Carib Scope

分类： entertainment

  • Jazz and golf fest ‘boosts tourism appeal’

    Jazz and golf fest ‘boosts tourism appeal’

    Ten years after its humble debut, the Barbados Jazz Excursion and Golf Weekend has emerged as a transformative cultural and economic asset for the Caribbean island, drawing high-value international travelers and cementing Barbados’ reputation as a world-class experiential travel destination, industry officials announced ahead of the 2024 milestone edition.

    This year’s 10th anniversary gathering is scheduled to run from October 8 to 12, building on a decade of growth to showcase Barbados’ unique blend of world-class culture, warm hospitality, and premium leisure offerings that set it apart from traditional holiday destinations. Speaking at the official media launch held at the Wyndham Grand Barbados Sam Lords Castle, Anderson King, Marketing Director of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI), emphasized that the festival is far more than an annual entertainment event—it is a case study in what collaborative partnership can achieve for a destination’s global brand.

    “We’re celebrating far more than an event,” King noted at the launch. “We are celebrating what is possible when creative vision, strategic partnerships, and a shared belief in Barbados come together to create experiences that resonate on a global stage.”

    King pointed to shifting global travel trends that have shaped Barbados’ modern tourism strategy: today’s travelers no longer settle for generic beach vacations. Instead, they prioritize authentic, immersive experiences that let them connect with local culture, communities, and heritage. The Barbados Jazz Excursion was tailor-made to meet this demand, weaving together live jazz music, recreational golf, award-winning local cuisine, Caribbean heritage, luxury hospitality, wellness programming, and community engagement into one cohesive, memorable experience—aligning perfectly with BTMI’s long-term growth goals.

    The festival also highlights the ripple benefits of cross-sector collaboration across the visitor economy, King explained. Bringing together government tourism agencies, private sector businesses, international airlines, local hotels, cultural attractions, independent restaurants, transportation providers, and world-renowned artists creates shared economic gains that extend far beyond the event weekend. “Tourism succeeds when we work together, and the Barbados Jazz Excursion continues to demonstrate the extraordinary results that collaboration can achieve,” he added.

    Over its first decade, the festival has built steadily growing international appeal, drawing the majority of its attendees from Barbados’ core source markets: the United States, Canada, and neighboring Caribbean nations. King highlighted the outsized importance of the U.S. market, which has become Barbados’ largest source of international visitors, recording a remarkable 60% increase in arrivals over the past three years, with projections set to hit nearly 250,000 U.S. visitors in 2025. The event’s annual scheduling over the U.S. Columbus Day holiday weekend makes it an attractive long getaway option for North American travelers, who can combine world-class jazz and golf with Barbados’ iconic hospitality.

    King also noted that the festival has built exceptional brand loyalty, with a large share of attendees returning year after year. Many of these repeat visitors go on to become informal brand ambassadors for Barbados, encouraging friends, family, and travel groups to book trips to the island.

    Veteran jazz saxophonist Elan Trotman, the founder and creative force behind the festival, reflected on the event’s extraordinary 10-year growth trajectory. What began in 2014 as an intimate gathering of family and friends near the iconic Crane Resort has steadily expanded into one of Barbados’ top annual tourism and entertainment events.

    “Today I proudly celebrate a major upcoming milestone of ten years presenting this event,” Trotman said. “What began in 2014 as a small gathering of family and friends … has grown into one of Barbados’ premier tourism and entertainment events, attracting thousands of visitors in the last decade, while directly supporting our Head Start Music programme.”

    For this year’s milestone 10th anniversary edition, organizers already expect at least 150 in-house guests at the Wyndham Grand, with Grammy Award-winning R&B legend Jeffrey Osborne headlining the festival’s flagship Concorde Experience concert on October 11.

  • Skvnk Fest 2026 scorches!

    Skvnk Fest 2026 scorches!

    Even with forecasted rain hanging over the day, thousands of automotive enthusiasts flooded Cinema 2 in New Kingston on Sunday, June 7, turning out in record numbers for the 2026 iteration of the highly anticipated Skvnk Fest car lifestyle event.

