Soca Moca: One Band, One Family

September Celebrations are less than a month away and Belizeans everywhere are gearing up for the occasion. For many, the highlight of the month is the carnival road march that sees the streets filled with colorful costumes, music and most importantly, dancing. In just a few short weeks, the streets will be filled as people gather to watch the hundreds of revelers showcasing their love of country and community. In this week’s episode of Kolcha Tuesday, News Five’s Britney Gordon caught up with Soca Moca for an idea of what the energy is as the carnival date marches towards us.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Sub Umbra Floreo: under the shade, I flourish. That is what is written at the bottom of Belize’s coat of arms. It is a symbol of Belize’s history and resilience. However, it is under the blazing sun that the members of the carnival group Soca Moca, revel. And this joy is a symbol of Belize’s freedom.

 

Joslyn Smith, Reveller

“Literally, I ready like now. Honesty I noh di lie. We ready like fah today.”

 

 

 

 

 

For carnival fanatics, Soca Moca has become a household name as it has been a part of the celebrations for twenty-two years. Although back then, the group was known as the Southside Masqueraders. Audrey Bradley, the owner of Soca Moca for the past fourteen years, tells us that the new name represents the blend of ethnicities that make up the mas band.

 

 

 

Audrey Bradley, Owner, Soca Moca

“Fortunately that is so easy. Everybody loves Soca Moca. I think we’re the people band. That’s never a problem for us. As people hear Soca Moca, they always want to come and join. Thank God I noh have to di likd beg, di recruit.”

 

 

 

Almost a quarter of the group is made up of Bradley’s family members, but it is never short of new faces. The group’s ability to attract new dancers is something she strives to foster.

 

Audrey Bradley 

“Everybody love us everywhere we go and da like when once they come inna da this circle, this carnival circle, they automatically turn family. We have people from I started fourteen years ago and now they call me cousin and sister. So da family.”

 

The dancers are comprised of women and men of varying ages. Wilson Bejerano, a reveler for the past two years, says everyone is welcomed here.

 

Wilson Bejerano, Reveller

“From the first practice you can see that everybody just really accept me and just want to have fun just like this. I just come back and dance again.”

 

Britney Gordon

“Miss Bradley describes this sort of like a community, like a family. What’s that like for you coming in and being a part of this?”

 

Wilson Bejerano

“Like just like where she said, like family just come in and that’s happy unconditional love. Really good.”

 

Taija Flowers is participating in the road march for the first time as a dancer. Bitten by the carnival bug, she immediately knew that Soca Moca was the right choice for her.

 

Britney Gordon

“And you feel that you feel any kind of nerves being like a newcomer joining a group like this?”

 

Taija Flowers, Reveller

“No, it’s all love here I love it here. Everybody’s so nice. Everybody’s so sweet. Everybody just pure vibes.”

 

 

 

 

Soca Moca’s theme this year is an illusionary insanity where madness meets mystical magic. According to veteran reveler, Roslyn Smith, the team is ready to bring that magic to the streets of Belize.

 

Roslyn Smith, Reveller

“Well we could seh anybody who join our group, we da love. We da like family. Soh as yo come, yo feel the support, you feel the love. Yoh no wah go nowhere, you wah stay cah wr da all about love. When you hear bout Soca Moca yo only think bout family. Yo see the song weh Mashall Montana mi bring out? We rolling with we family? This da the song fi match this group yah. We rolling with the family because we da like one big happy family.”

 

Britney Gordon for News Five.