ENTERTAINMENT
Deja Thompson displays the spirit of St. Thomas carnival. Anthony Nibbs
Caribbean Life, MARCH 4-10, 2022 23
By Nelson A. King
The government of the US Virgin
Islands (USVI) has announced that
the 70th edition of Carnival Virgin
Islands on St. Thomas will be held
from April 27 to May 1, 2022.
The USVI Department of Tourism’s
Division of Festivals said on
Monday that the official version of St.
Thomas carnival will be held under
the theme “A New Cultural Roogadoo
for Carnival 2022.”
The scaled-down spectacular, due
to the constraints of the COVID-
19 pandemic, highlights 70 years of
carnival, and will shine a spotlight
on the Territory’s dynamic culture,
cuisine, history, music and people.
Ian Turnbull, director of the Division
of Festivals, announced that the
celebration will follow the successful
“Fête.Vibe.Soca” music event held for
vaccinated patrons over President’s
Day weekend.
“The vibe continues in Rock City
this spring,” said Turnbull, who
explained that the Division of Festivals,
a unit within the Department
of Tourism, had been established
through Act 8153 by the Virgin
Islands Legislature to organize and
execute festivals on behalf of the Territory’s
government.
“We are finalizing plans to promote
and advance the Territory’s culture
through the return of carnival
and festivals in 2022,” added Turnbull,
who announced that Carnival
Virgin Islands will feature four village
nights in honor of the late Ron
de Lugo, the first and longest-serving
Continued on Page 24
Oluwaseyi ‘Shayee’ Awoyomi. Brooklyn
Arts Council
By Nelson A. King
Brooklyn Arts Council (BAC) says it
celebrates the contributions of Black
artists every day. Last week, it highlighted
three more of its Community
Arts Grants recipients: Oluwaseyi
“Shayee” Awoyomi, Raja Feather Kelly,
and Roots. Wounds. Words.
“These individuals and organizations
are using their talents to champion
Black heritage, raise awareness of
important social issues, spark necessary
Continued on Page 24
By Nelson A. King
Trinidadian Songbird Melly Rose,
producer Stadic and Travis Harris, producer
of social media at BET, present
the first “Soca Cypher.”
According to Marie Driven, the Haitian
American, Brooklyn-based managing
director of PlaybookMG, the program
spotlights six diverse soca artists.
They included Nessa Preppy, Erphaan
Alves, Sekon Sta, Preedy, Mical Teja and
Melly Rose.
The special segment will premiere on
BET Jams Wednesday, March 2.
“Creative management by Travis Harris,
Stadic, and Melissa “Melly” St. Rose
made for the perfect complement to the
artists’ flowing freely on the riddim,”
Driven told Caribbean Life on Tueaday.
“Stadic, who also hosts the show
Continued on Page 24
FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT, GO TO CARIBBEANLIFE.COM/ENTERTAINMENT
BAC salutes
Black artists
BET showcases
‘Soca Cypher’
SPIRIT OF
THE MAS
St. Thomas to celebrate 70 yrs of carnival
/ENTERTAINMENT
