Jab Molassie is one of Carnival’s most powerful and symbolic characters, a form of mas steeped in history, resistance and African heritage.
TTT News caught up with members of The Jab Company to learn more about the history behind the tradition.
Jab Molassie practitioner, Kirsten, explained more: “They would have stemmed from prehistoric days in the barracks, and it’s known as a protest mas, right? We are still in 2026 fighting for things, fighting for our rights, fighting for the same things that they would have fought for back in the day. So when we put on that paint, black painting particularly represents these Black Africans, and it symbolises the blackness of the character because we were known as black. Black was known as devil.”
She also explained why the movements of the Jab Molassie are not human-like.
“So when these people were thrown into molasses pits, chances of them coming out alive were very little, but if they came out alive, they were deformed. So the movement represents deformation of a human, right, which is not regular. So your arms are twisted, your head is twisted, your body is, you know, twisted. So to give that type of movement into your performance.”
Another member of the group, Frankie, also known as ‘Silence,’ explained why some performers are smeared in blue dye.
“The people of Paramin, they used blue because they were away from the plantations in Caroni area and Central. So they used the ricket blue to smear their skin to disguise themselves as well because they were isolated on that hill.”
He also stressed that the Jab Molassie should not be confused with the Jab Jab.
“The Jab Molassie is the black devil in molasses, that’s what it translates to. Jab Molassie, devil in molasses, and Jab Jab are the whip masters. That’s the men you see cracking the whips.”