Soca News magazine - December 2022

SOCANEWS

PUBLISHER & EDITOR

Joseph Charles jc@socanews.com

CREATIVE

Joseph Charles

SUB EDITOR Katie Segal katie@socanews.com

CONSULTING EDITOR

Stephen Spark stephen@socanews.com

EDITOR'S LETTER

It's Christmas! Well, almost...

We're into the month of December, with just a few more days to go to indulge in food, drink and everything else that comes with the season.

We may also be reflecting on all that has happened over the past 12 months; pondering on what might have been and thinking about loved ones who are no longer with us. We may be dreaming of what we hope to achieve and create in 2023. At least we know that this year Notting Hill Carnival made it back to where it should be, on the streets of West London.

Some of us are surrounded by family and loved ones and some of us are not. If you have a few minutes, consider reaching out to those who may be alone or missing someone significant this year; a five minute call is all it takes to say #iamhere.

If you need additional help and support, there are people there to speak to, including the Samaritans, who are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can visit their website at www.samaritans.org or call 116 123 free of charge.

If you have something to say then get in touch with us, we’d love to hear from you. Just email hello@socanews.com.

All that is left to say is that I hope for you all a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

YOURS IN SOCA

Joseph Charles SALES & MARKETING sales@socanews.com

WORDS

Dunstan Creavalle, Rachel Ritfeld, Radeya Osman & Stephen Spark

PICTURES

Bampson, Kola Graffix, Peter Hogan & Stephen Spark

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The views expressed in Soca News are not necessarily the views of the editor or the publisher. All material contained within this publication is the copyright of Soca News. No material, written or photographic may be reproduced in any way without the written permission of the publisher. No liability will be accepted for any errors which may occur within the magazine. © 2022 Soca News. All rights reserved.

DESTRA IS READY TO BE UNCHAINED

After two restricted years, 2022 has seen the soca industry rejuvenated and artists reconnect with live audiences.

Trinidadian soca star Destra Garcia has seized the year’s creative opportunities with both hands: she toured, and released three tracks in November alone. Last month, the ‘Queen of Bacchanal’ released Easy, Never Gonna Let You Go and Remedy from the Cool Breeze Riddim.

Destra was the headline act in Brian MacFarlane’s show ‘Christmas Joy: The Magic Returns’, which took place on 13 November at the Queen’s Hall, Port of Spain, Trinidad. She is also currently working on her 16th studio album, Unchained, due out in the new year.

You can stream Destra's work on all streaming platforms, and see the music videos on YouTube.

MR KILLA GRABS THE AWARD FOR BEST REGGAE & DANCEHALL ARTIST AT AFRIMMA

Grenadian soca superstar Mr Killa (Hollice Mapp) has been adjudged the winner of the Best Reggae and Dancehall category at the African Muzik Magazine Awards (AFRIMMA). In his category, the singer was competing with contenders such as Spice, Shenseea, Steff London, Popcaan and Alkaline.

Commenting on his win, Mr Killa had this to say: “I am emotional being here tonight, because so much people said that I wouldn’t make it. But I want to thank the Almighty Father, I want to thank my mother and my friends, fans and family”. He hopes that this win will pave the way for his fellow soca musicians to receive the international recognition they deserve.

Mapp thrilled the audience with his music and eccentric dance at the ceremony, which took place on Saturday 19 November at Gilley’s in Dallas, Texas.

SHURWAYNE WINCHESTER SAYS ITS PURE FIRE DOWN TOWN

Shurwayne Winchester has released another anthem in time for Trinidad Carnival 2023. The new single, Fire Down Town, will bring the energy of Trinidad Carnival to the hearts and feet of revellers.

Released on 2 December, Fire Down Town is, says Shurwayne, for, “everybody who has understood the assignment over the many decades of celebrating freedom, celebrating emancipation, celebrating being Trinbagonian. This is for you! ‘Fire Down Town’ is a statement to own and proudly hold on to what is yours, mine, ours!”

You can watch the video on YouTube and stream or download the song from all major streaming platforms worldwide.

•

KES TO CELEBRATE TRINIDAD CARNIVAL’S RETURN WITH IZWE

Kes the Band will be celebrating Trinidad Carnival’s comeback with the inaugural live edition on home ground of the band’s IzWe festival.

IzWe started last year as a series of socially distanced events. With the gradual lifting of Covid restrictions, Kes the Band has exported the concept to New York and Toronto, Canada, where the live shows proved popular. On Tuesday 14 February it will be Trinidad’s turn to experience the live event, at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in San Fernando.

Kes the Band closed their 2022 US concert series on 26 November at Houston’s Tribeville fest and are currently wrapping production on their latest album, Man With No Door.

After being banished by Covid to the ‘virtual’ zone from 2020 to 2022, Trinidad Carnival is determined to make up for lost time, so masqueraders and revellers are anticipating a record-breaking return to the streets on Monday 20 and Tuesday 21 February 2023.

For Izwe festival tickets, visit eventbrite.com/e/ iz-we-the-village-2023-tickets-443301024297.

ADAM O PARTNERS WITH USVI TO HOST FIRST FULL-LENGTH CONCERT

Soca singer, songwriter and serial creative Adam O (Adam O'Neal) will be hosting his first full-length concert in his home town, St Croix, USVI, on 6 January 2023. Partnering with the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) Division of Festivals, the concert, dubbed, ‘Adam O and Friends “The Garden”', will feature a catalogue of artists from all over the Caribbean.

Through this initiative, Adam hopes to, “encourage USVI residents who are not living at home and music lovers from the Caribbean diaspora to partake in the Carnival festivities.”

