SOCANEWS F ree
i134/ FEB 2020 ISSN 1464-7087
socanews.com
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contents FEBRUARY 2020 | ISSUE 134
REGULAR
FEATURE
07. News
10. A New Journal for Carnival
MUSIC
14. International Soca Monarch Finalists
18. CheInTheMixx, Top 15 Soca Songs
EVENTS 23. Event listings
16. Notting Hill Carnival 2020 Band Launches 27. Carnivals & Festivals 2020
Where to go and what to do
FOLLOW AND LIKE GET LISTED: If you’re a carnival organiser, promoter, mas band, steelband, soca sound, community group or other participant who’s feeling left out because we didn’t mention your event, or if you’d like to advertise in the magazine or online, the remedy is in your hands. Get in touch! Give us a call on 0333 012 4643. SN FEB 2020 5
EDITOR’S LETTER
I
COVER IMAGE -
COSTUME DESIGNER
MELISSA SIMON HARTMAN -
PHOTOGRAPHER
@J_BELLPHOTO
f I started singing “It’s the most wonderful time of the year”, would you be thinking “Christmas in February?” Well it isn’t Christmas, but it’s definitely the beginning of the 2020 Carnival season. Soca News will be leaving UK shores to travel to warmer parts of the world, to eat, drink and wine the days away as we cover some of the upcoming carnivals and festivals. To help you navigate the Carnival minefield we have scoured the web and pulled together as much information as we can. Here’s the result: our Carnival and Festivals Guide, which will lead you round the world’s carnivals, festivals and packaged tours. I should also mention that this month makes it 24 years since we started in February 1996. So, as we head towards the Silver Jubilee of Soca News, our mission remains ‘each one teach one’; we’re dedicated to ‘Spreading Our Culture Around’. To this end, we’re giving away free postal subscriptions to anyone based in the UK who would like an issue. The process is easy - just submit your details at socanews.com/subscribe, and leave the rest to us. Until the next time... Yours in Soca Joseph Charles EDITOR
PUBLISHER & EDITOR Joseph Charles jc@socanews.com CREATIVE Joseph Charles SUB EDITOR Katie Segal katie@socanews.com CONSULTING EDITOR Stephen Spark stephen@socanews.com
SALES & ADVERTISING Rodney Wilson rodney@socanews.com sales@socanews.co,uk
PUBLISHED BY Soca News Ltd 86-90 Paul Street London, EC2A 4NE
WORDS Ashley Harris, DRM Jones, Joseph Charles & Stephen Spark.
TELEPHONE + 44 (0) 333 012 4643
PICTURES Albert St. Clair, Bampson, Rudolpho Louisy, Shutter In Motion & 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. © 2020 Soca News. All rights reserved. 6 SN FEB 2020
NEWS
Machel calls it a day with the final Machel Monday
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WORDS | JOSEPH CHARLES
here has been, for the last 10 years, one day in the Trinidad Carnival calendar when no other promoter has dared to throw a fete – the Monday before Carnival that’s designated ‘Machel Monday’. However, the soca superstar announced to feters at the Black 2 Blue Breakfast Party in January that this year’s edition of Machel Monday will be the last. Machel Monday – The Wedding, the last and final in the series, will take place on Monday 17 February at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Trinidad.
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NEWS
ALISON HINDS STARS IN NEW FILM
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ajan soca artist Alison Hinds appears in a new movie that features actors from Ghana, Jamaica and Barbados. The movie, Joseph, focuses on Kevoy Burton, a successful doctor in Jamaica who discovers his Ghanaian roots. What follows leads to a family torn apart between the Caribbean and Africa. Actor Mawuli Gavor takes the lead role as Kevoy Burton, with Christopher MacFarland playing his father, Alison Hinds his mother and Shontelle Layne his sister.
CALYPSO FIESTA FINDS A NEW HOME
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he annual Calypso Fiesta competition has been moved to Guaracara Park. The move was forced on organisers by renovation work at Skinner Park, the usual home of the event. The competition, which is the precursor to Dimanche Gras, is where the finalists for the National Calypso Monarch competition is decided. This year’s Calypso Fiesta , commonly known as the Biggest Calypso Picnic, is scheduled for Saturday 15 February at Guaracara Park, Pointe-a-Pierre, Trinidad. Start time is 12pm. 8 SN FEB 2020
MUSICIAN ROY NOEL PASSES AWAY
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t is with sadness that we report the passing of musician Roy Jeremiah Noel. Roy was born in Grenada in 1952, subsequently attending Henry Compton School in Fulham, London. Quiet and unassuming by nature, he was passionate about calypso - and music in general. Roy played drums with TJ Jazz Band, North Star Steel Band and various jab jab bands. Many would remember him as, for many years, the house drummer for the ABC Band at the London Calypso Tent, at Yaa Asantewaa, Maida Vale and the Tabernacle, Ladbroke Grove. He played alongside artists such as current UK Calypso and Groovy Soca Monarch Helena B, Alexander D Great, Brown Sugar, De Admiral, G String, Lord Cloak, Totally Talibah, and many others. Roy joined the ancestors on December 31, 2019. We would like to send our sympathy to all his family and friends in this difficult time.
KING AND QUEEN OF CARNIVAL RETURN TO DIMANCHE GRAS
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he King and Queen of Carnival will return to the Dimanche Gras show on Trinidad Carnival Sunday night after an absence of two years. The competition, which was separated and given its own show in an effort to curtail the length of the Dimanche Gras event, was sorely missed According to two-time Carnival King Wade Madray, it “should never have been taken out of Dimanche Gras show”. Dimanche Gras will be held on Sunday 23 February at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain.
ASA BANTAN BECOMES GOODWILL AMBASSADOR
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sa Bantan, the Wet Fete King, has been made a Goodwill Ambassador for Dominica. The artist is known for tunes such as Wet Fete, Task Force and Wet Fete King.
