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BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaGermany fans banned from buying number 44 kits over Nazi symbolismPublished44 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, AdidasImage caption, An Adidas spokesman denied that the kit’s resemblance to the Nazi SS rune was intentionalBy Ido VockBBC NewsAdidas has banned football fans from buying German football kits customised with the number 44, after media raised its resemblance to the symbol used by World War Two-era Nazi SS units. “We will block personalisation of the jerseys,” an Adidas spokesman said.SS units were the most responsible for crimes against humanity committed by the Nazis.The newly released kit has also caused controversy with its choice of pink for the away colours. The issue was first raised by historian Michael König, who said the design of the kits was “very questionable”. The SS rune was designed for use by the Nazi units in 1929. Members of the SS ranged from Gestapo agents to concentration camp guards. SS duties included administering death camps where millions of Jews and others were put to death.Adidas spokesman Oliver Brüggen denied that the kit’s resemblance to the Nazi symbols was intentional. “We as a company are committed to opposing xenophobia, anti-Semitism, violence and hatred in every form,” he said.Adidas separately told the BBC that the German Football Association (DFB) and its partners had designed the numbers on the shirts.In a post on X/Twitter, the DFB said the shirt designs had been submitted to UEFA for review during the design process and that “none of the parties involved saw any proximity to Nazi symbolism”.They added that an alternative design for the number four would be developed.The same kit has met additional controversy for its choice of bright pink as the away colour. Supporters say the colour represents the country’s diversity. But critics claim it is untraditional and has been introduced in order to raise money for the DFB. Adidas has manufactured German jerseys since the 1950s. But a decision by the DFB to drop German company Adidas in favour of the American giant Nike as the manufacturer of German football kits from 2027 has been blasted for lacking “patriotism” by Economy Minister Robert Habeck. Germany will host this year’s European Football Championship, which will be held in 10 different cities.Related TopicsNazi GermanyGermanyAdidasMore on this storyFans warned over German beer strength before EurosPublished4 days agoTop StoriesLive. Senior Iranian commander killed in Israeli strike, says Iran state mediaIsraeli strike destroys Iranian consulate in Syria, says Iran state mediaPublished56 minutes agoJK Rowling in ‘arrest me’ challenge over hate crime lawPublished4 hours agoFeaturesWill legalising cannabis unleash chaos in Germany?Is my family still alive? The daily question for HaitiansThe pothole signs that put a town in the spotlight’We bought a zoo and our lives turned upside down’Guardiola calls Liverpool ‘favourites’, but who will win title?AttributionSportBoxer’s premature baby inherits fighting spiritScotland’s controversial hate crime law… in 90 seconds. VideoScotland’s controversial hate crime law… in 90 secondsWhy morning light is so crucial to your health. VideoWhy morning light is so crucial to your healthFree childcare hours expands to two-year-oldsElsewhere on the BBCThe ultimate bromanceEnjoy the genius of Peter Cook and Dudley Moore with a journey through the archivesAttributioniPlayerProfessor Alice Roberts unearths her favourite musicThe scientist and Digging for Britain presenter is Lauren Laverne’s castawayAttributionSoundsWhy did four tragic murders spark an online obsession?The case racked up nearly two billion views on TikTok worldwideAttributioniPlayerCaffeine: Dangers and benefitsFind out what effects this drug can have on dementia and cardiovascular diseaseAttributionSoundsMost Read1JK Rowling in ‘arrest me’ challenge over hate crime law2Germany kit option blocked over Nazi symbolism3Twenty councillors quit Labour Party in protest4Israel accused of strike on Iran consulate in Syria5French toddler’s remains found but death a mystery6Crypt next to Marilyn Monroe’s sells for $195,0007’Facebook scammer tricked his way into our home’8Investigation links ‘Havana Syndrome’ to Russia9’We bought a zoo and our lives turned upside down’10Boxer’s premature baby inherits fighting spirit
[ad_1] Media said the number 44 on the shirts resembled the symbol used by WW2-era Nazi SS units.
![BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaPutin wants Berlin assassin Vadim Krasikov, but prisoner swap is murkyPublished10 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, BellingcatImage caption, A court found Vadim Krasikov was acting under Kremlin orders when he executed a Chechan seperatist in Berlin in 2019.By Jake LaphamBBC NewsIt is now one year since American journalist Evan Gershkovich was detained on a reporting trip in Russia. His best hope of release may be Vadim Krasikov, who is sitting in a German jail, convicted of an execution that was ordered by the Kremlin.In the summer of 2013, a Moscow restaurant owner was gunned down in the Russian capital. A hooded man jumped off a bike and shot his victim twice before fleeing.Six years later, an exiled Chechen commander, Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, was murdered in a busy Berlin park in eerily similar circumstances, shot by a man on a bike with a silenced Glock 26 in broad daylight. The assailant was arrested after dumping a pistol and wig in the River Spree close to the Reichstag, the building housing the German parliament.A passport bearing the name “Vadim Sokolov” was found on the Berlin assassin, but authorities quickly concluded that was not his name after all.The bald, strongly built man they had arrested was actually Vadim Krasikov, a Russian national with links to the FSB, the Russian security service – and the prime suspect in the 2013 murder in Moscow.In a recent interview with US TV talk show host Tucker Carlson, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin appeared to confirm reports that his country was seeking the release of the “patriot” Krasikov in exchange for American journalist Evan Gershkovich. This month marked one year since Mr Gershkovich, a reporter for the Wall Street Journal, was detained in Russia on espionage charges that are denied by him, his newspaper and the US government.Mr Gershkovich isn’t the only American in a Russian jail whose fate could be entwined with Krasikov’s. Former US Marine Paul Whelan and US-Russian citizen Alsu Kurmasheva are also detained in Russia on charges widely viewed as politically motivated.Image source, Reuters/EPAImage caption, Paul Whelan (L) has been in detention since 2018, Alsu Kurmasheva (C) since October last year and Evan Gershkovich since last MarchEven the late Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, who was serving a 19-year prison sentence in Russia, was said to be part of a swap involving Krasikov before he died, according to his allies. Following the Russian election, President Putin said he had agreed to release Navalny in return “for some people” held in the West, but the White House said that was the first it had heard of any such deal.If President Putin’s price stays the same, it means the most viable way of securing the release of the detained Americans would be a complex prisoner swap for Krasikov needing the cooperation of Germany, the US and Russia.Speaking to the BBC, German politician Roderich Kiesewetter said the deal would force Berlin into “hostage diplomacy”. So why does Putin seem so desperate to get Krasikov back?State-sanctioned killingThe first clues of a possible Kremlin hand in the Berlin murder come from Krasikov’s background – or rather, the lack of one. Documents obtained by the Bellingcat investigative website show he was wanted over the 2013 Moscow murder. However, two years later, the arrest warrant was withdrawn and the “Vadim Krasikov” identity seemingly vanished into thin air.That is when “Vadim Sokolov”, age 45, appeared. In 2015 he got a passport, and, in 2019, a tax identification number. A German court concluded that this documentation could only be sanctioned by the Kremlin, and therefore that Vadim Krasikov had state support for the Berlin murder. “Russian state authorities ordered the accused to liquidate the victim,” a German presiding judge said after sentencing Krasikov to life in prison. Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Germany expelled two Russian diplomats in response to the murder of Zelimkhan KhangoshviliHis victim, Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, was a Chechen rebel commander between 2000 and 2004, when Chechnya was fighting a war of independence against Russia. To Western observers, Mr Khangoshvili seemed likely to be part of a string of Moscow-ordered assassinations of Chechen exiles in Europe and the Middle East. The Kremlin denied orchestrating the Berlin murder, and dismissed the verdict against Krasikov as “politically motivated”. However, in his Tucker Carlson interview, President Putin appeared to make an admission when he said negotiations were under way for an exchange involving a Russian “patriot” who had “eliminated a bandit” in a European capital. Ulrich Lechte, who sits on the German government’s foreign affairs committee, told the BBC that President Putin’s desire to retrieve Krasikov is “a clear admission of guilt and shows how unscrupulously and unchallenged Russia has been able to act in our country”. FSB’s contract with assassins Vadim Krasikov belonged to the highly secretive ‘Vympel’ unit of Russia’s secret service, the FSB, according to prosecutors at his trial.”Its official remit is counter-terrorism operations at home, but it has in many ways returned to its original roots, as a unit tasked with covert ‘wet-work’ – sabotage and assassination – abroad,” Putin historian and Russian security expert Mark Galeotti told the BBC.Krasikov personally met Putin at a target shooting range while serving with Vympel, owned a BMW and Porsche, and travelled for work regularly, according to an interview his brother-in-law gave The Insider.An association between Krasikov and the FSB would provide one explanation for why Vladimir Putin, a former foreign intelligence officer himself, would be willing to hand over a prisoner of the value of Evan Gershkovich. Russia rejects offer to release jailed reporter Evan Gershkovich, US saysUS citizens jailed by Putin left hostage to a dealRussia again extends detention of US journalistBut Mark Galeotti said a potential deal says more about Russia’s social contract with agents abroad than the value of Krasikov individually. “It [Russia] says ‘look, if you do get caught, we will get you back, one way or the other. It may take a long time, but we will get you back’,” Mr Galeotti said. “That’s very important for getting people to put themselves in potentially very dangerous situations.” But whether Krasikov will ever be allowed back to Russia is ultimately up to the German government. The BBC approached three members of the government’s foreign affairs committee, all of whom oppose releasing Krasikov. Ulrich Lechte, whose Free Democratic Party is part of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government, insisted that Germany “must not do Russia this favour”. “This is a kind of amnesty and sends the political signal that Russia can commit further murders on our territory, which will then be released and thus remain unpunished,” Mr Lechte told the BBC. Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Politicians on Germany’s foreign affairs committee say Zelimkhan Khangoshvili’s murder was “state terrorism””It must not be allowed to prevail that foreign citizens are arbitrarily arrested in order to abuse them for a prisoner exchange.” Jürgen Hardt, from the Christian Democrats, said he “didn’t see any political support” for rumoured prisoner swaps involving Krasikov. Even if there was political will in Berlin to release Krasikov, the legal mechanics which could make that happen are murky. He could be pardoned by the president, or deported to serve the remainder of his sentence in Russia – something that almost certainly wouldn’t happen in light of Putin’s comments.One case in point is the Russian “Merchant of Death”, Viktor Bout, an infamous arms dealer released from US custody as part of a prisoner exchange with US basketball star Brittney Griner. Bout has now pivoted to politics and won a seat at a local election in Russia.Image source, EPAImage caption, A protest against the Putin regime was held in Berlin during the Russian election.Nicola Bier, a German lawyer focusing on extradition law, told the BBC there is “no legal mechanism that is really designed for this particular situation”, so any move would be highly controversial and political.Anti-Kremlin political activist Bill Browder is now compiling a list of more than 50 Russian prisoners in Western countries who could be used as bargaining chips to free activists and journalists detained in Russia.Browder hopes the effort could help release British-Russian journalist Vladimir Kara-Murza, sentenced to 25 years in jail for treason for speaking out against the war in Ukraine, as well as Evan Gershkovich.Asked by the BBC whether his campaign played into “hostage diplomacy”, Browder conceded it is “far from ideal”, but necessary to save lives.After Alexei Navalny’s death, Browder said, “it’s clear that other hostages are at risk of dying”.Related TopicsGermanyRussiaVladimir PutinMore on this storyNavalny was to be freed in prison swap – colleaguePublished26 FebruaryRussians