    Nick Lue, the creator and lead organizer of the festival, expressed heartfelt gratitude for the overwhelming public response in an interview with Jamaica Observer’s weekly Auto publication. “The show was a very heartfelt one for me… The team and I are more than happy for the tremendous turnout and happy the patrons could have enjoyed the festival incident-free,” Lue said.

    Marketeted from its inception as a reimagined, one-of-a-kind take on the traditional car show, Skvnk Fest 2026 delivered on that promise while weaving in beloved nostalgic touches that long-time fans of Skvnk Nation events immediately recognized. As guests entered the venue, they were greeted by a sprawling corridor of vendors offering everything from high-performance aftermarket automotive parts to opportunities for aspiring young racers to kickstart their careers in go-kart racing. Displays of custom pre-owned modified rides sat alongside a curated showcase of brand-new models from major industry player ATL Automotive Group, setting the tone for the diverse automotive showcase to come. Turning the corner into the main event space, attendees were met with a sweeping vista of meticulously cared-for vehicles that left car lovers in awe.

    Lue noted that the event received unanimous praise from guests, saying, “I’ll be totally honest. Not one person had anything bad to say. Everyone enjoyed the moment.” The only minor hiccup of the day was a welcome problem to have: an oversupply of show cars that strained the venue’s parking capacity. “Our only real issue was finding a place for all the cars to park. So many show cars, too small a space,” he admitted.

    The showcase catered to every type of motoring fan, with displays spanning every possible automotive genre. Guests could browse classic vintage models, modern production cars, factory-stock daily drivers, fully customized heavy-modified builds, and rugged off-road machines. Even motorcycle enthusiasts had a wide selection of two-wheeled builds to enjoy, matching the variety on four wheels. Beyond static displays, the event’s central stage hosted frequent live demonstrations, where drift drivers and motorcyclists wowed crowds with high-energy skill displays that earned roaring applause.

    In the closing moments of the festival, Lue took the stage to pull the cover off his personal project car: a modified BMW nicknamed Poizon, revealing its brand-new custom wrap to the crowd. The reveal immediately sparked a frenzy of smartphone photos from the assembled audience. Explaining the design choice, Lue said, “I’ve always liked the large camo style, so instead of the conventional army style we switched it up with the Skvnk lifestyle colours.” The full transformation of Poizon, which Lue has been documenting step-by-step on his personal YouTube channel, is now complete; the build also includes a carbon fibre bonnet and trunk, paired with a full frame top mount turbo kit. The vehicle serves as Lue’s daily driver, making the custom build even more impressive to attendees.

    With the 2026 edition of Skvnk Fest wrapped up and confirmed a runaway success, Lue says he has no immediate plans to turn the event into a fixed annual or bi-annual fixture on Jamaica’s automotive event calendar. Instead, he and his team are pivoting to develop a more mobile, community-focused iteration of the festival. “There are thoughts of it, for sure, but nothing concrete, Skvnk Fest, be it annual or bi-annual. We’re working on a school tour. I want to get more involved in the development of youth and culture,” Lue shared, outlining his vision for the next chapter of the Skvnk brand.

  • Sean Paul’s still got it!

    Sean Paul’s still got it!

    Jamaican dancehall legend and Grammy-winner Sean Paul has added another landmark achievement to his decades-spanning career, wrapping up a wildly successful cross-continental Timeless Tour across Europe that drew massive multi-generational crowds at venues ranging from intimate theaters to massive festival grounds.

    The tour brought the iconic artist to 10 countries across Central and Western Europe, including Bulgaria, Hungary, Austria, Poland, Germany and France, with stops in major cities like Sofia, Budapest, Vienna, Warsaw, Nantes and Hannover. Venue capacities varied dramatically, from 4,000-seat cozy performance spaces to open festival fields that welcomed 35,000 to 40,000 attendees per event. The widespread turnout underscores the unwavering international popularity of both Sean Paul and the Jamaican dancehall genre more than 20 years after he first broke into the global mainstream.

