Lionel Jagessar Senior has been playing traditional Fancy Indian mas for the last 42 years. The youngest of seven brothers, he has four children of his own. He started mas with his brother Errol who has since passed away, along with all other his brothers. Jagessar Snr says that things are different with the mas now: “Before we used to be chanting, but now there’s a lot of choreography.”

His son, Lionel Jagessar Jnr says, “I’ve been playing mas before I could remember. The legend goes that I was born in December of 1986 and the next February 1987 I was in a costume on the road in the arms of a sitter or a stroller with my hands in the air and trying to move to the beat. So I’ve been playing mas my entire 32 years.

“Dad’s older brothers would let him go on the road with them in the late 1950’s and follow them to collect money from spectators who appreciated how they looked. So for Dad 60 years and for me my entire 32 years.

“For our family our earliest known member is one of Dad’s older brothers Errol Jagessar who could have been playing since the 1940’s and we give him the position of starting us off but as a band from 1979.

“2019 holds the same significance as every other year - that we get to work together as a family to make a difference in the world. How many other families can say they have made such a mark in mas: 100 plus kings and queens, 200 plus individuals, over 60 bands. We just wish the future hold continued success and togetherness.”

The National Library has an exhibition of the Jagessars’ work which ends on March 12, 2019.

Story Editor-Simon Lee
Videographer-Andrea De SIlva