GET SOME MORE ZOUK IN YOUR LIFE
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f you'd like to experience more Caribbean music in London than just reggae and soca – well, you can. Since the 90’s, Club Zouk has been serving London audiences with zouk, soukous, compa, cadence, cadence-lypso, soca, bouyon, merengue, semba and Afro-beats; they have music for everyone. Attending any Club Zouk event presents you with both a meeting of people and the gift of the music of the Creole diaspora. Club Zouk dates for your diary include Saturdays 21 March, 27 June, 26 September and 19 December, all to be held at RnR Lounge, 221-223 Mount Road, Chingford, London, E4 8LP. For more information about all Club Zouk events, visit socanews.com/events.
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feATURE
A New Journal For Carnival Arts
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WORDS | STEPHEN SPARK
tudying Carnival arts will never be the same again. Research will be so much easier after a new academic journal dedicated to the subject has launched later this year. The International Journal of Carnival Arts (IJCA) represents a new approach to writing about and recording our core Carnival artforms – steelpan, calypso and mas. The IJCA is not intended to be a news magazine, but instead will act as a forum for more in-depth discussions on a wide range of subjects. Examples might include the new research into early calypso recordings, intellectual property rights in mas, advances in pan technology, or the economic effects of Carnival-related tourism. Being dedicated solely to Carnival arts, the IJCA is expected to become the go-to place for anyone seriously interested in the subject. 10 SN FEB 2020
But why do we need an entirely new journal, when academic papers and Masters and doctoral theses on Carnival are regularly published in existing journals or made available on the web? Whilst much good work is indeed being published today, sadly these papers are inaccessible to the great majority of readers. They can be hard to find, and even harder to buy; journals are often eyewateringly expensive. Those without access to a well-stocked university library or academic subscription service are effectively excluded from current knowledge and discussion on the subject. Journals can sometimes apply an ‘ivory tower’ filter to intending authors. In consequence, most are drawn from a rather narrow, ‘high-level’ academic background. Yet Carnival is created and directed by practical people; their voices are heard all too rarely in academic circles.
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As a result, much of what is written about Carnival arts represents a limited viewpoint. It’s usually that of the outsider looking in, who may not always understand enough about the subject and those involved to be able to effectively analyse what they see. Feedback and informed criticism are lacking too. Many years ago, Ashton Moore – the calypsonian Mighty Tiger who was President of the Association of British Calypsonians – told Soca News that every year students and academics would come to the London Calypso Tent. They would ask a host of questions, take photographs, and interview visiting and local calypsonians and musicians, sometimes for the whole season. After the final night, they would go off to write up their theses. And then – nothing. By now, we should have benefitted from a wonderful library of material, some of it likely to be of great historical value because so many pioneers have passed on. But the very people who were put under the microscope never got to see what had been written about their work and their artistry. This is a grave failing: surely the ultimate ‘peer reviewer’ is the subject of the academic work themselves. By contrast with the traditional model, the new journal will be open to all, from professors to practitioners, Masters of Arts to masters of their art. The Author Guidelines make clear that the IJCA will be “an open access journal… available to authors and readers without financial implications”. Unlike some journals, authors will not have to pay to be published; unlike almost all journals, readers will not have to pay to access the papers – they will all be freely available on the web. The International Journal of Carnival Arts is the brainchild of Haroun Shah, of Nostalgia Steelband. Haroun is also the organiser of the Biennial Steelpan Conference (despite its name it covers more than pan). He reports that after each conference he receives over 2,000 requests for copies of the conference book. However, the conference book only includes the summary of a particular presentation. Recipients of the book often respond by asking for more details which IJCA may now be able to fulfil. Clearly, there is a hunger for ground-breaking research and writing about Carnival arts. Haroun told Soca News that he expects the first
issue to appear in the first quarter of 2020. “I am excited and positive it will work,” he said. Haroun was motivated to take this project forward because, “Far too much fantastic steelpan, kaiso and Carnival arts work is being produced… and falls by the wayside without being properly documented.” So who will write for the journal and how can a writer with something new and original to say about Carnival contribute? Haroun is keen to attract first-time authors and especially practitioners. He explained: “I am hoping this journal will persuade many who would not normally consider writing to use their laptop and write something that [appeals] to them.” Papers can be on any aspect of the Carnival arts, and should normally be between 3,000 and 7,000 words long. They should, of course, include references, and everyone’s work will be peer-reviewed. This should be especially helpful to less-experienced authors, and it will ensure that the journal’s content is of lasting value. To date, 50 editors have been recruited from around the world. They represent an impressive spread of knowledge and experience in the Carnival arts. Their specialisms include cultural studies, journalism, music history, theatre, tourism, pan composition, arranging and judging, events promotion, Carnival heritage, gender issues, calypso history… and more. At this point, in true academic style, the present author must disclose an interest: he is one of the Journal’s seven senior editors. The full editorial board are: Haroun Shah; Dawn Batson PhD (USA); Kim Johnson PhD (CITT, Carnival Institute of Trinidad & Tobago); Suzanne Burke PhD (UWI, Trinidad), Robbie Joseph (Pan Podium), Alexander Loewenthal BA (calypsonian Alexander D Great, ACASA); Stephen Spark MA (University of Westminster), consulting editor Soca News. So, if there’s a Carnival arts topic that’s been burning away in your brain for an age, and which you really think people ought to know about or that ought to be debated, do get in touch - we’d love to hear from you. For more information, contact Haroun at: harounnshah@gmail.com
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FEATURE
International Soca Monarch Finalists THE RACE IS WIDE OPEN
The final of the International Soca Monarch competition is scheduled for Friday 21 February, better known as Fantastic Friday.In total, 62 competitors took part in the semi-final, and they were whittled down to 22 contestants.
GROOVY FINALIST
POWER FINALIST
Asten Isaac I.O.U
1.
Iwer George Stage Gone Bad
2. Blaxx Canboulay
2.
Luni Spark & Electrify Bacchanal Party
1. 3.
College Boy Jesse Happy Song
3. Lyrikal Rukshun
4.
Ding Dong Outside
4.
5. Isaiah Soca Slide 6.
Kerry John Go Away
Mical Teja Bumper Murder
5. Olatunji Thankful 6. Preedy Shell It
7. Leadpipe Sometimes
7.