    In comments following the tour wrap-up, the artist opened up about his longstanding bond with European audiences. “Europe has always held a special place in my heart, and the Timeless Tour was another incredible reminder of the connection we’ve built over the years,” he shared. “Seeing fans from different countries, cultures, and generations come together and sing every word — from records that started my journey to newer songs like *Press Back* and *Magnificent* — is something I’ll never take for granted. The energy throughout the tour was amazing and continues to motivate me to keep creating, performing, and representing dancehall music on the world stage.”

    Sean Paul’s manager Steve Urchin emphasized that the artist’s cross-generational appeal sets him apart from many veteran entertainers, whose fan bases tend to shrink and age over time. “Sean Paul’s success has never been confined to one era, one market or one generation,” Urchin explained. “The Timeless Tour showcased the remarkable diversity of his audience, from long-time supporters who have followed his career since the early 2000s to younger fans discovering his music through streaming platforms, social media, and contemporary collaborations.”

    The successful European tour comes as 2024 marks a series of historic firsts for the Jamaican superstar. Earlier this year, he made history as the first Jamaican artist to earn a Diamond certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for his feature on Sia’s 2016 global hit *Cheap Thrills*, one of the best-selling singles of all time.

    His digital dominance continues to grow, as well. Sean Paul currently holds a spot on Spotify’s Top 100 Global Artists ranking by monthly listeners, and he is the only Jamaican artist to earn a place on the list. With more than 62.7 million monthly listeners, he stands as one of the most-streamed Caribbean artists in the world and a leading global ambassador for Jamaican music.

    “To also be ranked among Spotify’s Top Global Artists is truly humbling,” Sean Paul said. “More than 20 years into my career, it’s a blessing to know that the music is still reaching millions of people around the world and connecting with new generations of listeners every day. These milestones aren’t just for me; they’re a reflection of the strength of Jamaican music, Caribbean culture, and the fans who have supported me throughout the years. Dancehall continues to break barriers globally, and I’m proud to play a role in carrying the culture forward while continuing to release new music and evolve as an artiste.”

    Unlike many veteran acts that lean almost exclusively on nostalgia to sell out shows, the Timeless Tour drew a substantial share of Gen Z fans, creating a rare multi-generational following that continues to drive both his streaming numbers and live tour revenue. For music industry analysts, the overwhelming success of Sean Paul’s European run signals the ongoing global expansion of Caribbean music. As dancehall reaches new listeners worldwide via digital streaming and high-profile cross-genre collaborations, Sean Paul remains one of the genre’s most recognizable and influential trailblazers. More than two decades after he brought dancehall to mainstream global audiences, he continues to prove that great music transcends borders, language, and generations — with his influence remaining as powerful today as it was at the peak of his early mainstream success.

  • About & Out with Charlie Bahama

    About & Out with Charlie Bahama

    Last weekend, while attending the iconic Bahamas Goombay Festival in Miami’s Coconut Grove neighborhood, I had an unexpected encounter that capped off a day of reflection on culture, community, and legacy. To understand the weight of this annual gathering, one must first unpack the deep roots Bahamian immigrants have planted across South Florida, a history that is too often overlooked in popular narratives of the region’s growth.

    Bahamian migration to South Florida dates all the way back to the 1870s, decades before Miami’s formal incorporation. From the southern reaches of Key West up to the northern edges of Fort Lauderdale, these immigrant communities helped shape the economic, social, and cultural landscape that turned South Florida into the vibrant, diverse region it is today. Their contributions are literally written into Miami’s origin story: a number of Bahamian settlers were signatories on the city’s 1896 incorporation documents. Coconut Grove grew into one of the largest and most tight-knit Bahamian communities in the state, a history that hits close to home for me—my own great-grandfather relocated here from Grand Bahama in 1916, bringing his entire family, including my grandmother, who would go on to raise generations of our family rooted in both Bahamian tradition and South Florida life. Today, our family’s ancestors are buried just a few blocks from the festival grounds at Charlotte Jane Cemetery, a resting place where generations of Bahamian families are memorialized on tombstones etched with familiar names that have been part of this community for more than a century.