For up-to-date information about the USVI Division of Festivals and the carnival festivities, visit www.visitusvi.com/experiences/carnivals-festivals.

MACHEL MONTANO ‘ROAST’-ED

Machel Montano has been synonymous with celebration since his career began, four decades ago. Continuing in that vein, the singer performed in November to celebrate his 48th birthday at 'The Birthday Roast of Machel Montano' in New York. The show also featured legendary roast master Majah Hype, YouTuber Lilly Singh, comedian Russel Peters, Affion Crockett, Big Norm and many others.

The audience were also privy to an exclusive peek into the world, life and career of Machel as he debuted a preview of his documentary, Journey Of A Soca King - A Machel Montano Story

Montano closed his MM40 2022 tour at the Imagine Weekend Festival, held on 25 - 27 November at the Kensington Oval in Barbados.

Preparations are currently underway for Melé Cruise, scheduled for 27 April to 1 May 2023. This will be followed in September by Melé Destinations Cancun Carnival from 7 – 11 September 2023.

Montano has so far released Never Again on the Happy Daze Riddim for the 2023 Trinidad Carnival season with, we are sure, more to come.

ALL ABOARD USVI

CARNIVAL 2022

The USVI Division of Festivals is presenting the Crucian Christmas Festival, with this year marking the 70th anniversary of the festival.

The carnival, which is locally called simply, 'St Croix', will be offering events including the Calypso Monarch competition on 28 December, the Soca Monarch competition on 4 January and the Adults' Parade on 7 January.

The festival, themed 'Reflections of Culture, Music, Mas and Revelry', is an initiative of the United States Virgin Islands in partnership with the USVI Division of Festivals.

St Croix festival is scheduled for 11 December to 7 January 2023. For updates on the carnival and information about bookings and travel, visit www. usvifestivals.vi.

Free lunch forinthose need this Christmas

WORDS | RADEYA OSMAN

Christmas is synonymous with giving, and the spreading of love to those around us. It's not only a time to reflect on the year, but to also share what we have with our family, friends and neighbours, especially those in need.

Cummin Up and Uptown Cuisine have consistently put the spirit of Christmas into practice by giving free food to needy people every Christmas. It’s their way of giving back and spreading Christmas love to their community.

This year is no different, and they're calling for their neighbours to join them in celebrating the season with Caribbean Christmas delicacies.

CUMMIN UP AND TASTE SOUL GOOD

Cummin Up Caribbean takeaway and Taste Soul Good are partnering to provide free hot meals this festive season.

On Christmas Day, they will be providing free Caribbean cuisine alongside traditional dishes at 389 Lewisham High Street, London SE13 6NZ. To find out more, call Richard Simpson on 07831 423163.

UPTOWN CUISINE

UpTown Cuisine will also be spreading love and warmth through food this season.

The North London -based eatery will be offering free breakfast, lunch and hamper giveaways to residents of Northumberland Park and Park Lane from 12pm to 4.30pm on Christmas Day.

To help with the preparation, volunteers will be needed on 24 December from 5pm to 7pm at 161 Park Lane, London N17 OHJ, near Tottenham Hotspur football stadium.

For further information and to get involved, please, get in touch with UpTown Cuisine on 07904 651803.

•

LORD CLOAK PHOTOGRAPHER | STEPHEN SPARK

REVIEW

'WE SURVIVE' LONDON CALYPSO TENT CONCLUDES CHALLENGING PEARL ANNIVERSARY SEASON

WORDS | STEPHEN SPARK

And so to the final night of the London Calypso Tent. This was only the third show of a short and cash-constrained season.

Happily, we were back to a full band – the always impressive ACASA All Stars, with a slightly revised line-up – and the melodious Soca Divettes, looking glam in black with sparkling accessories. Veteran panman Cyril Khamai, sitting in the front row, also chipped in with his scratcher. G String acted as MC.

Everyone in the audience had something to celebrate, not least that we had survived the past two years. ACASA chair Vincent John reminded us that the London Calypso Tent was in its Pearl Anniversary year. (Historical note: ACASA’s predecessor, the Association of British Calypsonians, ABC, was founded in 1991, but the tent started the following year.)

The Divettes started us off with a medley to get us in a musical mood, and it was clear that the sound balance in The Tabernacle was greatly improved – congratulations to the engineer for that. Muffinman ambled amiably on stage with Nothing Stops the Jamming – “We are many, they are few” he declared. Now who could he be referring to? Alexander D Great’s Haiti is a show-stopper of a song, beautiful, powerful and heartfelt, and each time he sings it, it’s with more passion. Sadly, the line “We can’t turn our backs on you again” only reminds us how little the international community has achieved for most Haitians as soon as its attention moves elsewhere.

Taking a few minutes out from compering duties, reigning UK Calypso Monarch G String complained of High Blood Pressure, brought on, by amongst other things, “War and rumours of war”. The song is a few years old now, but his question, “What are they dying for?” is more relevant than ever. A healthy diet might deal with blood pressure, so Soca Kidd, in apron and chef’s tocque, offered us saltfish and callaloo in Bring You Container, a lively, jump-up soca song.

Teetering on the edge of the stage, swaying, staggering and rolling like a sailor on a stormy sea, Dansa gave us some entertaining moves for the appropriately titled Drunk Dance. And, as ever in the tent, there was a change of style when Helena B sang I Feel It, a nice song to wine to in the style of Square One.

After the interval, Alexander, resplendent in grey morning suit as if he was off to the palace, returned to the stage to sing his Britain’s Got Talent number Big Party – and to promote his CD, Peace – Reconciliation. There was a taste of bouyon when Dominican artist Benz aka Mr Gwada came on and sang his Notting Hill tribute, Come Join Me, followed by, Looking fuh Kay. The nice uptempo songs, to PA by DJ Smoov, met with a surprisingly subdued response from the audience, probably due to unfamiliarity.

