分类: Entertainment

  • RESULTS: Party Monarch Finalists

    RESULTS: Party Monarch Finalists

    🎤 The _INET Party Monarch Finals_ are set! 🎶Get ready for the ultimate soca showdown!

    🗓 Sunday, August 3rd🕗 8:00 PM📍 Carnival City

    🔥 9⃣ Groovy Finalists⚡ 8⃣ Jumpy Finalists will go up against reigning _King Young Vice!_ 👑

    Who will take the crown? Don’t miss the vibes, the music, and the madness!

    # ItZAVibe #INETPartyMonarch2025 #AntiguaCarnival2025 #AntiguaAndBarbuda #AntiguaCarnivalIsCallingYou

  • Requiem For Carnival by The Earthworm Orchestra

    Requiem For Carnival by The Earthworm Orchestra

    A done A done A done. A done with this carnivalA done A done A done. A done with this Bacchanal

    1. The service done? Let me crawl up and see. No. You stay down here. Keep to the side. Let the younger ones go up and check. You are too anxious. They are using backhoe. They will work fast. You will get yourself killed. We have time, plenty time. She is not going anywhere. She can’t go anywhere.

    2. I can’t wait to start dig out she libber. Bad birth and bad upbringing. They killed off Old Time Christmas for her. And look pan she. Insult to culture. They want to bury her in the same graveyard as Old Time Christmas. No flipping way. A drunk them drunk? The cemetery full. We going make she fart. Tell me when the Nunc dimittis start.

    3. You always want to dig out somebody libber. She is an old, hard one, born 1957. EW2, with respect, I don’t fully understand why you despise carnival so much.

    4. She is an imposter. Off with her gorgon medusa head! They can’t even organize a singing meeting properly. They could have asked King Obstinate’s mother, the New Winthorpes Warrior, aunt of the old doctor man who can’t stop playing in the calypso band. Carnival is a carnival. She serves no useful purpose at all, at all, at all. She makes me want to bawl, to bawl, to bawl. Pure jam and wine, endless fete and rudeness; stupidness and more stupidness.

    5. Crawl round the graveyard and see how many old stalwarts turning round and round in their graves. They tried to inject more culture into her. They rejected them, and they died from heart failure. The word in the ground is that some of them were so sick from rejection, when we got to them their broken hearts just fell apart before we started to work on them. That’s why as soon as my battalion gets inside this carnival coffin, we going to dig out she libber.

    6. EW2, Hold on. She might tell you she is part of the culture because all she is doing is reflecting society. She will say it’s not her fault, although she should have listened to the Reparations people and some Rastafarians too. You can’t say anything bad about the steelband players. They standing tall.

    7. Respected EW1; yes, indeed the steelband players are carrying the tradition but there is much room for improvement. They tried unsuccessfully to stone Johnson. But what about others in the society? They cannot ignore the sanctimonious ones who know better, and yet are refusing to help to guide carnival on earth, whilst looking for their spiritual carnival in heaven. Remember the really nice, respectable woman who always saying mercy, mercy, mercy in church? Before she passed away and came down to us, some undercover, dogging young EWs in her village reported that at nightfall there was often a choir of teenage boys singing and disturbing her “peace”, causing the sybarite to bawl out, mercy, mercy, mercy. No mercy will be left back for anyone else after she gets her full forgiveness.

    8. Respected EW1, the reparation group is standing tall after years in the wilderness. Carnival is a big muddle to flesh out. The national archives say Old Time Christmas Festival was a popular and culturally significant annual festival. The same records say that Antigua carnival is a celebration of emancipation from slavery. And again, the very same records say that John Ferdie Shoul (chairman of carnival) and Maurice Ambrose (builder and musician) worked together to create a plan for a Carnival that replaced the Old Time Christmas Festival in 1957, with hopes of inspiring tourism in Antigua and Barbuda. You ever heard such nonsense?