    The Bahamas Goombay Festival itself was launched in the 1970s, and over the decades it has weathered no shortage of challenges: multiple venue relocations, shifting leadership, financial hurdles, and even multiple years where the event was canceled entirely. Despite these obstacles, it has persisted to stand as one of the largest celebrations of Bahamian culture held anywhere in the United States. For the past several years, the festival has operated under new leadership, headed by chair vonCarol Kinchens-Williams, who has made it her mission to rebuild the event to the peak popularity it enjoyed in the 1980s and 1990s, when it drew as many as 500,000 attendees each year.

    When I caught up with Kinchens-Williams amid the chaos of festival weekend, she spoke graciously of the organizing teams that came before her, acknowledging the heavy lifting required to pull off an event of this scale. “Hats off to the previous organisers. Now I understand what they had to do to make sure something like this runs smoothly, but in the end, it’s worth it,” she told me, laughing when I asked her to pause for a photo and adding, “I will when it’s Sunday.”

    For years, I have held complicated feelings about the direction of the festival, torn between its core mission of celebrating authentic Bahamian culture and the pressure to broaden its appeal to draw larger, more diverse crowds. This tension plays out most visibly in the lineup: there is a constant push and pull between centering traditional Bahamian music and food, and booking more mainstream hip-hop and R&B acts that draw a wider audience. This struggle is not unique to South Florida, either—even in The Bahamas itself, traditional cultural expressions often only get widespread public support during national elections and major public holidays.

    In Coconut Grove, this dynamic is amplified by gradual demographic shift over generations: the historic Bahamian community has increasingly integrated with the larger African American community that now dominates the neighborhood. While many descendants of the original Bahamian settlers still carry deep pride in their heritage, passed down through family stories, recipes, and folk music, for many this identity is only fully activated when they are surrounded by other Bahamians or at cultural events like Goombay. What is more striking is how many of these descendants have never even traveled to The Bahamas, despite the archipelago being only a 30-minute flight from South Florida. Only those with more recent ancestral roots tend to make regular trips back.

    This year, I was thrilled to see a full slate of authentic Bahamian performers take the stage, including fan favorites Wendi, Shaad Collie and the VIPs, Qpid, and Stileet. That said, these acts were scheduled earlier in the day, before the higher-profile hip-hop and R&B headliners, and were initially overshadowed by the bigger draw of the later acts. Most of the crowd began the day clustered at the eastern end of the festival grounds, where all the food vendors were set up. But as soon as the first notes of traditional Bahamian music drifted across the grounds, attendees began migrating west toward the main stage in a steady stream. By the time the last Bahamian performer wrapped their set, the entire crowd had assembled right at the front of the stage, creating an energetic, engaged audience that perfectly set the tone for the mainstream acts that followed.

    In my view, these traditional Bahamian artists deserved top billing as the festival’s headliners. There was no mistaking the crowd’s reaction when they launched into beloved classic Bahamian tracks that multiple generations grew up singing: the entire audience came alive, dancing, singing every word, and fully leaning into the shared cultural experience. On Sunday, beloved performer Sweet Emily took the stage, and even with oppressive heat beating down on the crowd, she called the show a success. “It was very hot, but it was a great show, and I can always depend on my South Florida fans to come out and support me,” she told me after her set.

    Of all the festival’s traditional attractions, none draws a crowd like Junkanoo. Groups of costumed performers paraded through the festival grounds multiple times each day, and as soon as the first deep drumbeat rang out, crowds of attendees fell in behind them, dancing and following along through the venue like children following the Pied Piper.

    Credit where it is due: this year’s organizing team made a clear, committed effort to center Bahamian culture throughout the event. I saw hundreds of attendees proudly waving Bahamian flags, wearing the nation’s signature aqua, black, and gold colors, and embracing their roots all weekend long. Even so, I left the festival with a lingering question: as South Florida’s demographic landscape continues to shift, is the region’s historic Bahamian identity slowly fading? I earnestly hope that it is not. Bahamian immigrants were foundational to building Miami and South Florida into what it is today, and that legacy should never be overshadowed by the more visible, tightly knit cultural communities that have grown in the region in more recent decades, most notably the Cuban American community that has retained such a strong, cohesive shared identity.

    As for that surprise encounter I mentioned at the start of this story? I ran into none other than the editor of The Tribune, the very newspaper this column appears in—an unexpected, fun end to a day of deep reflection on culture and legacy.

