Welcome to Trinidad
Trinidad is part of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago – an island country in the Caribbean. The first people who lived in Trinidad came from South America.
From 1498 to 1814, different European countries wanted to rule Trinidad, including Spain and Britain. Many people who already lived in Trinidad were enslaved by the new rulers. They were treated badly and many of them died. They fought for their freedom for a long time. For over 150 years, Trinidad was considered part of Britain. However, in 1962, Trinidad gained independence from Britain. Fourteen years later, Trinidad became a republic. Did
Trinidad and Tobago are just off the coast of South America
Trinidad’s
history has had a big impact on its art and culture.
Trinidad
Tobago
Art in Trinidad
FACT FILE: Trinidad
Capital city: Port of Spain
Climate: tropical
Sunshine hours per day: around 7
Rainy days each year: around 156
National instrument: steelpan
Did you know?
In Trinidad, art is a huge part of people’s lives.
For example, Carnival, also known as ‘mas’, takes place every year in Trinidad. People wear colourful costumes and dance.
When steelpans vibrate, sound is created.
Trinidad is known for calypso (say: kuh-lip-so) music – a lively style of music that often tells stories through songs. It is associated with Carnival. Enslaved people sang calypso songs to communicate as they weren’t allowed to talk
Create a Carnival costume!
1 Get some paper and colouring pencils.
2 Design a colourful carnival costume. Use the picture of Carnival on this page for inspiration.
To associate one person or thing with another is to connect them in your mind.
Who is Winifred Atwell?
Winifred Atwell was famous for playing the piano. Most people called her Winnie.
Winnie grew up in northern Trinidad near the capital city, Port of Spain. Her father was a pharmacist (say: faa-muh-sist) and her mother was a nurse.
Port of Spain
Trinidad
Tobago
Did you know?
There is some confusion about which year Winnie was born. Some of the information is inaccurate. Most people think she was born around 1913.
Winnie loved music. She started playing the piano when she was four years old. After a few years, she started teaching other people how to play the piano!
Winnie practised for many hours every day to refine her piano playing.
Inaccurate means not correct. You refine something when you improve it, often by making small changes.
Practise, practise, practise
When Winnie was older, she began working in her father’s pharmacy. However, she really wanted to become a concert pianist (say: pea-uh-nist ). She loved to play classical music.
Winnie did not allow anything to distract her from achieving her goal. She continued to practise playing the piano in her spare time. She passed many music exams. Winnie became well known in Trinidad for her classical music concerts.
Did you know?
Music exams test how well you play a musical instrument. The first music exams took place more than 100 years ago!
Create a drawing from music!
Analyse music:
1 Listen to your favourite music.
2 Draw a picture of what you hear.
Imagine the music is telling a story. Draw what you feel when you listen to it.
To distract someone is to take their attention away from something. You analyse something when you think carefully about it, or look carefully at it, considering each part in detail.