    9. That is madness. They cannot hijack the culture of Old Time Christmas, mix it with the celebration of emancipation and end up with carnival, a carnival with the stated commercial aim of inspiring tourism. They cannot do that. They mad. They put themselves in a national psychological trap of mental slavery from which they now have to try to escape to repair the mind of the nation. Now you see why I want to dig out she libber.

    10. You mention Rastafari. That is another conundrum, mixing drums of consciousness with eating wisely and smoking herb. They smoke, smoke, smoke, like joke, joke, joke. We have to warn our juvenile earthworms to stay far from their brains. Some of their brains mash up bad, bad, bad, from the excessive ganja they had, had, had; sad, sad, sad. But the rest of their body clean, clean, clean, since they don’t eat meat and they looking lean, lean, lean.

    11. Respected EW1 and EW2, the news from on top is that the service is taking very long. They say a new, young pastor is preaching that carnival, as an institution, is vital to society. After the part about, from dust carnival came and to dust carnival returns, he has the congregation rocking. He said the spiritual being is eternal but all physical bodies, including carnival, will be consumed and recycled by us, earthworms! He is quoting, “Worms are fantastic burrowing creatures that are the living, breathing engineers of the underworld. They eat and recycle organic matter to keep our soil healthy.”

    12. He quotes Charles Darwin, “It may be doubted whether there are many other animals which have played so important a part in the history of the world, as have these lowly organized creatures”. His reference is that carnival, as an institution, when organized and played out professionally and fittingly, is a pressure valve necessary to keep the society healthy. The congregation rocking! They are singing with glee. They have a steelband man who khan play! Service not done-ing now.

    13. Pastor jamming them hard. After the ashes to ashes and dust to dust part, he is talking about carnival and sex. See how some of the congregants faces turn from black to indigo. One moment, Respected EW1 and EW2; The news is filtering down very slowly. Some of the young EWs on top are choking with laughter and not passing on the message fast enough. Here comes EW2R2D2. What is this sermon about sex?

    14. I got the scoop from EWEarthCrawler. He had to burrow back down quickly, as only he can, to relay the sermon. The parson said there is too much vulgarity and wanton, real and virtual sex in carnival. Then he preached about self-gratification. The entire congregation jumped up when he said there are some things that must be done only in the home and not on the street, or in public. This is his exact quote about self-gratification: “No masturbation on Boggy Peak. No masturbation in Christian Valley”. Some of the congregants vex, vex, vex. Others saying next, next, next. One of the older parsons dropped off his chair, shouting wait, wait, wait; he got permission from Dr. Thwaites, Dr. Thwaites, Dr. Thwaites. Bacchanal in church.

    15. They are taking collection now. Respected EW2, I hear how you planning, for carnival coming. They say you going eat people. I suggest you leave that in the kitchen to Kitchener. I hear you have big plans to dig out she libber. By the time she gets down here, there might be no libber left. You might have to wait until next year to see if carnival comes up dead and insipid again.

    16. The funeral service huge. Plenty people outside. They are lamenting that some greedy, unscrupulous people extracted the fete part, just one canine, from the entire teeth of carnival and call that canine, carnival. One singular tooth cannot bite. Peter Minshall said carnival, or mas, his preferred name in place of the polymorphous name, carnival, is “more than a retina spectacle”.

    17. Public theatre has been adulterated and privatized. The depth of the carnival soul is empty, void and devoid of meaning; dehydrated, superficial, and tart. They walk on it, spit on it, urinate and defecate on it, and wipe it off as culture. Who is going to recycle and restore the glory of the ancestors, so that they, and the rest of us, can rest in peace?

  • RESULTS: Calypso Monarch Finalists

    RESULTS: Calypso Monarch Finalists

    🎤 _The Calypso Monarch Finalists Are Set! 🎶_

    1⃣3⃣ of the calypsonians.1⃣ epic stage.A battle for the 👑!