    For more content like this, be sure to tune into The Charlie Bahama Show on Cable Bahamas, follow Charlie Bahama across all social media platforms, and subscribe to the official Charlie Bahama YouTube channel.

  • Dominican tourism journalist Cristina Rosario inducted into OMPT Hall of Honor

    Dominican tourism journalist Cristina Rosario inducted into OMPT Hall of Honor

    A historic milestone for Dominican tourism journalism has put the Caribbean nation in the global spotlight this week, as veteran industry reporter Cristina Rosario has broken barriers to become the first woman from the Dominican Republic to earn induction into the World Organization of Tourism Journalism (OMPT) Hall of Honor.

    This prestigious distinction is reserved exclusively for global tourism communication professionals whose career work has advanced the cause of responsible, sustainable, and inclusive tourism through high-quality specialized media. The award was formally presented to Rosario during the 17th International Congress of Journalists and Tourism Professionals, hosted this year in Circasia, Colombia. The gathering brought together hundreds of tourism communicators, academic researchers, and industry stakeholders from across Latin America to explore evolving challenges and opportunities for tourism messaging in the fast-changing digital age.

    With more than 20 years of experience covering global tourism and destination development, Rosario’s career is defined by a seamless blend of investigative journalism, strategic editorial production, and intentional destination promotion. Over the course of her decades-long professional journey, she has contributed deeply to leading industry tourism publications, produced authoritative destination guides, and led community and media initiatives designed to showcase the rich cultural heritage and stunning natural landscapes of the Dominican Republic to global audiences.

    Today, Rosario holds the position of editorial director at travel outlet Travellers.com, and she also serves on the board of directors for the Dominican Association of Tourism Press (Adompretur), where she oversees all tourism and cultural portfolio initiatives for the 2025–2027 term. Her professional resume includes prior senior editorial coordination roles at iconic industry publications, including *Bohío* magazine and *La Cotica*, the Dominican Republic’s official national tourism guide.

    The OMPT Hall of Honor was created to recognize journalists who have strengthened the quality and impact of global tourism communication, while upholding standards of ethical reporting and supporting the preservation of distinct cultural identities around the world. Per OMPT’s mission, the induction honor is designed to elevate professionals who leverage media platforms to build cross-cultural understanding, facilitate meaningful global exchange, and expand adoption of equitable, sustainable tourism practices.

    This latest accolade adds to a long list of career distinctions for Rosario, who already holds the Dominican Republic’s top national journalism honor in the field, the Epifanio Lantigua National Tourism Journalism Award, alongside multiple previous international recognitions from OMPT’s acclaimed Pasaporte Abierto awards program.

    With her induction, Rosario joins fellow Dominican tourism journalist Salvador Batista as one of the two Dominican representatives enshrined in the OMPT Hall of Honor, a milestone that is expected to raise the international profile of Dominican tourism journalism for years to come.

    Rosario’s induction coincided with that of Panamanian journalist Yelina Pérez Sánchez, who was also welcomed into the 2024 cohort of the OMPT Hall of Honor for her decades of impactful contributions to the field. Pérez Sánchez has built a widely respected career advancing tourism, cultural preservation, and heritage promotion through specialized media, establishing her as one of the leading voices for tourism in Panama.

  • Leisure : Did you know ? #32

    Leisure : Did you know ? #32

    In the latest installment of HaitiLibre’s popular twice-weekly general knowledge quiz series “Did You Know?”, readers are invited to discover a little-known geographic fact that highlights one of Asia’s most dynamic and misunderstood capital cities. The answer to this week’s trivia question confirms what climate data has long recorded: Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, officially holds the title of the coldest national capital on Earth.

    Nestled in the Tuul River valley at an elevation of 1,350 meters above sea level, Ulaanbaatar is home to nearly half of Mongolia’s total population, and faces some of the harshest winter conditions on the planet. During the coldest winter months, temperatures regularly plummet below -40°C, a climatic extreme that cements its status as the coldest capital worldwide.