Problem Child Nasty Up
8. Preedy Yuh Bad
8.
Prophet Benjamin Betty Cat
9. Rayzor Dread Tabanca
9. Rome Easy To Break
10. Rome Good Good
10. Shal Marshall Bun Up
11. Skinny Banton Wrong Again
11. Trinidad Ghost I Ain’t See
12. Swappi (defending monarch) 14 SN FEB 2020
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FEATURE
Notting Hill Carnival 2020 Band Launches
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e may be only in February, but preparation for Notting Hill Carnival 2020, which this year will take place on Sunday 30 and Monday 31 August, is already well underway. Band launch season has begun, with costume presentations set to monopolise many of your weekends between now and midsummer. It can sometimes be difficult to find information about band launches, not to mention the bands themselves, so we’ve created a list of upcoming launches. We’ll update as and when we receive new information, but if you’d like to be kept informed there are the options of signing up to our weekly e-newsletter and/or magazine, which you can do by visiting socanews.com/subscribe. 16 SN FEB 2020
UPCOMING LAUNCHES SAT 29 FEB
MASOLOGY - MAKING CARNIVAL
SUN 8 MAR
FUNATIK MAS
SUN 22 MAR
TEMPO MAS
SAT 4 APR
AFCA CARNIVAL BAND
SUN 12 APR
CANDY MAS
SUN 19 APR
EBONY MAS
FOR A FULL LIST OF BAND LAUNCHES VISIT SOCANEWS.COM/EVENTS
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music
Top 15 Soca Songs THIS IS NOT A COUNTDOWN CHART AND THE LIST IS IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER
This chart is provided by ChéInTheMIXX who presents the Lush Soca Sundays Radio Show on Robbo Ranx Radio every Sunday from 5 - 7pm. You can listen online via the TuneIn App (tun.in/sfhfO) or at www.robboranx.com.
DEAR PROMOTER
ONE MISSION
MIDDLE
WOI YA
BUS A WINE
FEELING IT
OMALAY
MS CARNIVAL
NO TOMORROW
THE STRUGGLE
WHA YA KNOW
DIRECT SHOT
PARTY
MORE SOKAH
DADDY REACH
VOICE x KES
SWAPPI x ULTIMATE REJECTS
PATRICE ROBERTS x LORD NELSON
NADIA BATSON x VOICE
CHINESE LAUNDRY RELOADED (HYPE REMIX) CHINESE LAUNDRY x SUPER BLUE x RAVI B x TRINIDAD KILLA
BEAST RIDDIM SKINNY FABULOUS x BLACK SHADOW
THE FIZZLE PROJECT ANGELA HUNTE x DJ PRIVATE RYAN
CLASSY RIDDIM VOICE x KEONE
TUFF RIDDIM TONY P
OLATUNJI x NAILAH BLACKMAN
CLASSY RIDDIM KERWIN DUBOIS x ADANA ROBERTS
NAILAH BLACKMAN
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CONEY ISLAND RIDDIM BUNJI GARLIN x FAY-ANN LYONS
BUNJI GARLIN x JUS NOW
KERWIN DUBOIS X DESTRA GARCIA
Soca News Music Awards 2020 Soca News has confirmed that their annual awards ceremony will take place in 2020. There will be a re-focus and a slight rebrand this year, as the event becomes the Soca News Music Awards, in place of ‘Soca Music Awards’.
Soca News editor Joseph Charles says, “These awards are really about shining a light on those who are really putting their all into promoting their culture, whether in the form of soca, calypso, mas or pan.” The awardS ceremony is scheduled for November 2020. For more information, visit socanews.com/musicawards If you’d like to be involved, please email musicawards@socanews.co.uk
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events
Don’t know where to go, or what to do?
Our events listing is all you need to keep you in the know. We cover predominately London, but whenever or wherever we hear about a soca fete or caribbean related event, we’ll list it. If you’re a promoter, then to ensure you get listed please send us your event details and a print copy of your flyer to events@socanews.co.uk. For full event listings, please visit socanews.com/events.
FRI 07 FEB
SAT 8 FEB
DJ BONES X QT 2HYPE
DJ REMSTAR
SPICE NATION
@Draft House, 55 Charterhouse Street, Farringdon, EC1M 6PR. Music By DJ Bones, DJ Desktop, DJ Dingo, Hyper Spice, Mr Redz, QT 2Hype & Selector Spice. Time 10pm-4am. Price £10-£15
FISH FRIDAY - GRENADA INDEPENDENCE SPECIAL
FLIGHT TT868 - THE PRE TRINIDAD CARNIVAL SEND OFF PARTY @Favela London, 65 Crowndale Road, NW1 1TN. Music By DJ Remstar, MC Marcus, DJ Paulie, DJ Desktop, DJ Boots, DJ Sparky & Young Apache. Time 10pm-4am. Price £6-£15.
@Acton Vale Community Centre, Beech Avenue, W3 7JZ. Time 7.3010.30pm. Info 07973 405 160
BUSSPEPPER PROMOTIONS
FOR MORE EVENT INFO
@Electric Brixton, SW2 1RJ. Time 11pm-5am. Price £15-£25.
SOCANEWS.COM/EVENTS
DE WARM UP SESSION PRE T&T CARNIVAL PARTY
UNITED GROUPS OF GRENADA
46TH ANNIVERSARY OF GRENADA'S INDEPENDENCE
@The Luxurious Decorium, 22 Western Road, Wood Green, N22 6UH. Time 6pm-3am. Price £65.
SUN 9 FEB GRENADA INDEPENDENCE DAY FETE @Loves Company, Unit 1, Imperial Hall, 104-122 City Road, Old Street, EC1V 2NR. Time 4-11pm. Price £6. FOR MORE EVENT INFO
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EVENTS FOR A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF EVENTS AND FOR MORE INFO
SOCANEWS.COM/EVENTS FRI 14 FEB
MARCH
PSV EVENTS
SOCA FRENZY REVELLING IN RED
@Scala, 275 Pentonville Road, Kings Cross, N1 9NL. Time 11pm5am. Price £3-£15.
