From the barrack yards to the world stage

In 1881, stick-fighters, jamettes, and ordinary Africans of Port of Spain stood up against the colonial authorities of Trinidad who sought to extinguish their right to celebrate Carnival. They won.

That act of resistance — known as the Canboulay Riots, or Kambule (from the Kikongo word meaning procession) — is the reason Trinidad and Tobago's Carnival exists today, inspiring over 100 similar celebrations across the world.

Songs of Kambule

Songs of Kambule is an album that carries those voices forward — original music rooted in the rhythms, languages, and spiritual foundations of that moment, brought alive for today's generation.

"Carnival is so much more than the frivolity that is promoted. These songs provide insight into the deep connections between Carnival and our ongoing quest for self-recognition and cultural confidence."

— DARA HEALY, DIRECTOR, IDAKEDA GROUP

Playwright and Poet Laureate Eintou Pearl Springer first imagined Kambule as a play performed at 4am every Carnival Friday morning at the site of the original riots — a living memorial to those who fought so Carnival could survive.

Songs of Kambule takes that spirit into the recording studio, creating an enduring musical legacy for communities in Trinidad, the Caribbean, and beyond.

Idakeda Group Ltd. - PO Box 5187 - Western Main Rd - St. James - Trinidad and Tobago