    Beyond its frigid reputation, the city carries a rich layered history that shapes its unique modern identity. Founded originally as a nomadic Buddhist monastic settlement, Ulaanbaatar today blends a striking mix of urban landscapes: imposing Soviet-era architecture stands alongside gleaming contemporary skyscrapers, while traditional ger (yurt) neighborhoods still dot the city’s outer edges, preserving the nomadic roots of the Mongolian people.

    As the gateway to Mongolia’s vast, sweeping steppes, Ulaanbaatar also serves as a thriving cultural hub for the country. It hosts world-renowned natural history museums, famous for their extensive collections of dinosaur fossils unearthed from the Gobi Desert, and remains a center of Buddhist life with active historic monasteries such as the iconic Gandan Monastery. Caught between millenia-old nomadic traditions and rapid 21st-century urbanization, the Mongolian capital is a rapidly changing metropolis that has adapted to thrive despite the unforgiving Northern Hemisphere climate it calls home.

    This fun fact is pulled from the trivia question bank of Quiz.HaitiLibre, the free general knowledge platform operated by HaitiLibre that serves audiences looking to expand their knowledge across global and Haiti-focused topics. In a recent monthly update rolled out on June 1, 2026, the platform added 31 new quiz games, pushing its total library of accessible content to 150 unique games. The platform adds new content on a monthly rolling basis to keep challenges fresh for returning users.

    All of Quiz.HaitiLibre’s exclusive content is free to access, requires no user registration, and is built to suit audiences of all ages and knowledge levels. Each quiz offers three difficulty tiers: easy, intermediate, and hard, and is available in both French and English to serve a broad multilingual audience. Visitors can explore topics ranging from Haitian current affairs and culture to global geography, history, science, and more, with expert-level challenges available for users seeking a more rigorous test of their knowledge.

  • Antigua and Barbuda’s Abigail Piper Unable to Attend Miss Caribbean Universe Pageant

    Antigua and Barbuda’s Abigail Piper Unable to Attend Miss Caribbean Universe Pageant

    ST. JOHN’S, ANTIGUA – June 10, 2026 – The Antigua and Barbuda Festivals Commission (ABFC) has delivered an updated announcement regarding regional pageant representative Miss Abigail Piper, confirming she will withdraw from the upcoming Miss Caribbean Universe Pageant just three days ahead of the competition’s kickoff. The June 13 event, set to take place in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, will no longer feature Piper as the nation’s contestant after unexpected visa complications and unmanageable travel barriers emerged, issues that neither the contestant nor the ABFC could mitigate.

    While the last-minute change has disrupted initial plans, the ABFC has shared positive news to offset the disappointment: Piper will still step onto a major regional stage to represent Antigua and Barbuda just a few months later. This August, she will compete in the Miss Caribbean Beauty and Intelligence Pageant, a well-regarded regional competition whose core values align perfectly with Piper’s longstanding personal commitments. The pageant centers on youth empowerment, authentic cultural exchange, leadership development, and personal growth – priorities Piper has actively championed throughout her preparation journey.

    Hon. Dwayne George, the nation’s Minister of Sports and Creative Industries, reaffirmed the government’s full confidence in and ongoing support for Piper in the announcement. “The entire Commission is extraordinarily proud of everything Abigail has achieved, the dedication she has brought to her preparation, and the unwavering commitment she has shown from day one of this journey,” George stated. “She has already carried the flag of Antigua and Barbuda with incredible grace, professionalism, and distinction, and we have no doubt she will stand out brilliantly when she competes this August. We are fully behind her as she prepares to represent our nation at the Miss Caribbean Beauty and Intelligence Pageant later this year.”

    For her part, Piper extended heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has supported her journey, including the organizing committee of the Miss Caribbean Universe Pageant, her official sponsors, family members, close friends, and the wide community of Antiguan and Barbudan supporters who have backed her. She also offered well wishes to all contestants set to compete in the June 13 event, expressing her excitement to watch the competition and her commitment to the pageant’s ongoing success and development in the region.

    As Piper shifts her focus to preparing for the August competition, the ABFC is calling on people across Antigua and Barbuda to continue rallying around their representative. The commission emphasized that it remains confident Piper will make the nation proud once again, bringing her signature poise, sharp intellect, and relentless dedication to excellence to the regional stage this summer.