expelled over hitman’s Berlin killingPublished15 December 2021US citizens jailed by Putin left hostage to a dealPublished20 December 2023Top StoriesKing to appear in public at Easter church servicePublished1 hour agoWatch: King to attend Easter church service at WindsorPublished7 minutes agoStability at Stormont my priority, says O’NeillPublished14 hours agoFeaturesWhere workers are exploited to harvest an everyday ingredientHow has cancer changed King Charles’s duties?’I was mutilated at 16 but I won’t let it define me’The Papers: ‘E coli Boat Race’ and ‘Euros on terror alert’In pictures: Pope leads Easter celebrationsThe FSB bicycle assassin Putin wants back in RussiaAphantasia: Why I cannot see my children in my mindSeven bills going up and one going down in AprilJeffrey Donaldson: From the White House to Antrim police stationElsewhere on the BBCOne of the most talented bands to never make it…Why did trailblazers Microdisney fail to achieve the commercial success they deserved?AttributioniPlayerWill this elite boarding school fit around them?Five black inner-city teens must leave their old worlds behind…AttributioniPlayer’A few people laughed, a few cried, most were silent’The extraordinary rise and fall of the inventor of the atomic bombAttributioniPlayerFancy a film tonight?There’s something for everyone on BBC iPlayerAttributioniPlayer](https://newsinsightplus.com/wp-content/uploads/https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/branded_news/1BCA/production/_133041170_putin-index-getty.jpg)
![BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaSenegal election crisis: ‘We feel betrayed by President Macky Sall’Published1 hour agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesBy Nicolas NégoceBBC News, DakarSenegal appears to be having an identity crisis – its citizens are proud of the fact that it is considered one of West Africa’s most stable democracies, and many are outraged that this reputation is now on the line.”We feel betrayed by Macky Sall,” say a group of imams meeting in a mosque in the capital, Dakar, about the political crisis that hit the country a week ago when MPs backed President Sall’s decision to delay this month’s presidential election until December.”The president must review this. It’s unacceptable,” explains Ismael Ndiaye, the general secretary of Senegal’s League of Imams.”It never happened before. Senegal never had a presidential election delayed. We feel betrayed. We feel misunderstood.”Islam is the predominant religion in Senegal – and comments such as these from influential Muslim leaders, who have mediated to resolve previous political crises, carry huge weight.Their blunt words reflect the wave of anger gripping the country as protesters take to the streets.Image source, AFPImage caption, Protesters run past a mosque in Dakar as tear gas is fired by the security forcesPresident Sall has justified his move, saying time is needed to resolve a dispute over who is eligible to stand as a presidential candidate after several opposition contenders were barred.But those on the streets see the postponement as a way for Mr Sall to cling on to power beyond the end of his second term on 2 April.In his first interview since the announcement, President Sall denied that was his intention.”I am absolutely seeking for nothing except to leave a country in peace and stability,” he told the Associated Press over the weekend.”I don’t want to leave behind a country that will immediately plunge into major difficulties.”These words ring hollow to his critics given his stance before his election in 2012, when he strongly objected to then-President Abdoulaye Wade seeking a third term.”A president cannot extend his term of office. It’s not possible,” Mr Sall, who once served as Mr Wade’s prime minister, said during the 2011 election campaign.”He can’t extend his term by even one day, otherwise the country will be plunged into chaos because the people would not recognise his legitimacy and there would no longer be authority in the country.”This video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Watch: The president who vowed to play by the rules but isn’tThere have been violent protests across Senegal over the past week, reportedly leaving three people dead.One of them was a geography undergraduate who died in clashes with police on a university campus in the northern city of Saint-Louis.In Dakar, debris remains strewn across the streets after stand-offs with the security forces, who fired tear gas to disperse protesters.Many of the four million inhabitants of the city are