Jab Jab

The Jab Jab, “whipmaster” or “rope jab” is the proper creole combination of African stick fighting (kalinda) and Indian stick dancing traditions (gatka), making it a martial art in mas. Their costumes resemble the mediaeval jesters embellished with small mirrors and strips of cloth from the tradition of the stick fighter. Jabs Jabs are far more than a costume and chant as the players undergo rigorous physical training, fasting and herbal remedies to prepare mentally and physically for combat and carnival. The iconic cracking whip is typically made from the natural fibres of the green agave plant, locally known as the lash plant. The leaves are beaten to get to the fibre and is then treated with linseed oil, out to dry then plaited into the whip.