  • Listwa Kannaval returns to dig further into our culture

    Listwa Kannaval returns to dig further into our culture

    As one of the cornerstone events of Saint Lucia’s annual Carnival celebration, Listwa Kannaval is gearing up for its second iteration, creating a dedicated community space for cultural reflection, open dialogue and collaborative exploration of the island’s rich heritage.

    Scheduled to kick off at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at the scenic Harbor Club venue, this year’s gathering centers on the provocative theme: “Rhythm, Language, and Identity: Does Our Music Define Us?”

    The core discussion will unpack the profound role that Saint Lucian music plays in shaping and reinforcing the island nation’s collective national identity. Attendees will trace the evolutionary arc of local sounds, starting from the roots of traditional folk music and calypso, through the rise of upbeat soca, to the distinct, homegrown Dennery segment genre that is unique to Saint Lucia.

    According to the official Carnival Planning and Management Committee, the conversation will place special emphasis on the central position of Kwéyòl in local musical expression. Organizers note that music acts as a powerful vessel for intergenerational storytelling, a function that in turn drives critical work in cultural preservation that would not be possible through other mediums.

    Headlining the event is Dr. Ronald T. Francis, a respected Saint Lucian scholar based at The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, where he teaches linguistics. Holding a PhD in linguistics, Francis’ research focuses on Atlantic Creoles, applied linguistics, corpus linguistics and world Englishes, with a specific focus on social justice, systemic discrimination, and cultural attitudes as they relate to Saint Lucian popular music. His decades of specialized work position him to bring nuanced, evidence-based insight to the event’s core theme.

    Following Francis’ keynote address, a diverse panel featuring working artists, music producers, cultural organizers and senior industry leaders will extend the conversation, bringing on-the-ground experience to the theoretical framework laid out in the presentation. The event will also reserve dedicated time for audience participation, inviting attendees from all backgrounds to share their own perspectives and experiences with Saint Lucian music and culture.

    As Carnival as a global cultural practice continues to evolve to meet the needs of modern communities, Listwa Kannaval fills a critical gap in the celebration’s programming by offering a structured space to ask probing, meaningful questions about what cultural identity means for Saint Lucians today. Event organizers emphasized that the event reaffirms a core truth: Carnival is far more than just a time for celebration and public festivity, it is also a cultural institution worthy of academic study, careful documentation, and deep, holistic understanding.

  • Stranger Cole, ska and rocksteady pioneer, has died

    Stranger Cole, ska and rocksteady pioneer, has died

    The global music community is mourning the loss of one of ska and rocksteady’s founding trailblazers, Stranger Cole, who passed away at 83 on Thursday at the University Hospital of the West Indies. His death was confirmed by his son Wilburn “Squiddly” Cole, a professional drummer, in an exclusive conversation with Jamaica’s Observer Online. According to Cole’s son, the iconic singer had been in poor health for an extended period before being admitted to the medical facility two weeks prior; no official cause of death has been released to the public.

    A beloved figure across international music scenes, Cole maintained an active performance schedule well into his later life. As recently as December 2023, he completed a run of six sold-out shows in Australia, where he retained a fiercely loyal fan base built on his decades-old catalog of 1960s hits. He also commanded a large, dedicated following across Europe for decades.

    Born in the rural parish of Portland, Jamaica, Cole relocated to the capital city of Kingston during his childhood, eventually settling in the iconic neighborhood of Trench Town. In the early 1960s, Trench Town emerged as the creative heartbeat of Jamaica’s burgeoning music movement, as ska began to capture the attention of clubgoers and dance attendees across Kingston. It was in this fertile creative environment that Cole launched his professional recording career.

    His first breakout charting singles, *Rough And Tough* and *When You Call My Name* (a collaborative track with vocalist Patsy Todd), were produced by legendary Jamaican producer Duke Reid. He followed this early success with a string of enduring hits that remain staples of the ska and rocksteady genres, including *Just Like A River* recorded with keyboardist Gladstone Anderson, and *Bangarang*, which he cut with Lester Sterling of the iconic Skatalites collective.