upset by the turn of events.We met Fanta Diallo as she ventured out to buy provisions for what seem like uncertain times ahead.”I am hurt and ashamed,” she told the BBC. Scared of further violence, she wants civil society to call a “dead city” general strike to show their anger against parliament’s backing of the vote delay.”This is not normal. We are not in a monarchy. I came to town today so I could buy everything I need.”Adamadou Bayeshare, who was out in central Dakar on Saturday with his friend Aminata Issete, agreed.”We need to demonstrate peacefully for what we believe is right, but we absolutely need to do something. I am personally very, very upset,” he told the BBC.Ms Issete was a little shy about being interviewed at first and then became very animated.”We are exhausted, we are upset and deeply disappointed. What is wrong with our country? What is wrong with that man?” she asked about the 62-year-old president.”Why this disrespect towards Senegal’s own citizens? We don’t deserve this. We want to vote for a new president,” she said.Image source, AFPImage caption, More than 60% of Senegal’s population is under the age of 25Defeated, disappointed, upset. Those are the recurrent words on the streets, echoed on social media where videos and pictures are circulating showing alleged police brutality from the protests.These young people are those who voice frustration over a lack of jobs in the country, and who form the backbone of support for Ousmane Sonko, a popular opposition leader who has been excluded from the presidential race because of a defamation conviction. He has faced many legal battles in recent years and has been jailed in a separate case for calling for insurrection, conspiracy with terrorist groups and endangering state security. This was in July, when his party was also banned. The 49-year-old maintains all the charges are politically motivated. Even with the election delayed until 15 December, there is little chance he will be allowed to stand – but anyone he backs might have a chance of winning.It is his stance on the economy that has particularly worried Senegal’s elite – but has won him a huge amount of support. He criticises the country’s close relationship with France, the former colonial power.The former tax collector wants a withdrawal from the CFA franc – the regional currency used by 14 African countries, which is pegged to the euro under a French government guarantee. Critics fear such a move would spell economic disaster.The next nine months may give the weak ruling coalition a chance to bolster its chances in the election and perhaps consider a stronger candidate in place of Mr Sall’s chosen successor, Prime Minister Amadou Ba, who is felt by some to lack charisma.The postponement may also work in favour of another opposition leader Karim Wade, son of the former president, who was disqualified as he had not renounced his French citizenship in time – electoral laws do not allow dual nationality.Image caption, It is hard to see how a solution will be found that can calm tensionGovernment spokesperson Abdou Karim Fofana reiterated that President Sall would not risk his credibility for just a few more months in power.”When you’re a leader, you often have to take unpopular and sometimes misunderstood decisions,” he told the BBC. “It’s not a pleasure for [President Macky Sall] to do so. He did this to preserve his country as he is mature and responsible.” With Mr Sonko’s level of support and the feeling that the judiciary has been used to exclude him from the race, it is hard to see how a solution will be found that can really resolve the crisis.Law expert El-Hadji Omar Diop says another scenario could play out.”President Sall may decide to step down the day after 2 April. In this case, the National Assembly president would assume power and call a new election within two to three months,” the university lecturer said.More demonstrations are planned for Tuesday, though they have not yet been authorised by the authorities.Mamadou Faye, a father of three, hopes this will get their message across without any need for “dead city” strikes as he says he cannot afford not to work.”No-one is going to help me. We are tired of all of this. We just want to be able to feed our family.”More on Senegal’s crisis:Why West Africa’s united front is in tattersSenegal on the brink after elections postponed Senegal’s Ousmane Sonko – youth hero or rabble-rouser?Related TopicsSenegalAround the BBCFocus on Africa podcastsTop StoriesLive. Israeli strikes kill dozens in Rafah as raid rescues two hostagesIsrael says rescued hostages ‘in good condition’Published1 hour agoMarathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum dies in Kenya crashPublished32 minutes agoFeaturesUsher shines at Super Bowl half-time showBeyoncé announces new album during Super Bowl breakNever a doubt in my mind – Kelce on star quarterback Mahomes. VideoNever a doubt in my mind – Kelce on star quarterback MahomesAttributionSportWhat now in Pakistan after Khan vote surprise?Jeremy Bowen: Is Rafah the new battleground? 