After another wonderful interlude by the Soca Divettes – all the more impressive because the band hadn’t played the song before – the audience warmly welcomed Clivus, singing Windrush Coming Down, punctuating the verses with his trademark “Wheee!”. He’s had significant health challenges and walks with a stick, as did the next artist, Music Man, who put his all – and a stirring growl - into an excellent rendition of Me Know.

With some calypsonians it can be hard to catch the lyrics; you have to strain to hear what they're singing about. No such problem when Lord Cloak came on stage, lecturing My Brother Calypsonians about their vocal clarity. “You hear me?” Loud and clear, Cloak!

There’s never any difficulty hearing the impassioned and impressive Brown Sugar, whose Four Times Likely emphasised the point that black people are four times more likely to die from Covid. It was good to see her back in action at the tent, and it’s a powerful song, though one that she admitted not everyone will agree with. Her chorus, “We survive”, could be taken as the tent’s motto!

By contrast, De Admiral offered us a vision of an idyllic paradise in the slow-tempo A Beautiful Dream. For an encore he extended his dream to the calypso tent itself.

Rev B can always be relied upon to give us a well-written calypso with some serious social commentary content, and I Can’t Breathe didn’t

disappoint. In fact, it proved too powerful for the Rev himself, as he had to stop part-way through a verse, explaining, “This song is so strong for me; it’s emotional”.

At this point there was a pause, as De Admiral read out a roll of honour of London tent calypsonians who had passed, starting with John or Johnny, who died in 1986; Al Hector, founder of the first UK calypsonians’ association (The Man Solo, 1990); Vivien Comma (The Golden Cockerel, 1998); Deryck Neckles (Mighty Astronaut, 1999); Peace & Love (2011); Don Caesar (Rev Sweetfoot, 2015); Ashton Moore (Mighty Tiger, 2017); and Dave Batson (Dave B, 2021). A one minute silence was observed very respectfully.

We were back on the soca road when Batch bounded on to the stage singing Hold On Tight He started off with the song on his mobile, before the band picked it up; they seemed to be enjoying themselves with it.

ACASA chair Vincent John thanked G String, the Divettes, the ACASA All Stars Band and Valerie Moore, widow of Ashton Moore, better known as Mighty Tiger, who led the Association of British Calypsonians (ABC) from its foundation in 1991 to his passing in 2017. Angela Duncan-Thompson, chair of mas bands association CAMF, received, on behalf of Valerie Moore, the first of the Pearl Anniversary Awards, which of course was to honour Mighty Tiger.

Awards were also made to Michael Friday (Congoes), Errol Brown (Lord Cloak), Elsie McCann (former secretary of the European Association of Calypsonians - predecessor organisation to ABC), Music Man, Aunty Merle (stage management, and so much more) and Clivus Lewis.

The show finished later than it has done for a long time, and rightly so, because this was a rather special occasion – one that had looked under serious threat for most of the year owing to a complete lack of funding. There was a great feeling of togetherness and determination that ACASA, the London Tent and the UK’s calypso music community would rise up from the low point experienced in 2022.

Many plans and proposals are afoot, but they will need to be properly funded, probably with far less reliance on Carnival Village Trust in future. Soca News will keep you informed.

MUSIC

ALBUMS/ RIDDIMS

SUNRISE RIDDIM

A| PROBLEM CHILD, HEY CHOPPI, TERRI LYONS, MOTTO & JAHLLANO P| BROOKLYN DECENT Y| 2023

MINI VAN RIDDIM

A| SKINNY FABULOUS, TRINIDAD KILLA, MR VEGAS, SHIILOH & YUNG BREDDA & JAIGA P| JOHNNY BLAZE & STADIC MUSIC Y| 2023

NEW VIBES RIDDIM

A| SWAPPI, COLLEGE BOY JESSE & AARON DUNCAN P| AARON DUNCAN Y| 2023

COOL BREEZE RIDDIM

A| DESTRA GARCIA, LIL BITTS, ERPHAAN ALVES & SEKON STA P| LUNATIX PRODUCTIONS & STUDIO MUSICA Y| 2023

DOMINICANA RIDDIM

MOST WANTED RIDDIM

THE BACCHANAL RIDDIM

MUSIC

RADIO SHOWS + STREAMS

LISTENING TO THE RADIO IS NOT WHAT IT USED TO BE, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO SOCA MUSIC. THERE ARE A MYRIAD OF STREAMS AVAILABLE. BUT WE’VE LISTED ONLY THE MORE PERMANENT SOCA SHOWS.

Wednesday

9-11pm GMT

The RDR show

DJ CREDABLE

Bakahnal Radio bakahnalradio.co.uk

11pm-1am GMT

The BankRoll D'MONEY

The Frontline Radio flrradio.com

Thursday

7-9pm GMT

The Breakaway Show

DJ DIGGA D Bakahnal Radio bakahnalradio.co.uk

8-11pm GMT Soca 2d World

DJ ROCKSHUN

I Chunes Radio tun.in/se22k

1-3am GMT iMove

DJ REE

The Frontline Radio flrradio.com

Friday

6pm GMT

The French Soca Connection

DJ DUTTY FREAK

The Frontline Radio flrradio.com

8-11pm GMT

Soca and Cocktails

DJ LOKDWN

I Chunes Radio tun.in/se22k

Saturday

12-2pm GMT

The Super Soca Show

AAA BADBOY & DUB BOY, ATKI2 (AT KEY TWO) AND JONSEY WALES Ujima 98FM ujimaradio.com

