Guynael and Frida Justand are brother and sister. Natives of Martinique, in the West Indies, they lived part of their adolescence in Beauvais (Oise), before leaving and returning five years ago for him, seven years ago for her. Beauvaisians at heart, Guynael and Frida remain marked by their native island. So much so that they decided to organize a West Indian carnival in the Oise. «These are our childhood memories, we grew up in themwhispers Frida. It’s part of our DNA!»
Former American footballer, Guynael Justand also has another string to his bow: he played in a West Indian carnival group in Paris, Mass Paname, voted best group of the Paris Tropical Carnival Federation in 2018, among others. “Basically, these groups were created to make themselves heard, because at the time the West Indians could not have weaponsexplains Guynael. So we had to make noise, noise, noise…» And in the 1970s, the tradition of the West Indian carnival appeared. But today, it is starting to be lost. “We try to instill this tradition in our children, it is important for future generations», note Frida.
Karnaval’Oise, the carnival of the Antilles in the Oise
And to introduce the West Indian carnival to the people of Ois, Guynael and Frida therefore decided to create an association, Karnaval’Oise, which will be responsible for organizing at least one carnival per year in the department. The first should take place in Beauvais in April 2025. «Beauvais is the mother land of the Oise, we had to start here», smiles Guynael. “When we lived in Beauvais, in the early 2000s, we found that the city was very livelycontinues her sister Frida. But when we came back, we realized that there wasn’t much left apart from the Jeanne-Hachette parties. Carnival is our culture. We want to share it.»
If all goes well, the first West Indian carnival in the Oise should arrive on the Place des Halles or on the Place Jeanne-Hachette in Beauvais on April 19. “We chose a period where there are no others in Francespecifies Guynael. The one in Paris brings together 7,000 people, we will try to have 5,000 visitors for our first event.»
Dance, music and food
In total, eight groups, including one made up of around sixty people including 40 dancers, will be there. Groups from all over France, ready to share their West Indian culture. Creole food stands as well as a makeup workshop will also be planned to make the party complete. “We want to make people want to visit the Antillessmiled Frida. I think you’ll like it!»
If everything will depend on the popularity of this first carnival, Guynael and Frida would like to organize one or two carnivals per year in the department, whether in Beauvais, Méru, Senlis, Noyon or even Compiègne. In Vendée, La Roche-sur-Yon has already asked them to prepare the same type of event.
