Controversy Greets News Of Kartel Appearing At Trini Carnival

On Monday, a video on Trinidad’s 99.1 FM Facebook page showed Vybz Kartel signing a document in the presence of two other individuals. After the signing, Kartel holds up the document saying, “Trinidad 2025.”

The Social Media post was accompanied by the caption, “Jamaican dancehall icon Vybz Kartel has announced his intention to perform in Trinidad and Tobago on carnival Friday.”

Since then, the reaction to the news has been swift on Social Media, with many venting their disapproval of the Jamaican dancehall artiste performing during Carnival – the twin island Republic’s biggest cultural showpiece.

“Because we are our own worst enemy. The biggest night for Soca for the year and we bringing him to showcase JA culture during our biggest festival. Grenada knows why they have local content restrictions cuz people will take it too far. Like JA will ever offer up their biggest night to a Trini. We dotish bad,” one writer under the name Caitlyn Joseph commented.

“No disrespect but please stay in Jamaica during OUR carnival Soca only please,” wrote Choc Love and another, “Why carnival.”

Over the years, there has been negative reaction from Carnival and soca purists to the inclusion of dancehall and even Trinidad’s very own “Trinibad” music.

However, some of the events that attract a younger demographic have been able to include dancehall with some level of approval.

Since the negative reaction to the news of Kartel’s appearance during Carnival next year, a social media post reportedly from someone close to the event has sought to offer an explanation.

“The event on Carnival Friday it is not a Vybz Kartel concert. It’s a Caribbean Cultural Festival featuring Kartel.

The One Caribbean Festival Carnival on February 28, 2025, in Port of Spain, Trinidad, will feature renowned artists from the Soca, calypso, and dancehall genres,” it was disclosed.

According to the “statement” the event will feature Caribbean cuisine and craft booths with the intention of making the event a celebration of music and culinary arts.

Trinidad’s 2025 carnival was officially launched on Saturday at the Queens Park Savannah in Port of Spain under the theme, ‘No Place Like Home’.

A mega concert formed the event’s centerpiece, featuring calypso, steelpan, Soca, and costumed revelers.

Winston ‘Gypsy’ Peters, National Carnival Commission (NCC) Chairman, said the message for 2025 is very clear – there is no place like Trinidad and Tobago, and there is ‘No Place Like Home,’ a line from the 2024 Road March hit DNA by Mical Teja.