12-2pm GMT Soca is We

DJ PIPER Roots FM 95.4 ukrootsfm.com

2-4pm GMT Soca is We

DJ PIPER Flo Radio floradio.co.uk 5-7pm GMT

The Mighty Hitman Show

D’MIGHTY HITMAN

The Frontline Radio flrradio.com

6pm GMT JAKK RUSSELL Bakahnal Radio bakahnalradio.co.uk

7-9pm GMT

The Check In THE VIBES CURATOR

The Frontline Radio flrradio.com

Sunday

12-2pm GMT

The Caribbean Affair

DJ MARTIN JAY

Bakahnal Radio bakahnalradio.co.uk

12-2pm GMT Soca and Chutney Sunday

DJ SWEET.K Lock Down Radio UK lockdownradiouk.com 3-5pm GMT

Easy Sundays

NEIL MATTEI

The Frontline Radio flrradio.com 4-6pm GMT

DJ TORO

Bakahnal Radio + Team Soca bakahnalradio.co.uk & Teamsoca.com 5-7pm GMT

Lush Soca Sundays

CHÉ IN THE MIXX Robbo Ranx Radio robboranx.com/listenlive 5-7pm GMT

Hightown Showdown

D'RANGER

The Frontline Radio flrradio.com 7-9pm GMT Sunday Skool

D'MIGHTY HITMAN

The Frontline Radio flrradio.com 9-11pm GMT Krooshal Factor

KROOSHALL

The Frontline Radio flrradio.com

Over the years, the St. Kitts stage has welcomed global icons Lionel Richie, Ashanti, Aswad, Maxi Priest, Goo Goo Dolls, and more—and next year’s lineup is sure to be just as impressive. Join us for three summer nights of calypso, soca, R&B, and reggae.

StKittsTourism.kn/Events

AT THE ST. KITTS MUSIC FESTIVAL 22 - 24 JUNE 2023

VENTURE DEEPER INTO ST. KITTS

HISTORY, CULTURE AND ROMANCE

WORDS | RACHEL RITFELD

Rachel Ritfeld sits with St. Kitts Tourism Authority’s CEO, Ellison ‘Tommy’ Thompson and Melnecia Marshall, deputy CEO, for an inside perspective on the new Venture Deeper campaign and the post-pandemic plans to revive the tourism industry in St. Kitts.

With air services increasing and entry protocols lifted, there has never been a better time to plan a trip to St. Kitts. The warm and welcoming local community is ready to receive visitors and offer one-of-a-kind experiential travel, show off nature’s wonders and reveal their local culture and rich history. Want to show off your moves at Sugar Mas or St. Kitts’ world-class music festival? Or are you searching for a premier destination wedding location? Look no further: St. Kitts is the answer!

ELLISON THOMPSON MELNECIA MARSHALL

ET: I’ve got a really great opportunity to lead the team and the recovery of the industry from the Covid pandemic. It needs to get back to 2019 levels in terms of arrivals for both stopovers and cruise visitors. In addition to that, we need to look at how we strengthen the airlift coming into the Federation, from the international markets, the source markets, also from the Caribbean markets. Traditionally, the Caribbean was the second-largest market for St. Kitts, so we were working with regional carriers to try and boost the air services coming in from the region. We’re also looking at innovation in terms of new tools, new activities for visitors to do once they’re in St. Kitts. We’ve just launched a new brand campaign - Venture Deeper, which is propelling the destination to new heights.

As a lover of nature and culture, the Venture Deeper campaign launched in September feels perfectly suited to travellers like myself, who also enjoy small group travel or private tours. The focus of this campaign is on rebuilding pillars of Sustainability, History, Culture and Romance. This seems complementary to the efforts to rebuild small and medium-sized enterprises and tour operators in St. Kitts, who were hit the hardest by the pandemic. Was supporting small business owners part of the strategy of the campaign? Is there a time limit on when you hope to achieve this?

ET: Part of what we do at the St. Kitts Tourism Authority is to ensure that the wealth of tourism is being transferred throughout the island. When we came up with the campaign Venture Deeper, the idea was to incorporate cultural tourism, which then takes you out of the central area, Basseterre, and into the communities throughout the island. Venture Deeper has so many legs: you can Venture Deeper into cuisine, Venture Deeper into romance, Venture Deeper into dive etc. We think it’s a perfect segue for us to use this campaign for a number of years.

What do you hope to achieve during your time as CEO of St. Kitts Tourism Authority?

ET: An excellent campaign presentation was introduced to stakeholders pre-launch and again during Tourism Awareness Month, along with panel discussions. From the St. Kitts Tourism Authority perspective, we’re the ones who do the heavy lifting in terms of the destination desire. Then we show the stakeholders what the immediate plan looks like and where they can fit in with their marketing to complement what we’re doing.

The St. Kitts Music Festival is without a doubt one of the most exciting events in the region annually. What does this festival contribute

to tourism in St. Kitts? What kind of visitor numbers did you see with the return of the festival after the pandemic.

MM: The St. Kitts Music Festival was created to supplement the income of the destination in what would traditionally be the slow period. The festival is scheduled for the last weekend in June, which is the summer, when we don’t normally get a lot of visitors coming in from North America as most persons are taking their vacations elsewhere. The festival was created to bring income to the destination to all of our private, traditional and non-traditional vendors so that they can earn during those summer months. It has become a very, very big festival - we had about 6,000 attendees last year, which was great, especially considering that we were just emerging out of the pandemic and did not have all of our entry restrictions lifted yet. As of August 2022, all of the restrictions to the island have been lifted, so we’re looking forward to carnival, which is scheduled to begin next weekend.

