Valmiki Maharaj is the co-founder, band leader and Creative Director of THE LOST TRIBE.
Since the band’s launch in 2015, Valmiki’s unique style of leadership and creative perspective has grown and developed THE LOST TRIBE, not just as a mas band, but as a creative hub for artists expressing themselves through the medium of costume design.
Valmiki’s induction into Carnival was in the workshop of veteran mas producer Wayne Sankar where he first dabbled in the art of costume design and construction.
He would go on from there to design a costume for TRIBE’s 2009 Carnival presentation, Birds of a Feather and became a staple in the organisation, taking on roles from designer to stakeholder manager to movement coach to now, Creative Director of multiple arms of the TRIBE Group.
When he applies himself to costume design for the band, whether as an individual or as a mentor to the design team, Valmiki’s mantra is “Give them a show”.
The performative quality of the band’s costumes is central to its appeal and for Valmiki, it is the single most important factor in his design process.
A significant component of Valmiki’s role in THE LOST TRIBE is that of mentor to the team of designers he selects every year to contribute to the band’s Carnival presentation.
His passion for teaching and mentorship is influenced by his own experience learning and being a student at the Bharatiya Vidya Sansthhaan, where he studied classical Indian music up to the highest level of Sangeet Kalanidhi, and was encouraged to share his knowledge with others in his ashram, which is associated with the school.
Under Valmiki’s leadership, THE LOST TRIBE has won two Large Band of the Year titles from the National Carnival Commission, as well as accolades in Downtown and Uptown Carnival.