FRI 21 FEB TOUCHDOWN SECTION & CARIBBEAN PARTY
ISSA SNACK - GRENADA MEETS ST.LUCIA INDEPENDENCE @Favela London, 65 Crowndale Road, NW1 1TN. Music By DJ Bones, Supa Nytro, Dansoul Aay, T-Bone & Kal-i, DJ Vibes & John Boy. Time 10pm-4am. Price £1-£15.
SAT 22 FEB UNITY OF UK ST LUCIANS
SAINT LUCIA INDEPENDENCE PARTY
@Stratford Town Hall, 29 Broadway, Stratford, E15 4BQ. Live Performances By Gozilay, plus guest artist Siddy Ranks. Time 9pm-3am. Price £20. CROME ENTERPRISE
SOCA MAWWDDD - 1ST YEAR ANNIVERSARY
@The Habesha, 256 Brixton Road, SW9 6AQ. Music By Lex Lion, DJ Digga D, Deejay Paulie, DJ Armani, Deejay Dee & Majikal. Time 4pmmidnight. Price £7-£10, motd.
SAT 29 FEB DOMILUCIAN PROMOTIONS
A TASTE OF DOMINICA & ST.LUCIA
@Starlight Banqueting Suite, 300 Leabridge Road, Leyton, E10 7LD. Time 10pm. Price £15, motd. MASOLOGY MAKING CARNIVAL
THE CARNIVAL COSTUME FASHION SHOW @The Sound Lounge, 102 London Road, Morden, SM4 5AY. Time 6-8.30pm. Price Free entry. 24 SN FEB 2020
SUN 01 MAR SOCA LOCO
BACCHANAL BRUNCH
@Huckster, London, 4 Kingdom Street. Time 1-9pm. Price £15.
FRI 06 MAR MISS EAST LONDON GALAXY
321 SOCA
@Nomad Club London, 58 Old Street, EC1V 9AJ. Music By DJ Markee, Ras Kenny & Mike Forbes. Time 10pm-3am. Price £12.
SUN 08 MAR FUNATIK MAS
2020 CARNIVAL COSTUME BAND LAUNCH
@The RNR Lounge, 221-223 Mount Road, Chingford, E4 8LP. Music By Ninjaman Lloyd, Val VJ DJ Matthew & Mickey Afrique. Time 10pm-late. Price £10.
SUN 22 MAR TEMPO MAS
ETERNAL NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL 2020 BAND LAUNCH
@Yaa Centre, 1 Chippenham Mews, W9 2AN. Music By DJ Choc-T, DJ Icebergg, DJ Mcksta, DJ Christo & DJ Bashment. Time 4-10pm. Price £5-£7.
THUR 09 APR DJ NATE
CARIBBEAN ROCKS LONDON
@Haringey Irish Centre, Pretoria Road, N17 8DX. Music By Lex Lion, Martin Jay & Ms Riri. Time 3-10pm. Price £15-£7.
@Indigo at the O2, O2 Peninsular Square, Greenwich, SE10 0AX. Live Performances Spice, Mr Killa, Teejay, & Blackboy. Time 8-11pm. Price £31-£49.
MANGROVE MAS BAND
FRI 10 APR
UTOPIA THE LAUNCH
@The Tabernacle, 34-35 Powis Square, W11 2AY.
DJ NATE
SAT 14 MAR
@O2 Institute Birmingham, 78 Digbeth High Street, Birmingham B5 6DY. Live Performances Spice, Mr Killa, Teejay, & Blackboy. Time 8-11pm. Price £30-£35.
WESTSIDE ENTERTAINMENTS
MINGLE ALL WHITE
@The Cavendish Banqueting Suite, Edgware Road, NW9 5AE. Time 10pm-4am. Price £25-£30.
CARIBBEAN ROCKS BIRMINGHAM
MON 13 APR
SAT 21 MAR
COCOYEA LONODN
THIS IS ENTERTAINMENT
@Sacala, 275 Pentonville Road, Kings Cross, N1 9NL. Time 5pmmidnight. Price £10-£15. Info 07956 223 247
SOCA CENTRAL (GLOW EDITION)
@Whirled Cinema, 259-260 Hardess Street, Loughborough Junction, SE24 0HN. Music By DJ Black Cerian, DJ Dingo, DJ Simply E, DJ Supa Nytro, DJ Dansoul AAY, DJ Kieron, DJ Sparky & Dr Roach. Time 3pm-3am. Price £5-£15. CLUB ZOUK
VINI DANSEZ
GOLDEN COCOYEA
LIST YOUR EVENT FOR FREE AT SOCANEWS.COM/ SUBMIT-EVENT
ADVERTISING TO ADVERTISE IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF SOCA NEWS t. +44 (0) 333 012 4643 e. sales@socanews.com
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CARNIVALS & FESTIVALS 2020 SOCANEWS.COM/CARNIVALS
We’ve compiled information about Caribbean carnivals and festivals being held around the world. Aimed at seasoned travellers who’ve already visited far-flung carnivals or festivals, as well as those considering doing so for the first time in 2020, we hope this guide gives you all the information and impetus you need to get going. * At the time of going to print all information was deemed to be correct. We have double and triple checked our dates, but if you can see an error, or there is an event you think we have missed, please let us know by emailing info@socanews.com.
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FEB
2020
CARNIVALS
& FESTIVALS 2020
22 - 23 FEB
BONAIRE CARNIVAL
PLAYA AND RICON KRALENDIJK, CARIBBEAN NETHERLANDS
Bonaire Karnaval commences every year with the Tumba Music festivals, and competitions for both adults and kids. It concludes with The Burning of King Momo, a cultural staple in Bonaire’s Karnaval, on the final Tuesday before Lent.
23 FEB
GUYANAMASHRAMANI GUYANA
The first celebration was in 1966 to mark Guyana’s independence. Nowadays, Mashramani celebrates the merged holidays of Independence and Republic days. On Mash day, costumed bands parade the street to the sweet sounds of calypso and steel bands. Prior to the day itself, there are calypso, steel band and masquerade competitions in the National Park in Georgetown.