Speaking of St. Kitts Carnival, aka Sugar Mas, are there any plans to make this a destination carnival and attract more international visitors?

MM: Sugar Mas is already considered to be a

What role can the private sector play in developing this strategy?

"THE FESTIVAL WAS CREATED TO BRING INCOME TO THE DESTINATION"

destination carnival. We do have quite a few international visitors who travel to the destination, because it is held December to January. It’s a festival that spans almost two months. It incorporates the culture, the folklore, the cuisine - all of the pillars that we are using to rebuild our tourism and move on to our new strategy, Venture Deeper. After a two-year hiatus, the carnival is coming back bigger than ever. We anticipate that we will have a very successful carnival season.

ET: Everything is already off to a good start, because some of the groups are telling us that they’ve already sold out their costumes. I can’t stress enough how the relaxation of the entry protocols accelerated the business.

MM: One of the things that we’ve seen is that the diaspora, that is the international visitors, are planning to return home because it has been two years since everyone has been able to come together. We’re very excited about that.

You’d be surprised how many people have sent me pictures of their mas costumes. So, it is definitely something everybody is looking forward to.

As a smaller island, what are the other things that St. Kitts is doing to attract more

visitors? Are there any plans to increase the number of direct flights to St. Kitts?

ET: We’re definitely going after the romance market; we see that as a great addition to what St. Kitts can offer. That does two things for us: it brings in a younger demographic, but also it brings in that demographic that has a little extra cash to spend for such a special occasion. So that means more revenue left in St. Kitts. We are also focusing on the culinary and the adventure markets. We just won the Caribbean’s Leading Dive Destination and the Leading Hiking Destination. So that’s part of the soft adventure activities that we’re promoting. We saw that St. Kitts’ visibility was not where it needed to be, so we’re putting in resources to elevate the profile.

MM: St. Kitts is poised to offer experiential travel, which is what persons are looking for coming out of the pandemic. They are looking to be educated on the destination, to give back to the destination, and we believe that St. Kitts can offer them those experiences.

ET: They’re looking for a richer engagement with the local population - there’s no place like St. Kitts to ‘lime’ with the locals.

I couldn’t agree more. My favourite type of travel in St. Kitts is off the beaten track. So I think it’s a wonderful campaign. Next year, 2023, marks 40 years of independence for St. Kitts and Nevis. Are there any special celebrations that visitors should keep in mind?

ET: I think that it’s still in the planning stage. From the St. Kitts Tourism Authority of the UK, we are going to do familiarisation trips for travel advisers - probably five trips for 40 agents celebrating 40 years of independence. We’re pretty sure that the music festival, Restaurant Week, all of these activities will have some elements of the 40th anniversary of independence.

MM: The good thing about the music festival is that it will be celebrating 25 years, so we’re looking to ensure that it’s a very special festival as it coincides with 40th anniversary of independence.

Restaurant Week will have some additions to the calendar, such as Grill Fest and Eye Opener. Grill Fest is more of a community-based event, comprising competitions such as a barbecue, where our visitors can come and enjoy the local cuisine and local folklore and culture. Eye Opener is a cocktail competition. This is all in line with venturing

deeper, beyond the sea, beyond the sand, to get that richer experience on what Kittitian life is about.

At the end of the day, it’s all about ‘Kittitianising’ them.

You’re in the UK right now. How has your time here been, meeting the various trade partners? Has anything been learnt so far that St. Kitts could do differently?

ET: It’s been busy, busy, busy! We met with British Airways, British Airways Holidays, we hosted a media lunch. One of the fantastic things about that was after our presentation they were so excited, saying: “You’ve given us so many new ideas of stories that we can pitch.” We’ve also done two travel adviser presentation nights, and the last one will be here tonight, in Dorking. They’ve been very well received. The co-operation with Nevis has been a success. Both St. Kitts and Nevis have brought in their hoteliers to be a part of it, to create that buzz and that added educational component for the travel advisers.

MM: One of the things that we have learned, being in the UK, is that many of them see the Caribbean as all the same. They have been very receptive to Venture Deeper as a way of differentiating the destination from the other Caribbean islands, and we are able to highlight those differences, especially our rich culture and history.

And finally, what is your personal favourite annual event and your favourite place to visit in St. Kitts that you feel visitors can’t leave without seeing or experiencing?

ET: Well, my favourite is the St. Kitts Music Festival!

MM: He took mine, now I have to think about it. I’m not a big street parade person, but I do believe our carnival is something that should not be missed. And that’s just because it showcases so much of our culture. It’s that one period of the year where you can get all the local food and see the costumes! Not just the band costumes, but the traditional cultural costumes and you’re able to see our characters and all of those things. So I would say one after the music festival would be our carnival.

Also, hiking the rainforest; that is a must. If you come to St. Kitts, our rainforest is one of the few that’s actually expanding. There’s so much you can learn from our tour guides who give these exceptional tours - they explain the flora and the fauna and the medicinal benefits of the plants. Then once you get to the top, you have these magnificent views of St Maarten, St Eustatius, Saba and Anguilla! You can see quite a few of the surrounding islands from the top of Mount Liamuiga. I really think it’s a must-do!

St. Kitts is very beautiful; the vistas are just breathtaking. From anywhere on the island you can either see the ocean or the mountain, because the mountains run through the middle and everything is on the coast; it’s special.

ET: I like the water, so I recommend the catamaran tour around the island, the snorkelling aspect, and also being able to go to Nevis and stop of at one of these lovely little places called Sunshine’s on Nevis. It can’t be missed!

MM: I had to drag him home last time, Rachel!