    🔥 The 2025 Calypso Monarch Finals go down on Friday, August 1st, 8:00pm at Carnival City, where lyrics meet legacy and only 1⃣ can reign supreme.

  • Peetron Thomas and Tamisha Roberts demand no live streaming of soca monarch shows

    Peetron Thomas and Tamisha Roberts demand no live streaming of soca monarch shows

    The National Soca Fraternity of Antigua and Barbuda has formally written to the Chairman of the Antigua and Barbuda Festivals Commission, Elisabeth Makhoul, requesting a ban on live media coverage of the upcoming Soca Monarch Semifinals and Finals.

    In a letter signed by Chairman Peetron Thomas and Secretary Tammisha Roberts, the fraternity asked that there be no live streaming, live broadcasting, or real-time social media updates during the events scheduled for Friday 18 July and Saturday 3 August 2025.

    “This decision is aimed at preserving the live event experience, protecting the creative content of our artists, and encouraging full attendance and support for the show,” the letter stated.

    While the fraternity is not the organiser of the events, it described its appeal as a step to safeguard the interests of soca artistes and to ensure the sustainability of the competition.

    The letter emphasised that the fraternity values the role of media in promoting culture and talent but prefers that coverage be limited to post-event content, including interviews and highlight reels, shared under coordinated and controlled conditions.

    “We look forward to continuing a positive working relationship as we celebrate and elevate our local talent together,” the fraternity noted, asking for confirmation of receipt and offering to provide further clarification if needed.

  • Peetron Thomas Denies Making Personal Demands Amid Soca Monarch Streaming Dispute

    Peetron Thomas Denies Making Personal Demands Amid Soca Monarch Streaming Dispute

    Chairman of the National Soca Fraternity, Mr. Peetron Thomas, has publicly denied claims that he or his secretary, Tammisha Roberts, made any personal demands in relation to the ongoing debate over the streaming of the fraternity’s events.

    In a formal statement issued today, Thomas clarified that his stance on the matter is not rooted in personal opinion, but reflects the official position of the National Soca Fraternity. “I stand as a signatory in representation of the National Soca Fraternity, in my capacity as Chairman of the Board,” he stated.

    Thomas called on media houses to refrain from attributing unauthorized narratives to his name or that of Secretary Roberts. “Please refrain from using my name—or that of my secretary, Tammisha Roberts—in any context suggesting that we are making demands. Such portrayals are inaccurate and unacceptable,” he asserted.

    The clarification arrives as discussions intensify around access to the National Soca Monarch Semifinals, set for this Friday. While streaming remains a point of contention, Thomas reminded the public that the celebration of the art form remains paramount. “Whether it’s streamed or not—the show must go on!” he wrote in a spirited note, urging all to support the artists in person.

    The National Soca Fraternity continues to advocate for fair representation, unity among stakeholders, and respect for its decision-making structures.

  • ABFC to Proceed with Live Coverage of Soca Monarch Events

    ABFC to Proceed with Live Coverage of Soca Monarch Events

    The Antigua and Barbuda Festivals Commission (ABFC) acknowledges receipt of a formal correspondence dated July 16, 2025, from Mr. Peetron Thomas and Ms. Tammisha Roberts, Chairman and Secretary of the National Soca Fraternity of Antigua and Barbuda.

    In their letter, the Fraternity requested that there be no live media coverage of the upcoming Soca Monarch Semifinals on Friday, July 18, 2025, and Finals on Saturday, August 3, 2025. Specifically, the request sought to prohibit:

    • Live streaming

    • Live broadcasting

    • Real-time social media feeds

    The stated intention was to preserve the live event experience, protect the creative work of the artists, and encourage in-person attendance.

    While we respect the Fraternity’s views and remain committed to engaging with all cultural stakeholders, the ABFC has reviewed the request and will proceed with its current media coverage plans, which include live broadcasting and digital streaming of the Semifinals and Finals.