23 - 24 FEB
RIO CARNIVAL
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL
The world’s largest carnival can be traced back to the 18th century, and runs from Friday night until noon on Ash Wednesday. On the Friday, the city’s mayor hands the keys to the city to the mythical King Momo, who proceeds to lead the festivities. Hundreds of street parties – ‘blocos’ – are held from mid-
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January to mid-February, and millions party in Rio’s city centre on Carnival Saturday. The spectacular highpoint is the parade of Rio’s top samba schools competing at the sambadrome arena until dawn. The first samba, a ritual Candomble dance to drums and handclaps, is thought to have been composed in a former slave market for kidnapped and enslaved Africans, in the old town.
23 - 24 FEB
CURACAO CARNIVAL CURACAO
‘Karnaval di Kòrsou’ is the biggest and most anticipated event on the island, and for a good reason. During the carnival season in Curaçao, the whole island transforms into one big colourful party that takes possession of the whole community through group preparations, competitions, public parties, and street parades that start in the first weeks of the year and end in the month of March preceding Ash Wednesday. Curacao’s tumba music has become the major influence since the island’s people took the reins of carnival from the elite. With the island’s history of colonisation by Holland, expect to see some Dutch flavour.
23 - 26 FEB
MARTINIQUE CARNIVAL MARTINIQUE
Martinique Carnival itself begins in January, with parties and
Carnival Queen parades taking place every weekend. The fête is infused, week after week, with a merry madness in the bigger towns and cities, especially Fort-de-France. Fat Tuesday, also known as Mardi Gras, takes place on February 25. Carnival concludes on Ash Wednesday, on the Day of the She-Devils (La Fête des Diablesses) when some revellers gather to mourn the end of Carnival and the symbolic death of King Carnival.
23 FEB
ARUBA CARNIVAL ARUBA
A series of small street festivals heralded the birth of Aruba Carnival in 1954. 1955 saw the island’s first carnival, and debut of the official Aruba Carnival Queen competition. Two years later, the Grand Parade began. Aruba Carnival is the biggest party of the year, a month-long celebration with spectacular parades. Grand parades in San Nicolas and Oranjestad are the biggest celebration parties of the season. The midnight burning of King Momo, a life size effigy of the spirit of Aruba’s Carnival signals the conclusion of the season.
24 FEB
SAINT BARTHÉLEMY CARNIVAL ST BARTS/ST BARTH
The period between Epiphany and Ash Wednesday marking the beginning of the forty days
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PHOTOGRAPH SHUTTER IN MOTION
TRINIDAD CARNIVAL TUESDAY
FEB
2020
CARNIVALS
& FESTIVALS 2020
abstinence of Lent. St Barts Carnival celebrations include a children’s costume parade, a pajama parade, a Mardi Gras parade and ends with the burning of Vaval, the king of Carnival on Ash Wednesday.
- as brightly dressed orators exchange verses, a stroke of the opponent’s stick is the punishment for those who mess up their lines.
24 - 25 FEB
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
MAS DOMNIK DOMINICA
Dominica’s Carnival, known as Mas Domnik Mas, is a traditional pre-Lenten festival, which features calypso, soca, queen shows and costumes to entice onlookers on the streets. For 2020, the Mas Domnik events calendar will include a night of international artists, calypso tents, calypso monarch competitions and the National Queen Pageant. This year’s carnival is celebrated under the theme Play de Riddim, Play Mas.
24 - 25 FEB
CARRIACOU CARNIVAL CARRIACOU
This is a vibrant event taking place over two weeks after the beginning of Lent, which includes Jab Jab and Shakespeare Mas. Shakespeare and Carnival in one place, you ask: the latter is unique to the island of Carriacou, involving men dressed in bright coloured costumes engaging in the recitation of Shakespeare verse. Of course, there’s also the street parade, soca, pretty mas bands, calypso and Jab Jab, but the unique Shakespeare Mas stands out
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24 - 25 FEB
TRINIDAD CARNIVAL Carnival here is a spectacle of colour, creativity, enjoyment and theatre, and the islands spend from Christmas until the pre-Lenten festivities are over immersed in this annual event that attracts many thousands of visitors. J’Ouvert Monday (taken from the French jour ouvert, meaning ‘opening of the day’) is when the real takeover of the street begins, with revellers covering themselves with mud, paint and powder as they ‘chip’ in the cool, darkness of the early morning in their respective bands. Tuesday is now the main day for mas, masquerade, where bands featuring often thousands of costumed masqueraders vie for accolades and prizes, both for their costumes and for their party vibes.
25 - 26 FEB
GUADELOUPE CARNIVAL GUADELOUPE
Carnival is a major cultural event, celebrated over three months: January, February and March. If you are in Guadeloupe during this period, you would be crazy to miss out on this spectacular and colourful
cultural event. Carnival here is marked by vibrant costumes, soca, calypso, zouk, pan and competitions. Children in disguise ask drivers at crossroads for sweets and money. It ends with the burning of ‘Vaval’, or ‘Bois Bois’, on Ash Wednesday, amidst she-devils dressed in black and white dancing to tom toms and singing; the effigy is then thrown into the sea with cries of ‘Vaval mô, vaval mô’ (Carnival is dead).
15 - 25 FEB
HAITI CARNIVAL HAITI
Haitian Carnival is a celebration held over several weeks each year, leading up to Mardi Gras (Haitian Defile Kanaval). The main carnival parade, ’Kye Marn’, is held in the capital city, with smaller celebrations taking place simultaneously in Jacmel, Aux Cayes and other locations.
25 FEB
NEW ORLEANS MARDI GRAS NEW ORLEANS
The holiday of Mardi Gras is celebrated in all of Louisiana, especially the city of New Orleans. Celebrations go on for around two weeks up to Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday (the start of Lent).