FEATURE

The Caribbean Spirit of Christmas

WORDS | RADEYA OSMAN

Christmas, as we know, is the season that evokes a frenzy of activity and a flurry of events across the Caribbean islands - many of these a combination of the traditions of all the global cultures that have contributed to the region.

Yuletide in the Caribbean is a season for connecting deeper with heritage and traditions. As well as what may be observed in almost every Caribbean home, there are also customs specific to different countries.

The season is a festival of food, drink, gatherings of family and friends, laughter and warmth. The menu may differ from one island to another, but you can expect to find traditional meals such as Christmas turkey, roast chicken/pork/beef/lamb, jerk pork or chicken, macaroni pie, curry goat, and Christmas rum cake on many tables.

In this issue, Soca News takes you on a Caribbean Christmas food tour, as we delve into the history behind some of the oh-so-delectable dishes and drinks you can find across the region. You may spot a favourite or two to help you switch up your menu ahead of the Christmas season!

Christmas Black Cake

Thought to have been created by celebrated poet Emily Dickinson, who had an affinity for baking, the Christmas black cake (also known as rum cake or fruit cake) is in fact a time-honoured Caribbean Christmas tradition, made as a labour of love. It is inspired by the British Christmas pudding, which was introduced to the West Indies in the 18th century.

The process is painstaking and time-consuming, requiring patience and attention. As its name suggests, the cake often sports a dark hue. It’s made with dried fruit, spices, brown sugar or molasses, flour and a not-so-secret ingredient: alcohol. There is no definitive recipe, so the alcohol used can vary with personal preference, from brandy, rum, whisky, puncheon (a locally brewed Trinidadian rum with an estimated 75% alcohol by volume), to wine.

Goat Water

Despite the name suggesting a light, watery soup, this is a Caribbean take on Irish stew, but with the beef replaced with goat. Goat water (also known as ‘mannish water’ due to its purported ‘invigorating’ properties) is a spicy, fragrant and filling dish made from goat meat, breadfruit, onions, tomatoes, flour, chunky yams/potatoes, dumplings and the choicest fresh herbs. It is often accompanied by rice or freshly baked bread.

Pastelles

The delicately wrapped tamale-like goodies are a staple of Trinidad during the Christmas season, with their origins in Venezuela.

The pastelle is a pocket made from cornmeal and stuffed with minced beef, olives, raisins, tomatoes and spices. They’re a little like a cornmeal version of the British pastry ‘mince pie’, but made with minced meat as well as the sweet fruit. Pastelles are wrapped in banana leaves and tied with twine before being cooked or steamed to perfection.

Pepperpot

This dish has origins in the African heritage of those brought to the region as slaves, and has since become a crowd favourite. Preparation may vary, but this meal can be found in Caribbean households across the region. It is prepared with a combination of salted or pickled beef or pork and peppers, vegetables, cassareep (a sauce made from cassava root), herbs and spices.

In Guyana, where it’s the national dish, pepperpot is served alongside homemade bread, rice or roti. Other islanders may choose to serve theirs with tubers including yam, sweet potatoes, and cassava.

This dish may be cooked a day before it will be eaten, which serves to help the flavours to infuse properly. The cassareep acts as a preservative, keeping the food from going off.

Jug-Jug

Jug-jug is a Bajan rendition of Scottish haggis, which was introduced to Barbados in the 1600s. It’s made from pigeon peas, pork, hot peppers, beef, onions, chives, rolled oats and topped with butter, and you’ll find it taking pride of place on a Bajan Christmas dinner table.

Telera

This is a special yellowish baguette-like bread that has previously been linked to Mexican Bolillo and Spanish bread. Telera is a crowd favourite eaten at the customary Dominican Christmas dinner, Nochebuena, and is often paired with juicy roast meat.

FOR RECIPES VISIT SOCANEWS.COM/LIFESTYLE/FOOD-DRINK

Drink

Ponche de Creme

A classic Christmas drink in Trinidad is Ponche De Crème or, as locals know it, punch-ah-creme. With its origins in Venezuela, this eggnog-esque drink with heavy milky overtones consists of rum, milk, eggs and sugar. Other ingredients, often citrusy and /or spicy, are added according to personal preference.

Sorrel

Very popular on the Caribbean table during Christmas, the tangy, ruby-hued drink derives its colour from the hibiscus flowers which are the main ingredient. As part of the process, the flower buds are steeped in water to release the juice. Sorrel originates from Africa, but the recipe varies according to the person's palate and preference; you will find notes of ginger, cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon with a zing of orange or lemon - not forgetting rum if you prefer yours spiked.

Ginger Beer

Historically from the Orient, this Caribbean cousin of ginger ale belies its name and rarely contains any alcohol. Made with a mixture of ginger root, lime or pineapple and a combination of spices of choice, the key is to make it to suit your taste: mild, spicy or extra sweet.

Spiced Rum

Since the Caribbean is re renowned for making some of the best rums in the world, Christmas isn’t in full swing if you cannot find a bottle somewhere on the table. The everyday rum is infused with a blend of spices for a refreshingly seasonal and fragrant taste with every sip.

TOBAGO GOLD

INSPIRED BY COCOA, INFUSED WITH RUM COVERED IN CREAM

Entrepreneur and certified chocolate-maker

Lars Söderström started to experiment in his kitchen in Arnos Vale, Tobago to create a liqueur inspired by cocoa tea, with the special addition of rum. Söderström, who calls Tobago home, ended up creating a new chocolate rum cream liqueur which he’s named ‘Tobago Gold’.

Tobago Gold has an intense dark chocolate taste with clear rum notes and an exotic spice finish, smoothed out by a lush creamy texture. It’s not an overly sweet drink, as the sugar content has been dialled down. Along with its high percentage of cocoa, the spices provide a refreshing finish. This is a cream liqueur to be enjoyed neat, best as tasty chocolate shots, and it’s also a great ingredient in a number of cocktails.

