The Sea Goddess of the band “Bacchanal Sailors,” on stage in Couva, Trinidad on Tuesday, Feb.13, 2024.
Photograph by Devika Ragoonanan
Soca Star Machel Montano wins his first Calypso Monarch crown on the Dimanche Gras present held over the weekend on the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain. He gained the grand prize of TT$500,000 in prize cash and a TT$350,000 Grand Vitara SUV, wherein he seated his mom.
Forty-nine-year-old Montano stated, “I really feel very overwhelmed, as a result of I couldn’t have dreamed of this taking place. In all my years I couldn’t have seen this taking place. That can take some stepping again.”
Going to highschool (college) and being somebody to put in writing a calypso and realising what an expertise it’s. I didn’t have that sort of confidence inside me however one thing flowed. One thing flowed from someplace.”
Masquerader Joseph Lewis gained the 2024 King of Carnival, together with his portrayal of Xhirkomak – Lord of The Underworld. That is his third time successful the title which he additionally gained in 2019 and 2022.
Masquerader Roxanne Omala gained the Queen of Carnival 2024 with the portrayal of Queen Tarantula. That is her second time successful the title, after she gained in 2020.
In the meantime, on the 2024 Panorama finals each BP Renegades and Massy Trinidad All Stars tied for the crown. Renegades additionally gained the title final yr.
The motion continued into Monday and Tuesday as many got here out of their numbers to take part on this yr’s Carnival celebration. It began with J’ouvert early Monday morning properly earlier than daybreak and peaked a couple of hours after dawn, with a procession of band members parading with mud, oil, paint and powder behind music vans.
Afterward, there was the Parade of the Bands with masqueraders parading the streets of town of their numerous costumes often showcasing the island’s expertise and tradition.
Carnival is a part of Trinidad and Tobago’s wealthy cultural heritage and originated within the late eighteenth century. As we speak the island’s Carnival is named “The Best Present On Earth” and is loved by many individuals from all all over the world coming to the dual isle to indulge within the celebrations.