    Our mandate is to ensure that Antigua and Barbuda’s premier cultural events are widely accessible both to our local audience and to our diaspora and global Carnival community. Live coverage plays a critical role in that mission, allowing us to expand our reach, promote our talent, and uphold transparency in national competitions.

    We remain open to continued dialogue and collaboration with the Soca Fraternity as we work together to elevate the cultural landscape of Antigua and Barbuda.

  • DJ Khaled immerses himself in Antiguan culture during Caribbean tour

    DJ Khaled immerses himself in Antiguan culture during Caribbean tour

    American music producer DJ Khaled visited Antigua and Barbuda as part of a Caribbean tour promoting his upcoming album Aalam of God, due for release later this year.

    Arriving on 9 June, Khaled embraced local culture, visiting the Landing Strip Bar and Restaurant and attending Claudette Peters’ Kiddies Fete. His stay also included a meeting with Prime Minister Gaston Browne.

    The artist is also reported to have made stops in Anguilla, where he met Premier Cora Richardson-Hodge, and Barbados.

    Khaled has been sharing highlights of his trip across social media platforms.

  • Thirteen-year-old Jai’Lilah wins inaugural Aunty Claudette’s Kiddies Fete Talent Show

    Thirteen-year-old Jai’Lilah wins inaugural Aunty Claudette’s Kiddies Fete Talent Show

    Thirteen-year-old Antiguan calypsonian and soca artist Empress Buchanan, known as Jai’Lilah, made history on Sunday as the first winner of the new Aunty Claudette’s Kiddies Fete Talent Show.

    Jai’Lilah has built a strong reputation in Antigua’s youth music scene, with multiple victories at local competitions. In 2024, she won both the Jumpy Soca and Groovy Soca titles at the ACB Junior Soca Monarch competition, following her 2023 Groovy Soca win.

    The Kiddies Fete, organised by local soca star Claudette Peters, provides a fresh platform for young performers to showcase their talents and celebrate island culture.

  • Calypso Monarch Semifinals Kick Off Antigua Carnival Pre-Events

    Calypso Monarch Semifinals Kick Off Antigua Carnival Pre-Events

    Antigua’s Carnival City will host the Calypso Monarch semifinals this Thursday at 8pm, as part of the lead-up to the island’s biggest summer festival.

    Eighteen calypsonians, including Queen Thalia, Willie Wawa, and Tian Winter, will compete for a place in the finals scheduled for 1 August.

    Tickets for the event cost $20.

  • Party Monarch Semifinals Line-up Finalised Ahead of Friday Showdown

    Party Monarch Semifinals Line-up Finalised Ahead of Friday Showdown

    The stage is set for this Friday’s highly anticipated Inet Party Monarch Semifinals, with the performance order now confirmed following a draw held at the newly opened Inet store.

    Artists competing in both the Groovy and Jumpy segments gathered to determine their appearance slots ahead of the semifinals at the Antigua Recreation Grounds (ARG).

    In the Groovy segment, Lyrics Man will open the show, followed by Young Lyrics, Kimmy, Peetron, Naycha Kid, Natural Rampler, Queen Thalia, Richie, Destiny, Raiine, Tian Winter, Dior, Empress, Tammy, and Kid Fresh. Only nine performers will advance to the finals on August 3 at ARG.

    The Jumpy category will see Menace kick things off, followed by Zamoni, Tian Winter, Lyrical Redz, DJ Who, Kid Fresh, Queen Thalia, Vicious, Raiine, Sammie C, Mr Shy Guy, Island Prince, Richie, Kimmy, and Dior. From this group, just eight will secure a place in the finals as they vie to unseat reigning Jumpy Monarch Young Vice.

    This year’s semifinals will take the form of a “cooler fete” with organisers encouraging patrons to arrive early. The event is scheduled to begin promptly at 8pm, and will feature a special guest performance by Yung Bredda.

    Admission is set at EC$20.