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![BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaTrinidad and Tobago Carnival: Blue devils breathe fire into eventPublished4 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Anselm GibbsImage caption, The blue devils’ antics have been delighting Carnival revellers for a long timeBy Anselm GibbsParamin, Trinidad and TobagoThey are easy to spot among the rush of colour of the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival, their bodies covered in blue and their screams and antics somehow both frightening and fun. They are blue devil masqueraders and they are fighting to keep a tradition alive.It is a winding – and for visitors, at times, nerve-wracking – drive up steep hills to get to the remote village of Paramin, located in the north-western part of Trinidad. Paramin is the home of the blue devil, a traditional Carnival character, according to local man Curdell Gibbs.Image source, Anselm GibbsImage caption, Curdell Gibbs (left) says it is harder to find people willing to portray a blue devil”The only place in Trinidad and Tobago, and by extension the world, where you can find blue devils come Carnival Monday, is Paramin,” Curdell says.The Caribbean nation celebrates Carnival annually on the Monday and Tuesday preceding Ash Wednesday. Costumed revellers participate in street parades and there is also competition among different masquerade groups or bands.This year, Carnival organisers are expecting a high level of participation, but there is some concern.”A lot of the traditional characters appear in mini-bands and small bands, but there has been a decrease in the number of those,” the president of the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival Bands Association, Mark Ayen, tells BBC News. “They seem to be far fewer than what they have been before.”Image source, Anselm GibbsImage caption, Fewer people are portraying the traditional characters of CarnivalMark Ayen finds this alarming. He says that while the twin-island republic aims to develop its culture and Carnival, there must also be preservation.On Carnival Monday night, when the hills of Paramin come alive with the annual blue devil masquerade competition, rhythms ring out from villagers with wooden sticks beating discarded metal biscuit tins. It’s called “knocking a pan” and provides the soundtrack for masqueraders. Curdell says the energy provided by those rhythms is unmatched and describes how it can sometimes have unexpected effects on those visiting.”A lady from Germany held a banana tree and pulled it straight out of the ground and ran through the streets with it,” he recounts.But Curdell warns that even in Paramin, where villagers say the heartbeat of the blue devil resides, fewer people are taking on the role. He believes it is because traditional Carnival elements are not as accessible as before. He wants to see more young people involved and says more exposure will help.The origins of the devil masquerade – or “mas” for short – date all the way back to the days of slavery. The original term for devil mas is “Jab Molassie,” which is French patois for “Molasses Devil”.The name describes “the sticky black substance the character was covered in, which in the old days was molasses”, explains researcher, author and cultural activist Dr Rudolph Ottley. “Nowadays he could be covered in pitch oil [kerosene], mud, cocoa and come in a variety of colours like blue, red, green, silver etc,” he adds.Freed slaves chose the devil to portray how they viewed slave owners, according to Mr Gibbs, who made his first appearance as a blue devil when he was just six years old.Eighteen years later, Curdell and a group of friends are part of a masquerade group called Next Generation Underworld Creepers.The shiny blue coat covering their bodies is not paint. Image source, Anselm GibbsImage caption, Those who portray the blue devils cover themselves in a thick layer of specially made pasteThe colour actually comes from a process that starts with boiling water and grinding laundry bluing cubes, which are