SOCANEWS.COM/ CARNIVALS
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PHOTOGRAPH OJI THOMAS
ANTIGUA CARNIVAL TUESDAY
MAR 2020
21 MAR
CAPE TOWN CARNIVAL SOUTH AFRICA
Cape Town has been reinventing itself as a tourist destination since hosting the Rugby World Cup in 2010, when the city’s newest carnival was created. It’s swiftly gaining an international reputation for high quality costumes, floats and community participation with a unique South African flavour. This year’s theme ‘Amaza! - Ocean Odyssey’, will inspire nautical and marine creations; bobbing boats, beach life, fish and other sea creatures. This is a free, family event, with a parade along Green Point Fan with a programme of entertainment and a VIP ticketed area. For further information, visit www. capetowncarnival.com
26 - 29 MAR
TOULOUSE CARNIVAL FRANCE
Tolouse celebrates its famous carnival, an event that marks the beginning of spring, on a yearly basis. There are many reasons to join and celebrate on the street.
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APR 2020
12 APRIL
VIRGIN GORDA EASTER FESTIVAL CELEBRATIONS
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
24 – 28 APRIL
BARBADOS REGGAE FESTIVAL BARBADOS
Carnival is the biggest annual event in the Virgin Islands – and with several islands, there are several celebrations! Easter is party time in Virgin Gorda. Pageants and competitions in early April build up to a weekend of fun-filled activities including the village opening, Calyspo Monarch competitions, a morning tramp and parade.
The Barbados Reggae Festival is a week-long music fest that has acheived international acclaim. Local, regional and international reggae acts, plus the unique venues and the attractions of Barbados, all contribute to the festival's ever-increasing popularity with Barbadians and reggae lovers from the region and around the globe.
19 APRIL
25 APRIL
JAMAICA CARNIVAL JAMAICA
Carnival in Jamaica began in the ’40s, when UWI students recreated campus versions of their home islands’ festivals. Jump to 1990, as Byron Lee & Friends staged the inaugural JA Carnival, the first mas festival in the ‘Land of Wood and Water’. Three decades later it became the Kingston Metropolitan Area’s premier festival, and one of the biggest events in Jamaica. Jamaica’s jump up begins when Lent is over, with a series of big fetes, and climaxes with costumed bands on the road on what is known as Road March Day. Celebrations also take place in Ocho Rios which has its own carnival made up of five bands: Tainos, Maroons, Arawaks, Soca Junkies and Red Ants. For more information, visit http://ochicarnivalja.com
TAMPA BAY CARIBBEAN CARNIVAL
TAMPA, FLORIDA
This event began in 2005, when members of the newly organised Tampa Caribbean Festival Inc conceived the idea of an event to celebrate the beauty of Caribbean-American cultures.
30 APRIL - 1 MAY
ST. MAARTEN CARNIVAL
PHILLIPSBURG, ST MARTIN/ ST MAARTEN
St. Marteen Carnival is by far the island’s largest cultural event, going strong after 42 years. From colourful parades to spectacular pageants, exciting calypso, energetic bands, and highly anticipating concerts, St. Marteen’s Carnival has something for everyone.
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MAY 2020
CARNIVALS
& FESTIVALS 2020
1 - 4 MAY
BAHAMAS CARNIVAL BAHAMAS
Bahamas Carnival is the biggest party to land on the shores of Nassau, Bahamas. The three day weekend is filled with wild fetes, hype road march and live concerts.
2 – 9 MAY
CAYMAN CARNIVAL BATABANO CAYMAN ISLANDS
Launched in 1983 by the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman, Cayman Carnival Batabano is held annually during the first week of May and is a vibrant highlight in the island’s entertainment calender. The festival’s name, Batabano, is a salute to Cayman’s turtling heritage; the word refers to the tracks left in the sand by sea turtles as they crawl onto the beach to nest.
4 MAY
ST THOMAS CARNIVAL ST THOMAS
Carnival in St. Thomas began over 100 years ago. The first carnival was held in 1912 as a way to celebrate local culture, but it took 38 years before the festival officially became an annual event. Carnival in the US Virgin Islands occurs at different times throughout the year; this one is held post-Easter.
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1 - 6 MAY
GRENADA CHOCOLATE FEST GRENADA
Grenada Chocolate Fest is an annual, week-long festival that takes place in May. Grenada is home to over five chocolate factories, including the world famous Grenada Chocolate Company founded by the godfathers of modern tree-tobar chocolate Mott Green and Edmund Brown.
7 - 9 MAY
SAINT LUCIA JAZZ SAINT LUCIA
The St. Lucia Jazz Festival is an annual event on the Caribbean Island of Saint Lucia that brings together local and international musicians. The festival features jazz, R&B and calypso music.
7 - 11 MAY
IBIZA SOCA FESTIVAL IBIZA, SPAIN
26 MAY
GUYANA CARNIVAL GUYANA
Guyana Carnival is a privately owned festival in Georgetown, Guyana. It was born out of Guyana’s 50th Independence celebrations, when thousands visited the country. The Minister of Tourism suggested that Guyana should capitalise on celebrating this event annually, on a grand scale.
23 MAY
OFFICIAL ATLANTA CARIBBEAN CARNIVAL CENTRAL PARK, ATLANTA, UNITED STATES
In 1987, a diverse group representing several Caribbean islands came together to familiarise the metro Atlanta community with Caribbean culture through a West Indian -style carnival. The first Carnival was held in 1988, and it became the official kick-off to the U.S carnival season and brought thousands of visitors to metropolitan Atlanta for Memorial Day weekend.
31 MAY
BERLIN CARNIVAL OF CULTURES BERLIN. GERMANY
The Berlin Karneval der Kulturen is a four day open-air festival with exotic food and drinks, concerts, performances, and parties. The colourful highlight of the festivities is the street parade, where more than 4,500 perform.
