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Belle Garden – Belé Festival |
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"Papa Bower's Will"
Belle garden is blessed with two of the oldest and most beautiful surviving Plantation Houses in Tobago, the Richmond Great House and the Belle Garden Great House.
Throughout the day there will be various tours through the village, followed by street processions to the pulsating sounds of the Tamboo Bamboo and Steelpan. Patrons can feast on the various French delicacies on sale. The day’s activities culminate with the Bele festival
The re–enactment of the Belé Festival showcases the fusion of both African and French cultures. The African slaves quickly adopted the celebrations and customs of the French hierarchy, superimposing their own practices and drumming rhythms thus birthing the unique belé dance. At the Belé Festival, spectators will be treated to variations of the belé dance: - the Grand Belé, Congo Belé and the special Tobago Belé. The 2009 Belé Festival production, “Papa Bower’s Will” is based on the death of the plantation owner of the Belle Garden estate. Both the French and African customs of the parting with the dead will be highlighted. The staging of the Belé Festival is hoped to bring peace to his soul. |
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