The flagwoman is a leader of a tribe, whether it is a pan side or a J’Ouvert band. She clears space around her on the road.
The ethos of the professional flagwoman is respecting the flag she waves and not letting it touch the ground –in other words, don’t drag the flag!
Some practitioners say respect for this artform is being lost, with the flagwoman being seen as a decorative element or a winer girl.
Approximately ten participants turned out to the inaugural Massy Trinidad All Stars Doh Drag De Flag! flag-waving workshop at its panyard on Duke Street, Port of Spain, on February 15.
Demonstrators Rhonda Allick, who waves the flag for All Stars and the TT Fire Services Steel Orchestra, and Jacqueline Morris, who waves the flag for Shell Invaders Steel Orchestra and 3canal on stage and at J’Ouvert, educated the participants about what being flagwomen meant to them.
Morris said, “The flagwoman is a flag waver, a controller of her space and the space of whoever she leads. She can hold in place, or clear the way, serving as protector and guide, as opposed to the jamette, who will get in your face to protect and defend herself or community, and in contrast to the winer girl, who does not belong with a flag or holding the banner.”
Morris said while some men do wave flags, the position is traditionally held by women.
Allick said dragging or dropping the flag was disrespectful to the band being led.
“It’s not supposed to be touching or sweeping the ground. You’re supposed to know how to carry yourself as a lady.
[caption id="attachment_1002730" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Women learn the art of flag waving for steebands at MassyTrinidad All Stars panyard, Duke Street, Port of Spain. - Angelo Marcelle[/caption]
"It have those who will go and wave their flag but it’s in a vulgar way, it’s not waving flag.
"To me, pan is the national instrument and you have to respect that, and you must respect yourself.”
Over the course of 90 minutes, the women were taught how to wave the flag so that it flowed in front of them or over their heads, how to pass it under their legs and behind their backs, including how to shorten the flag for the vertically challenged, and how to wave it in a crowd without hitting people.
The demonstrators said flagwomen lead pan sides on and off stage, wave the flags non-stop during performances which can be eight minutes or longer, and sometimes lead the bands from the panyards to the Queen's Park Savannah and back – a full night’s work in some cases.
Leading a J’Ouvert band through the streets can also take hours, during which the flagwoman must continually keep the flag active and make sure it doesn’t touch the ground.
Allick and Morris explained that waving a flag was akin to a sport in that you had to warm up beforehand, including the neck, shoulders, arms, wrists, spine, and body. Additionally, they advised eating two hours before a flag-waving session, and knowing how to keep your body
