Exactly one year ago, on January 28, we lost one of our beloved cultural icons, Singing Sandra. The calypso art form is poorer by her passing, and a nation continues to be saddened by her loss.
With a month left in our pre-Lenten Carnival season, the National Carnival Commission (NCC) is working feverishly to complete construction of its Carnival City, located in the Queen's Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain, north of the Grand Stand. Apparently the posting, and widely circulated release, of a supposed NCC plan for a Safe Zone Carnival is fake news. Carnival lovers and stakeholders await the official schedule with bated breath.
But, there are other Carnival 2022 events being held by a few stoic promoters. One of these is the Flight of the Phoenix Virtual Cooler Party being hosted by Holy Name Convent past students, on Sunday, January 30, at 6 p.m. It costs $200 to connect and its star-studded cast includes Nailah Blackman, Farmer Nappy, Shal Marshall, Erphaan Alves, Blaze, Ding Dong, Mical Teja and DJs Artiste Team, featuring MixMaster G10.
Former National Junior Calypso Monarch Aaron Duncan headlines the cast on Friday, January 28, when Dinements Dinner & Live Entertainment is held at Monarchs on the Avenue, in Woodbrook, at 7 p.m. The cast also includes comedian Darryl "Saint" Mendoza, and DJs Uprising Sounds and Garry Barrington. Dinements is hosted by Jameelah Toi Phillips and Akini Nottingham.
The much-watched Kalypso Kolisseum continues on the WACK Network, on Saturday, January 29, at 7 p.m., featuring calypsonians from Tobago Masters Calypso Tent. Come Saturday, February 5, Kapstone - Pro Services premieres Vintage Kaiso Tent, at Kafe Blue, 1D Wrightson Road (behind SWWTU Hall), Port-of-Spain, at 8 p.m. Billed to perform are Brother Valentino, Cardinal, Abu De Entertainer, Gerry Prudent and The Messenger.
One of the biggest T&T Carnival events, the final of the 2022 National Chutney Soca Monarch Competition is scheduled for Carnival Saturday, February 26. This international event will be held at Naparima Bowl, San Fernando.
Hopefully, by this final week of January, the NCC will release its official, final schedule of events to be staged for a Safe Zone T&T Carnival 2022?