Numerically small but culturally significant, Moko Jumbies have a long lineage in Carnival across the Caribbean. These magical, towering figures — regarded as ancestral spirits — are a direct manifestation of a West African cultural tradition that crossed the Atlantic during the era of slavery.

Moko Sõmõkow, the group of Moko Jumbies shown in these images, is emblematic of the incredible artistic creativity that Trinidad and Tobago Carnival is renowned for. The magical, mystical presence of the Moko Jumbie is spellbinding.