    Beyond his own celebrated recording career, Cole played a pivotal, often underrecognized role in nurturing the next generation of Jamaican reggae and rocksteady talent. He supported the early careers of legendary artists Ken Boothe and The Mighty Diamonds, even writing and producing the group’s very first commercial release, *Oh My Baby*.

    In the early 1970s, Cole immigrated to Toronto, Canada, where he quickly became a core member of the city’s fast-growing Jamaican expatriate reggae community. His decades of contributions to Toronto’s cultural landscape were chronicled in the 2018 documentary *Ruff and Tuff — Stranger Cole’s Toronto Roots*, directed by filmmakers Chris Flanagan and Graeme Mathieson.

    Cole is survived by seven children, as well as multiple grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

  • DJ Amber celebrates honours

    DJ Amber celebrates honours

    Nearly 20 years after first stepping behind the radio microphone, one of Jamaica’s most beloved broadcasting figures, DJ Amber, has marked a career-defining milestone that goes far beyond personal accolade: it puts a long-overdue spotlight on the countless contributions of women shaping the nation’s media and entertainment industries.

    Amber was among the standout women recognized during the 10th annual Queens of Reggae Island Honour Ceremony (QORIHC) Awards, a celebration that elevates the work of trailblazing women across five key sectors: reggae music, media, entertainment, business, and grassroots community development. For the veteran broadcaster, the award carries extra weight, as it shines a light on a cohort of professional women whose labor often flies under the public radar.

    “Getting this show of public appreciation feels incredibly meaningful,” Amber shared in an interview after the ceremony. “Women working across media, broadcasting, music, and entertainment rarely get this level of formal recognition. So this is a double honor: I’m being recognized as a woman, and as an outstanding professional in my field, which makes it that much sweeter.”

    The recognition also serves as a sobering reminder of the persistent barriers women face in creative and media industries that have long been dominated by male leadership and ownership. “Across the board, this is still a male-dominated landscape,” Amber explained. “No matter if you work in film, music, or the arts, men still hold most of the power and most of the public recognition. That’s what makes QORIHC’s work so important—they consistently lift up the excellent work that women like me and my fellow honorees are doing.”

    Amber’s rise to become one of Jamaica’s most recognizable radio voices began at Linkz Radio in the coastal town of Savanna-la-Mar, before she made the jump to the nation’s iconic IRIE FM. There, her warm, approachable persona and down-to-earth conversational style helped her build a large, fiercely loyal listener base. She attributes that deep connection with audiences to her refusal to adopt a performative “on-air persona.”

    “I don’t put on a fake ‘radio voice’ when I get behind the mic,” she said. “I just talk to my audience like I would talk to my friends, my family, or someone I run into at the grocery store or on the street. That authenticity is what keeps people coming back.”

    What many listeners may not see is that Amber’s influence extends far beyond the airwaves. She has earned widespread acclaim for her off-air humanitarian work: organizing disaster relief campaigns for vulnerable communities hit by hurricanes and tropical storms, leading advocacy to protect public access to Jamaica’s world-famous beaches, and leveraging her platform to amplify conversations about pressing social issues that impact working-class Jamaicans.

    This commitment to public service grows out of a core belief that people in media have a unique responsibility to drive progress. “I truly believe media personalities have a responsibility to use their platforms to push for social change,” she said. “The media is the most powerful space we have to influence public opinion and support positive change across our society.” She credits her parents with instilling these values of service early in life, and says community outreach remains one of the most meaningful parts of her entire career.

    Even as she basks in the recognition from QORIHC, Amber has already turned her attention to what comes next. Beyond continuing her daily work on Jamaican radio, she plans to expand her growing business portfolio, explore new opportunities in reggae music production, and scale up her humanitarian outreach to reach more communities across the island. “I stay busy even when listeners don’t see or hear me on the air,” she joked.

    As she reflects on nearly 20 years in the industry and her latest honor, Amber hopes her career journey can inspire the next generation of women hoping to build careers in media and entertainment. Looking ahead to her legacy, she says: “When people hear my name 20 years from now, I’d love for them to remember me as a kind yet bold woman. I want to be remembered for having done all the good I could in this lifetime.”