JUN 5 – 7 JUN
GRENADA MUSIC FESTIVAL GRENADA
15 JUNE
BERMUDA CARNIVAL HAMILTON, BERMUDA
18 - 21 JUN
CHARLESTON CARIFEST SOUTH CAROLINA
South Carolina Caribbean Culture & Heritage Inc. has, since 2006, aimed to promote and preserve the culture and heritage of the Caribbean. Charleston Carifest is promoting the understanding and awareness of Caribbean Culture through the festival showcasing arts, culture and education, whilst embracing diversity.
originated in 1996, and is an unforgettable annual experience. The magical extravaganza of music takes place each year during the last week of June.
27 - 28 JUN
NOLA CARIBBEAN FESTIVAL
CENTRAL CITY BBQ, NEW ORLEANS, LA, UNITED STATES
The NOLA Caribbean Experience celebrates Caribbean cuisine, music, dance and carnival culture whilst highlighting New Orleans’ deeply-rooted connections as the Caribbean’s northern-most city.
SOCANEWS.COM/ CARNIVALS
2020
18 - 21 JUN
HOLLYWOOD CARNIVAL HOLLYWOOD, USA
This is a festival of world culture expressing the colours of culture and freedom of the world as one people. Hollywood Carnival is a celebration of multiple cultures and traditions, featuring colourful costumes, dances, food, arts & crafts and music from around the world.
25 - 27 JUN
ST KITTS MUSIC FESTIVAL
SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS
The St. Kitts Music Festival
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JUL 2020
CARNIVALS
& FESTIVALS 2020
1 JUL
ST JOHN FESTIVAL
ST JOHN NATIONAL PARK FIELD, ST JOHN, US VIRGIN ISLANDS
No matter how small St John’s population may be, they make sure that their carnival exceeds all expectations, and the entire community enjoys themselves. Emanicipation and independence are the two key components of the traditional celebrations, which are spread throughout the months of June into July. They include musical venues, the village, food fair, parades and fireworks, along with its sister Island St Thomas. Celebrants travel between St Thomas and St John by ferry to get a feel for the opening of the village, the parade and the food fair. The climax of these celebrations are Emancipation Day and Independance Day, vital days for the St Johnians.
6 - 7 JUL
VINCY MAS
ST VINCENT & THE GRENADINES
With the advent of adult suffrage in 1951 more resources were put into carnival. Then, in 1973, a carnival committee was formed. In 1976, the committee, alongside calypsonians, pannists and mas makers, decided to move carnival from its traditional pre-Lenten period to the summer in order to generate revenue at a quieter time of year and to ensure more
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participation by Vincentians of the diaspora. 2020 marks 43 years of Vincy Mas.
13 JUL
BALTIMORE/DC ONE CARIBBEAN CARNIVAL BALTIMORE, MD, USA
The Baltimore Washington One Carnival sees two cities joining together in celebration of Caribbean island culture.
18 - 27 JUL
CARNIVAL OF SANTIAGO DE CUBA
SANTIAGO DE CUBA, CUBA
The carnival of Santiago de Cuba is the largest, most famous and most traditional carnival in Cuba, and is an explosion of colour, contagious drum rhythms and dance.
20 - 21 JUL
SAINT LUCIA CARNIVAL SAINT LUCIA
In recent years the carnival has developed significantly, both through local talent and by incorporating elements from some of the island’s Caribbean neighbours. Until 1998, Lucian Carnival was a pre-Lenten affair, culminating on the two days before Ash Wednesday; in 1999, the organisers moved it to July to attract more tourists. The music of Saint Lucia is varied. Apart from the soca
influence, you can savour other genres such as zouk, bouyon, soukous and Afrobeats. And a new sound unique and indigenous to Saint Lucia has emerged in the last few years: dennery segment.
25 JUL
ZOMER CARNAVAL ROTTERDAM
With 30 floats, over 2000 participants and crowds numbering close to one million, the Rotterdam Summer Carnival (Zomercarnaval) is the largest in the Netherlands, and one of the biggest in Europe. Originating in 1984 with a group of students from the Dutch Caribbean, the carnival is now part of a Rotterdam Unlimited, a five-day festival that takes place at the end of July.
26 JUL – 4 AUG
TORTOLA EMANCIPATION FESTIVAL
TORTOLA, BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
27 JUL
SUMMER SABA FESTIVAL SABA
The Saba Summer Festival is usually held during the last week of July, but may run into the first days of August depending on that year’s calendar. The festival features live music, great food, colourful parades and a friendly atmosphere.
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PHOTOGRAPH CHRIS BOOTHMAN
ZOMER CARNIVAL
AUG 2020
CARNIVALS
& FESTIVALS 2020
1 – 3 AUG
STATIA CARNIVAL ST EUSTATIUS
Founded in 1964, the Statia Carnival is a ten-day roller coaster of drinking, dancing and parades. From late July into early August, the people of Saint Eustatius welcome foreigners to their shores, as well as returning migrants.
1 AUG
TORONTO CARNIVAL TORONTO, CANADA
Since 1967, North America’s biggest Caribbean Carnival happens in Toronto every year. The road becomes the stage for the masqueraders and steelpan performers. Toronto Caribbean Carnival’s Grande Parade continues to attract local, regional and international attention by visitors and media, the highlight of the three-week festival.
2 - 9 AUG
ANGUILLA SUMMER FESTIVAL ANGUILLA
Summer Festival in Anguilla is a typical Caribbean emancipation celebration which has been occurring on the island for more than a quarter of a century.
3 AUG
CROP OVER BARBADOS
Crop Over, also known as ‘the sweetest summer festival’, is a traditional harvest festival that
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began in Barbados in 1687 to mark the end of the annual crop harvest. The festival ran until the 1940s, and was terminated until a revival in 1974 when other elements of Barbadian culture were infused to create the extravaganza that exists today. It has since blossomed into one of the most popular Caribbean festivals.
3 - 4 AUG
ANTIGUA CARNIVAL ANTIGUA & BARBUDA
Antigua Carnival is known as the Caribbean's Greatest Summer Festival.
4 AUGUST
NEVIS CULTURAMA ST KITTS AND NEVIS
Culturama is Nevis’ premier festival, a unique celebration of the most significant milestone in their history: the emancipation of slaves in the 1830s.
