August 26 2013 – A 1779 lithograph by Brunais depicting an old world African artform called Kalinda, forms the basis for our journey. Kalinda, a form of dance incorporating stick fighting and special drum chants was brought to Caribbean slave plantations through the middle passage by way of the Congo and Angola. Few have heard of Kalinda and even fewer still understand its significances within the Caribbean diaspora. Two aficionados of this ancient artform, Keegan Taylor and Rondel (Benji) Benjamin, both internationally certified in multidisciplinary martial arts, provide narration through the long and winding lineage of Trinidadian Stick Fighting as they rediscover their roots in the compelling new documentary, No Bois Man No Fraid.
The journey for Taylor began 10 years ago with an introduction into the world of Russian martial arts which laid the foundation for the rough and tumble world of Trinidadian Kalinda. Along the way his skills culminated in team Gold and Silver at the Pan Am Sambo Championships. For Benjamin, proficiency in Karate, Kendo and Judo, led him to the discovery this woefully under exposed Trinidadian fighting culture whose history tries to strike a balance between the mystical warrior, who was both reformer and martial artist. Their journey of discovery led to further research into transcripts dating back to 1889 through the National Library in Trinidad and the collected works of Dr. Gordon Rohlehr, Professor of Literature at the University of The West Indies. Dr. Rohlehr research dealt specifically on how Kalinda and ‘Lavway’, the chants sung during the contests were an integral part in the formation of Calypso and Soca, two of Trinidad’s national music forms. Further inter-connections were found between Kalinda and classic carnival figures of that era.
The tribal roots of Kalinda comfortably grounded in mysticism with strong ancestral beliefs serves as the bridge between Trinidad’s pass and the new generation seeking to connect with their history. Nowhere are these ancestral beliefs more prominent than the stories told by the likes of Kalinda elders such as King Kali, Congo Bara, Uncle Stokely, and Mother Marie-Anne Cummings. Director, Christopher Laird never strays far from his core materials, pulling meaningful references and history touchtones to maintain context. The use of archival footage together with stills depicting ‘Gayelles’, the epicentre of combat crafted upon hundreds of years of tradition, are the foundations from which No Bois Man No Fraid takes flight.
Review: 3.5 out of 5: Documentaries on non-traditional martial art forms have always struggled to find their voice and an audience in a world littered with over exposed offerings that mainstream media is all to eager to serve up lukewarm. Director, Christopher Laird flips the script by carving out through extensive research, a little known form of martial arts with West African roots. It is through this exposure that we are able to understand the transformative influences Kalinda takes on within the Trinidadian diaspora. Through a documented history of this living art form that captures 85 recorded Lavways and images dating back to the 1700’s encompassing generations of African struggle, No Bois Man No Fraid is a much a needed addition to the documented world of martial arts.
Final Thought: Only the very brave are willing to enter this arena.
Genre: Documentary
Release: Date: 2013
Director: Christopher Laird
Writer: Christopher Laird (Story)
Runtime: 94 minutes
Cast: Keegan Taylor, Rondel (Benji) Benjamin
