to demonstrate their ability to remember and deliver the verses. What makes the tradition particularly fascinating is the way a European literary form has been transformed into something that belongs to our own cultural landscape.
Dame Lorraine is a satirical masquerade character traditionally portrayed through exaggerated clothing and mannerisms. The character is often associated with commentary on colonial society and social behavior. Like many traditional masquerades, Dame Lorraine uses humor and performance to reflect society back to itself.
Moko Jumbie represents another powerful strand of Caribbean masquerade. The stilt walkers, towering above the crowd, create an almost supernatural presence as they move through celebrations. The tradition has roots in West African spiritual and cultural practices, where stilt walking was associated with spiritual protection and the ability to see beyond the ordinary. In the Caribbean, Moko Jumbie became part of carnival and traditional masquerade, evolving into the striking figure we recognize today.
Wild Indian carries its own history of resistance and identity. The masquerade is connected to representations of Indigenous Caribbean people and the historical memory of the region’s first inhabitants. Through elaborate costumes, feathers, movement, and performance, Wild Indian keeps alive a visual connection to the Indigenous peoples whose presence predates European colonization.
Each of these traditions tells a different story.
And together, they tell our story.
Grenada’s history was shaped by the Indigenous peoples of the region, including the Kalínago and Arawak, followed by Spanish and French colonization, the brutal system of African enslavement, and later the arrival of indentured workers from places such as India. These histories brought different peoples, beliefs, languages, traditions, and ways of life into contact with one another. Out of that complicated history emerged the culture we call Grenadian today.
That history cannot be separated from who we are.
Our traditional masquerades give us a way to see that history, not simply in books or museums, but through people. Through costumes. Through movement. Through music. Through characters that have survived because generations of Grenadians chose to keep performing them.
This is why Traditional Mas matters.
As Grenada grows, there is an even greater responsibility to ensure that these traditions do not disappear. Cultural preservation is not about refusing to move forward. It is about moving forward with an understanding of where we came from.
Our culture is powerful because it carries the faces of our history.
It carries the stories of the people who were here before us, the people who were brought here, the people who arrived here, and the generations who made this island their home. It reflects struggle, survival, adaptation, creativity, resistance, and celebration.
This is who we are. This is where we come from.
Traditional Mas gives these histories space to breathe, allowing each generation to experience and carry them forward.
We congratulate Hermitage Shortknee, this year’s Traditional Mas Festival winner, for keeping this important tradition alive and delivering a presentation worthy of the honor.
To preserve these traditions is to preserve a part of ourselves.
And as we celebrate Shortknee, Vieux Corps, Shakespeare Mas, Dame Lorraine, Moko Jumbie, Wild Indian, and the many cultural traditions that make Grenada unique, we are reminded that our greatest strength lies not only