After the successful launch in Trinidad & Tobago in 2021, Söderström said, “I want to bring a Caribbean flavour, with a Carnival spirit to the world – creativity, happiness, inclusiveness and above all having fun together.”

Soca artist Jadel, an ambassador for Tobago Gold, said, “It feels great to be working with Tobago Gold. Fans can expect some really creative content from me as I love trying new things including my own mixology with chocolate rum cream liqueur.

"I am so excited that Tobago Gold is on this journey with me, beyond the shores of Trinidad and Tobago, to Notting Hill Carnival and the many carnivals around the world. It will be going everywhere with me.”

Tobago Gold is available in the UK; consumers can find it in Amazon, Master of Malt, Distillers Direct and Drinks Supermarket online stores.

• For your chance to win a 50cl bottle, simply answer the following question: Who is the founder of Tobago Gold? Submit your answers at socanews.com/competitions.

DON’T KNOW WHERE TO GO, OR WHAT TO DO?

DEC 2022

DJ Matthew, DJ Shyboy, DJ VJ, Mosty G (Equation Roadshow) & Silverfoxx. Time 10pm. Price £12-£15.

SAT 03 DEC

THUR 8 DEC

CARIBBEAN’S IN LONDON ZOUK CLASS & SOCIAL DANCING

@ Kata Kata Brixton, 132A Brixton Hill, SW2 1RS. Time 7:3011pm. Price £5-£10.

FRI 09 DEC

SOCA FRENZY SANTA WEAR –CHRISTMAS FETE

@ Scala, 275 Pentonville Road, Kings Cross, N1 9NL. Time 11pm5am. Price £10-£18.

SAT 10 DEC

LUSH EVENTS LUSH

@ Festival Pier, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XZ. Time 12-5pm. Price £30-£45.

PAN NATION STEEL ORCHESTRA PAN NATION WINTER CONCERT 2022

@ Gladesmore Community School, Tottenham, N15 6UG. Time 6-10pm. Price £5-£25.

WE ARE LUXE EVENTS RETRO SOCA – VOL. 2

@ The Hoxton Pony, 104-108 Curtain Road, EC2A 3AH. Music

By DJ Armani, DJ Francis, DJ Matchiz, DJ Shay, DJ Triple M, Juscallmebaz & Sir Influential. Time 8pm-2am. Price £15-£25.

SUN 11 DEC

BAGO CONNEXIONZ

FELIZ NAVIDAD – THE ULTIMATE XMAS BRUNCH PARTY

@ Soho Zebrano, 18 Greek Street, W1D 4DS. Time 12-8pm. Price £25-£45

EVENTS

FOR MORE EVENTS SOCANEWS.COM/EVENTS

IAMCARIBBEANEVENTS

CARIBBEAN CHRISTMAS FEAT. VOICE THE ARTIST IN CONCERT

@ Koko, 1A Camden High Street, NW1 7JE. Time 7-11pm. Price £35-£46.

FRI 16 DEC

JUST VIBEZ CARIBBEAN CHRISTMAS FAMILY FIESTA

@ Royal Festival Hall, Southbank, SE18XX. Time 4-10pm. Price Free.

NEW GENERATION WINTER BLOCKO

@ Melcombe Primary School, W6 9ER. Music By Candy Pop. Time 5-9pm. Price £3-£5.

SAT 17 DEC

ELITE SOUNDS AND EVENTS CHRISTMAS COOKOUT

@ Wild Card Brewary, E17 5RB. Time 5-11pm. Price Free.

BUSSPEPPER PROMOTIONS CUCHI LA LA

@ Forge, 24 Cornhill, EC3V 3ND. Time 6-11pm. Price £15-£25.

SIP ‘N SOCA SIP ‘N SOCA – X’MAS

@The Glitch Bar, 2-4 Paul Street, EC2A 4JH. Time 9pm-2am. Price £5-£15. Free for December babies.

SOCA CHRONICLES SOCA CHRONICLES

1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY!

@ The Mix Dalston, 588A Kingsland Road, E8 4AH. Hosted By Sir Influential. Music By DJ Khalifa, DJ Majikal, DJ Sharnz, DJ Supa Nytro & T-BONE. Time 10pm3am. Price £5-£15.

SUN 18 DEC

FREE SOCA PARTY

FREE SOCA PARTY –NAUGHTY OR NICE

@ The Hoxton Pony, 104-108 Curtain Road, EC2A 3AH. Time 5-11pm. Price Free.

EBONY STEELBAND

EBONY CHRISTMAS CONCERT

@ Yaa Centre, 1 Chippenham Mews, W9 2AN. Time 7-10pm. Price £3-£5, under 5 & seniors free.

REMEDY EVENTS

DUTTY SANTA - THE FREE XMAS PARTY

@ The Camden, 65 Crowndale Road, NW1 1BD. Time 2-11.30pm. Price Free.

FRI 23 DEC

LLUXE INTERNATIONAL PARANG SOCA PARTY

@ Atlantic Bar, 61 High Street, Thornton Heath, CR7 8RY. Music By DJ Boots, DJ Kiy, DJ Scooby & MC Marcus. Time 9pm-3am. Price £11-£33.

DJ SPARKY X RNR LOUNGE X ITRON DUTTY SCROOGE

@ RnR Lounge, 221-223 Chingford Mount Road, Chingford, E4 8LP. Time 9pm-3am. Price Free

RELEASE D RIDDIM

GLOW UK – WEAR WHITE –XMAS EDITION

@ Fire, 39 Parry Street, SW8 1RT. Time 11pm-5am. Price £10-£15.