10 - 11 AUG
SPICEMAS GRENADA
Every August, Grenada has a chance to show off its culture and heritage through its carnival, Spicemas. Certainly an opportunity to jump up and let loose, it’s also a time to embrace the history of the people. Spicemas has grown steadily over the years, and today is one of the Caribbean carnivals you should definitely experience. It takes in traditional mas in the form of Shortnee, where characters
adorn themselves with face masks and brightly coloured clothing, along with more modern, eye-catching mas such as bikinis, beads and feathers.
15 AUG
HAVANA CARNIVAL HAVANA, CUBA
The first Havana carnival of the twentieth century was held in 1902, the inaugural year of Cuba’s first president. During the era of Cuban republican history the carnival flourished, with new features including the election of a queen who reigns over the celebration with her ladies-in-waiting.
30 - 31 AUG
NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL
NOTTING HILL, LONDON, UK
Many years ago, social activist Rhaune Laslett and the London Free School (LFS) organised the ‘Notting Hill Fayre’, a small festival that was intended to spread a bit of hope, happiness and cultural cohesiveness. On 18 September, 1966, the opening parade drew most of the local population out of their homes to watch a small steelband, a horse-drawn carriage and children dressed as characters from history and nursery rhymes.
31 AUG
LEEDS WEST INDIAN CARNIVAL LEEDS, UK
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SEP
OCT
2020
2020
7 SEPT
11 OCT
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK CITY
MIAMI, USA
LABOR DAY
MIAMI CARNIVAL
SWISS SOCA FESTIVAL
LUCERNE, SWITZERLAND
The Caribbean-American community holds a colourful carnival in Miami every year. The most interesting carnival events are held on Columbus Day.
12 SEPT
14 - 19 OCT
BELIZE CITY, BELIZE
ALBUFEIRA, PORTUGAL
10 – 13 SEPT
BELIZE CARNIVAL Carnival was introduced to Belize in 1975, initially as an addition to 10th of September celebrations. Today, Carnival and J’Ouvert are both official parts of the September celebrations leading up to September 21st, Independence Day.
MONTSERRAT
2020 - 2021
BARBADOS FOOD & RUM FESTIVAL BARBADOS
18 - 22 SEPT JAPAN
DOMINICA
JAPAN SOCA WEEKEND
MONTSERRAT CARNIVAL
29 OCT – 1 NOV
23 - 25 OCT
HACKNEY, LONDON, UK
2020 - 2021
SOCA WEEKENDER
For more than four decades Hackney has been lighting up September with its own brand of Caribbean street festival.
HACKNEY CARNIVAL
2020
Montserrat's take on Carnival is celebrated between Christmas and New Year's Day. The festival showcases the island's talent, music, culture and history, and makes a perfect climax to the year.
Barbados is often referred to as the Culinary Capital of the Caribbean. The Barbados Food and Rum Festival has given birth to a series of events or, better yet, culinary and beverage experiences designed to tantalise the tastebuds - whilst offering a variety of other colourful and flavourful experiences to stimulate the other senses.
13 SEPT
DEC
WORLD CREOLE MUSIC FESTIVAL 31 OCT
LAS VEGAS CARIBBEAN FESTIVAL
SUGAR MAS 49 SAINT KITTS
Sugar Mas, which began in 1971, is now the biggest and most widely celebrated event in St Kitts & Nevis. Kicking off on a Friday towards the end of November, Sugar Mas involves six weeks of partying and an amazing cultural showcase.
FOR A MORE DETAILED LIST OF CARNIVALS VISIT
SOCANEWS.COM/ CARNIVALS
LAS VEGAS, USA
Las Vegas Latin Caribbean Carnival Weekend Experience (formerly known as Festival Weekend Experience) is a four day event celebrating Las Vegas Latin and Caribbean culture, heritage, pride and identity.
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* At the time of going to print all information was deemed to be correct. We have double and triple checked our dates, but if you can see an error, or there is an event you think we have missed, please let us know by emailing info@socanews.com.
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PHOTOGRAPH ALBERT ST CLAIR
IBIZA SOCA FESTIVAL
competitions DID ANYONE SAY 'FREE CARIB'? HERE IS YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A SIX PACK.
PLAY TO WIN WITH CARIB
In celebration of its new campaign, ‘The Way We Play’, Soca News have teamed up with Carib, to help unleash your playful festive spirit. Together we’re giving you the chance to win a case of your favourite Carib flavour. So, whether its Sorrel, Lime or Ginger Shandy with 1.2 ABV or the original flavour with 5% ABV, TELL US WHAT YOUR FAVOURITE CARIB FLAVOUR IS, AND WHY, IN 50 WORDS OR LESS. HOW TO ENTER Submit your answer at socanews.com/competitions. Our team will select the best answer to win a 6-bottle case of their favourite Carib flavour. To enter you must be over 21. Terms and conditions apply. CLOSING DATE & TIME MON 9 MARCH 2020, MIDNIGHT
WIN A YEAR'S SUPPLY OF
TROPICAL SUN USA EASY COOK RICE
Enjoyed by more than half the world’s population, did you know that rice is the most popular grain on the planet? In honour of this small but mighty grain, Soca News with our friends at Tropical Sun USA Easy Cook Rice are giving readers a chance to win a year's worth of rice. WHETHER YOUR DISH IS JOLLOF RICE, PELAU, RICE AND PEAS OR AN EGG FRIED RICE, YOU CAN WIN BY SENDING US YOUR FAVOURITE RICE DISH WITH IMAGES. BE CREATIVE, BE DARING BUT MOST OF ALL HAVE FUN WHEN SENDING IN YOUR ENTRIES. HOW TO ENTER Submit your entries to competitions@socanews. co.uk. As well as winning a year’s supply of Tropical Sun USA Easy Cook Rice., the winner's recipe/ dish will appear in the next edition of Soca News. CLOSING DATE & TIME MON 16 MARCH 2020, MIDNIGHT
FOR FULL COMPETITION TERMS AND CONDITIONS VISIT SOCANEWS.COM/TERMS-OF-USE 42 SN FEB 2020
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