With flags representing various Caribbean countries in hand and soca music playing, more than thirty students gathered on the Lakefill on Saturday to celebrate Northwestern’s third annual J’ouvert, hosted by CaribNation, NU’s Caribbean Student Association.
J’ouvert, pronounced Joo-vay, is a traditional Caribbean celebration marking the start of Carnival, a street festival honoring the Caribbean diaspora’s heritage and culture. The celebration’s name originates from the French words “jour ouvert,” which mean “daybreak” or “morning.”
After the abolition of slavery in the 19th century, formerly enslaved people used J’ouvert as a day to celebrate their newfound freedom.
CaribNation co-finance chair and Weinberg senior Annabelle Gray said the event was a way to introduce the NU community to Caribbean culture, as well as provide Caribbean students the opportunity to find community on campus.
“One of our goals with CaribNation is to create events for people to come and learn, and feel like they’re included,” Gray said. “But also just to meet people and create community.”
In the spirit of Carnival, CaribNation executive board members brought paint for students to cover themselves and each other with, along with Jamaican beef patties for attendees to enjoy.
Even Caribbean students like McCormick senior and CaribNation member Gabi Pedrazzani find themselves learning new things about various Caribbean cultures. Pedrazzani said she has “fallen in love” with J’ouvert.
“It’s always important to find those you can relate to and that little piece of home and piece of culture when you’re at school,” she said.
For Weinberg sophomore Dorian Washington, events like J’ouvert aren’t just fun, but provide students with a “home away from home,” and the opportunity to appreciate their culture.
The Black student population at NU totals just less than 5% according to a 2023 demographic breakdown from Data USA. The Caribbean student population on campus makes up an even smaller number within that percentage, according to Gray.
“We’re small but mighty,” Pedrazzani said. “There’s not that many of us, but we show up and show out.”
CaribNation came back to NU in 2020 after being dissolved years prior, and with it came a large effort to bring back J’ouvert, Pedrazzani said.
Following the reestablishment of CaribNation, Pedrezzani said she saw a growth in interest and student participation in events like Caribbean Cultural Connect, which allows students to learn about the different countries in the Caribbean, and Carnival Band Launch, which highlights Carnival costumes, with live dance performances and a traditional folklore skit.
Gray said having a dedicated space like CaribNation at NU has been a great way to connect with other Caribbean students, on a campus where it can be hard to build a community.
“At Northwestern, you really have to find your community here, and if you don’t seek it out, you’re kind of always just floating,” she said.
Looking ahead, Pedrazzani said she is excited for the future of CaribNation and hopes to see the events and club grow even further.
“It’s a really important connection to where we truly come from and what we’ve gone through historically, what our ancestors have fought for and what we continue to fight for,” Pedrazzani said.
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