Ins & Outs of Grenada

120  CARRIACOU & PETITE MARTINIQUE INS& Photo: Anna Lomax Winston Fleary at a boat launch in Carriacou in 2013 By Danielle Miller A Cultural Ambassador for Carriacou Winston Fleary Age catches up with us all eventually. Mr Winston Fleary’s nephew, Trevor McIntosh, visits him in the nursing home where he now resides in Carriacou, barely able to communicate, and having lost both his legs to diabetes. Trevor plays recordings of Big Drum music for his uncle, and describes his reaction: “His face softens, there’s a twinkle in his eyes, and it’s clear that he’s being transported back in time. He looks like he’s ready to jump up, grab a drum and start dancing.” You’d struggle to find someone who has contributed more to Carriacou’s cultural heritage than Winston Fleary has over his 76 years. Credited with taking Big Drum from Carriacou and showcasing it to the world, and named by Grenada’s Ministry of Culture as a Cultural Ambassador for Carriacou, he dedicated his life to the artform, as a drummer, dancer, singer, playwright and charismatic leader of many Big Drums. Carriacou is unique in its celebration of Big Drum. While the name focuses on the instrument, Big Drum is actually a series of dances, which are prepared for special occasions in the community. These include weddings, the raising of tombstones, boat launches and village maroons, where villagers come together, cook traditional food and partake in Big Drum often to give thanks for a good rainy season and hope for a better one. The music is mainly singing and rhythmic chanting, complemented with three drums, shakers and maracas. The dances have very direct roots back