PATRICE ROBERTS GIVES TORONTO RAPTORS A TASTE OF THE CARIBBEAN

Patrice Roberts , the Mind My Business hitmaker, performed live at Caribbean Heritage Night, hosted by the Toronto Raptors during their game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Scotiabank Arena, Toronto.

The special half-time performance was a celebration of Black History Month, and the first time in the history of the NBA that a female soca artist had the opportunity to be a part of such a memorable night.

Kevin Lyttle, internationally recognised Vincentian soca artist and Cultural Ambassador known for his classic 2003 hit Turn Me On, was a guest performer in the show.

Speaking at the event, John Wiggins, vice president of Organizational Culture and Inclusion for the Toronto Raptors said, “I don’t think anyone in the NBA has had a soca artist perform at halftime, we’re about to set some trends tonight.

“Not only do we want to celebrate the Black community but, let’s face it, we’re not one monolith, we’re a diaspora. I think we’ve done some great things with G.O.A. and Africa, but it’s time to bring the Caribbean and the islands into the building and heat up the place, you know!”

Patrice Roberts said, “The fact that I see Trinis, I see Jamaicans, Guyanese, so many different people from the Caribbean is here, it makes me feel like I’m home.” The heritage night was held on 23 February, also offering Caribbean fusion cuisine, music and activations, with 20 per cent of proceeds going to the Jamaican Canadian Association.