7 News Belize

Jā€™ouvert Madness In The Streets
posted (September 13, 2010)
And after the historicity and symbolism of the tenth, the weekend gave way to the debauchery of carnival bacchanal. And that began early on Saturday morning - and when we say early we mean at 4:00 am.

That's usually dream time for Monica Bodden and Emaun Hyde but the pair dragged themselves out of bed for their first j'ouvert. Here's how that went:

The first, most important thing for j'ouvert is the mud and there was plenty of that being served out in cupfuls. The second most important thing is the crowd - and there was plenty of that - more than ever before as hundreds of pre-dawn revelers gathered for this - the other carnival - where there's no costume required: the rule is, come as you are and leave, looking like a mess, as we soon found out.

Monica Bodden
"it's actually 4:44 here on Central American Boulevard. Emaun and Monica out this side; oh my God they want to get some mud on us. But anyhow we are here covering j'ouvert live on Channel 7 and of course we are glad to be out here, the crowd is the biggest I've ever seen so far. Emaun tell me how you actually managed to wake up this morning?"

Emaun Hyde
"After like 1,000 missed calls I made it out here and am now covered in mud."

Monica Bodden
"You are having fun?"

Emaun Hyde
"Yea, I feel like I am eating the mud but it's all good you know."

Monica Bodden
"It's actually like 8 hours before carnival and of course this is the feeling, everybody's getting hype up for the actual carnival road march."

Participant
"We are just going on bad."

But for the massive crowd that spilled into the streets what was really going on bad was the sound system - it wasn't working - and at the western highway roundabout - some of the crowd started going their own way

Monica Bodden
"What time is it right now Emaun?"

Emaun Hyde
"Its 6 o' clock."

Monica Bodden
"And we are out here from 4:30 bringing j'ouvert live to you. Again we are here at Belcan Bridge. The crowd is awesome, if could look behind the box is just crazy awesome. Look at this, everybody says that this is the biggest crowd that they have ever seen for j'ouvert so far in Belize."

Emaun Hyde
"They are having the time of their lives."

Monica Bodden
"I know that you have been doing this thing every year. Is this the most massive crowd you've ever seen so far for j'ouvert?"

Marsha Smith, J'ouvert Veteran
"Yes this is so excited. For a moment I was upset, the music box was giving problems, I was wondering what's the problem when this years is the year that we are so happy and excited to see so much people come out and support j'ouvert, that's to show that love is still here in our country. Love is amongst our self, it's a fun time' once a year thing."

Patrick Thompson, President, Carnival Association
"Well as everybody knows that every year j'ouvert grows and we must say that this year we grow drastically. But one thing that I must say, I must apologize to everyone that is out here for the music system. But as you can see the people is not really worrying about the music system, once that mud is there everybody is enjoying themselves. Right now we have a little sample for you. Come, come, come."

Emaun Hyde
"We already full of mud."

Participant
"You should be lucky because you get the finishing. But expect the same hypeness come 1 o' clock when the revelers take the street for carnival."

Monica Bodden
"Tell me the whole purpose of j'ouvert here?"

Participant
"The j'ouvert is for jumpstart the carnival. A lot of people want to enjoy the carnival but they are not into that costume thing so the j'ouvert is just for the early people."

Monica Bodden
"What's the purpose for you coming out here?"

Participant
"Having fun."

Eventually the crowd and the truck did start moving and as the first light of morning illuminated the revelers - the crowd got their boost and it was a party in the streets by dawn's early light….

And while the baby was in hand - the crowd was out of hand as it entered the final stretch leading to the finish at the Belcan bridge - wildly singing those carnival anthems, as the mud and paint formed a hardened shell…

Monica Bodden
"Ok guys this is the end of j'ouvert 2010. As you can see behind us this crowd is really massive. Overall Emaun I think this crowd is so just spectacular."

Emaun Hyde
"It's the ending, but they don't want it to end. They are still singing and dancing."

Monica Bodden
"Now can you picture this crowd actually washing off the mud in the river? I had no idea it was going to be this big."

Emaun Hyde
"It's amazing how many people came out and how any people actually supported the j'ouvert."

Home | Archives | Downloads/Podcasts | Advertise | Contact Us

7 News Belize