FRI 30 DEC

CARIBBEAN’S IN LONDON

ZOUK LOVE LONDON –NEW YEAR EDITION

@ Adulis Lounge, 44 Brixton Road, SW9 6BT. Music By DJ BABZ & DJ Gatress. Time 10pm3am. Price £12-£20.

NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL REVIEW

NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL 2022

A MASQUERADER’S DAY

WORDS | STEPHEN SPARK

When I walked into Kensal Road on Monday morning the sun was shining – appropriately enough, as I was about to play mas with Sunshine International Arts, led by acclaimed designer Ray Mahabir. After a three-year absence, the sense of anticipation was palpable as we got ready opposite Horniman’s Pleasance, and it was a joy to meet up with companions of the road last seen in August 2019 when the world was a very different place.

These days, dutty mas bands can have up to 2,000 revellers, but Sunshine is very small by comparison, which means it’s more like a family. What we lacked in numbers we made up in colour. Our bright plumage of red, pink, purple, blue and white glowed against West London’s soberly attired streets, and the vibrantly hued feathers proved a big hit with photographers looking for some classic carnival colour to add to their portfolios.

Happily, we weren’t going to be subjected to an ordeal by fiery 40-degree heat, and there was a pleasant breeze to cool us. However, I soon found that the unusual triangular construction of my sailor-inspired costume acted as a sail, leading to worries that it might convert masqueraders into drones!

Any fanciful thoughts about flying over the judging point were suddenly blasted into Kensal Green as the DJ tried out the sound

system. It was very good, very clear… and very loud! So loud, in fact, that the ground shook under our feet like an impending earthquake and passersby fled with their hands over their ears. Fortunately for our hearing, the volume was dialled down on the road. Normally, when a truck needs to make a turn the music is switched off to help clear the way, but perhaps turning the sound up would have emptied the route even faster!

At 11.30am, we pulled out, passing Just In Carnival in dark blue and pale green feathers, then Real Steel and Ebony steelbands. We rounded the corner into Jerk Chicken Central, aka Golborne Road, under the watchful eye of Pepe Francis, and headed at a good pace along a deceptively quiet Elkstone Road, where smoke was beginning to rise from the food stalls in Meanwhile Gardens. Our two moko jumbies were showing off their skills and Andy, a one-man powerhouse of crazy energy, was entertaining the gathering crowds streaming in to Carnival over the canal bridge.

Now the serious fun started as we faced the long straight past shoulder-to-shoulder ranks of stewards to the judging point. Quite where the judges were sitting or standing was hard to tell. On Sunday, the only indication was a piece of paper bearing the words “JUDGE POINT” – perhaps the budget could run to a banner next year. Beyond this were the photographers, none of them using the specially built stage. Frankly, no one much cared by this time as we were high on the joy and adrenalin of being able to play mas again – especially to a great song like Savannah Grass.

Rounding the corner into Westbourne Park Road, a solid wall of cameras and mobiles captured every jump, chip and wine on our way past Trini Hill. Beyond, groups of other countries’ flags were being proudly displayed in little national enclaves. At the tight turn into Chepstow Road, Brazilians joined in with enthusiasm, on the pavement, in the road and leaning out of upstairs windows. Chepstow Road got busier the farther we headed down it, and there was the usual big crowd on the Westbourne Grove turn – another punctuation-point in the journey.

Westbourne Grove has been a bit of a favourite since the days when it hosted the judging point. It’s a road where you can really have fun so long as it’s not too jammed, as there are plenty of people lining the route but enough space to do your thing. This crowd was keen to join in, all with big smiles. The balconies of the grand houses make perfect

vantage points for those who want to watch without getting their feet dirty on the road itself. Barbadian flags hung from one balcony, above hoardings with flyposted adverts for a ‘Karl Marx Walking Tour’, nicely placed to provoke the area’s multi-millionaires into fits of apoplexy!

And then there’s that final right turn, the most dramatic of all, as the truck starts the long, usually painfully slow, descent towards Hades – otherwise known as the Ladbroke Grove flyover. The view down the hill, with masqueraders, revellers, trucks, cameras, feathers and eccentrics, is as iconic a London sight as Tower Bridge, St Paul’s Cathedral and Buckingham Palace. It’s more visually arresting than the Savannah, more spontaneous than the Sambadromo.

Up to this point, we had made remarkable progress, but no one expects to sprint along the Grove on Carnival Day, and eventually we ground to a halt under the flyover, a location that was to have tragic significance a few hours later. Our residence lasted half an hour, which was long enough to create our own fete under the Westway.

It was good to get going again when we started the long crawl up the hill, but the atmosphere had undergone a subtle change, with fewer smiles and less interaction with the band. Police peered down warily from behind bars in a building near the railway bridge. At 5pm (a record!) we turned off the route into Barlby Road. For Notting Hill Carnival 2022 Sunshine’s masquerading was over – and we had managed to stay in our sections all the way (another record). Many of us felt ever so slightly cheated, longing for another hour or two on the road. But the “road made to walk on Carnival day” was impassable, flooded by a sea of people. In light of what happened later, our early finish was almost certainly for the best.

As our coach – a silver-grey monster that contrasted with the antique double-decker of past years – glided along the Westway, we looked down on the tight-packed crowds in Ladbroke Grove and Great Western Road. Part of us longed to be down there in the thick of it, but the other part was thankful we weren’t. Back at the mas camp under the tangle of railway lines at Loughborough Junction, we worked our way through a bucket-load of rum punch and reflected on a wonderful day that had reinforced our love of Carnival. For those few hours, all seemed right with the world.

So here’s to Carnival 2023 – see you there.