usually used to wash white clothes.”Put it in a bucket, pour the water and then you mash some lard into it,” explains Leonardo Joseph, another member of Next Generation Underworld Creepers. “You let it cool, let it sit for a little while, so it turns into a paste.”Mixing this blue concoction begins as early as two days before it is rubbed on to the skin, according to Leonardo Joseph.For him, there is a bit of irony involved, as he is an altar server in the Roman Catholic church, yet he portrays the devil.”You have your faith, but you are portraying the culture you love,” Leonardo muses.Image source, Anselm GibbsImage caption, Leonardo Joseph is an altar server, but also likes to portray the devilLeonardo and Curdell are trying to instil a love for that culture in the new generation. Their group has organised workshops, where youngsters can come to learn about blue devils and other aspects of Carnival, including wire-bending to make costumes.It is part of their preservation push to save the traditional elements of Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival.”They’re really interested, and if they can do it, it will carry on,” said Daron Felician, the group’s expert wire-bender.These cultural crusaders have their work cut out for them. “The mas has been slowly but surely dying, it’s sad to see,” Curdell says. “I really feel the initiatives that we’re taking now, to bring the community together, will increase the traffic we have with blue devils.”And the blue characters are something to behold: Accessories for devil mas include horns, wings, a fork, a tail and anything else the masquerader wishes to add.Probably the most outstanding trick a blue devil has up his or her sleeve is fire-breathing. It involves filling your mouth with kerosene.”Everything you imagine the devil would do, we try to incorporate,” Curdell says.Image source, Anselm GibbsImage caption, Masks and horns are often used to portray the blue devilsBorn and raised in the usually peaceful Paramin community, Curdell says he began fire-breathing when he was 12 years old.”You tighten your lips and blow a mist, you’ll get a small flame; if you tighten your lips and try to get a round opening, you’ll get a long flame, but still close to your mouth. “If you breathe in through your nose properly and you blow out as hard as possible, with tight lips as well, you’ll get a big ball of fire.” Image source, Anselm GibbsImage caption, Fire breathing is one of the blue devils’ showpiece tricks – but Samuel Thomas, who is pictured here, has had expert guidance to learn how to do it safelyRelated TopicsTrinidad and TobagoMore on this story’Our costumes are an empowerment tool’Published28 August 2023Top StoriesIsrael rescues two hostages in Rafah as strikes reportedPublished1 hour agoWater bosses’ bonuses could be blocked for sewage spillsPublished6 hours agoMarathon world record holder dies in Kenya crashPublished4 hours agoFeaturesWegovy, the weight-loss drug flying off the shelvesShapps’ war on ‘woke’ Army and King’s wave of hopeScherzinger leads winners at WhatsOnStage AwardsHow Carey Mulligan stamped feminist mark on MaestroCrime to buses: Wellingborough by-election in chartsXi Jinping’s never-ending hunt for corruptionThe fighter pilots hunting Houthi drones over the Red SeaDeath and Israel’s search for ‘total victory’ in GazaThe blue devils breathing fire into Trinidad CarnivalElsewhere on the BBCThe real, untold story of the Jack the Ripper victimsTold by historian Hallie RubenholdAttributionSoundsHair-pulling, wrestling and kicking!Watch the moment a violent brawl unfolded in the Maldives ParliamentAttributioniPlayerCan you sniff out the fib among the facts?Put your knowledge to the test…AttributionBitesizeSwapping balls for bricks…Ex-Premier League star Darren Ambrose shares his love for LegoAttributionSoundsMost Read1Marathon record holder Kiptum dies in road accident2Shapps’ war on ‘woke’ Army and King’s wave of hope3Sealed with a kiss – the Taylor Swift Super Bowl lives up to hypeAttributionSport4Aircraft carrier fails to depart for Nato exercises5Schools in budget crisis as PFI charges soar6Four boys aged 12-14 arrested on suspicion of rape7Chiefs beat 49ers in overtime to defend Super Bowl titleAttributionSport8Israel rescues two hostages in Rafah as strikes reported9Inside Ukraine’s struggle to find new men to fight10Short-changed postmasters to get full compensation](https://newsinsightplus.com/wp-content/uploads/https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/branded_news/10374/production/_132602466_samuelthomasperforms.jpg)
