Caribbean Today reflects on some of those heroes and the mark they made.

The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honorable Olivia Grange, has announced the opening of entries online for Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) competitions.

Plantation, Florida - Heralding the new year with a bold step into the world of fine art, Island SPACE Caribbean Museum will kick off its 2022 calendar with a one-man show by world-renown fine artist Joel Gresham. Joel Gresham: Life as a Canvas will run from January 15th through March 13th, with an opening reception on January 15th from 6 to 9p.m. The collection of Gresham’s work spans the decades of his 42-year career. 

New York, New York (Destine PR)- Known for captivating music lovers with her infectious hooks and her ability to get fans moving while feeling empowered, Hoodcelebrityy is set to get fans dancing in parties again.

NEW YORK, NY - Care to guess who the most streamed reggae artist on YouTube is? According to a report from Reggaeville.com, that honor belongs to Grammy winning Jamaican-born artist, Sean Paul.

Port-of-Spain, Trinidad (ET-CET-ERA The Company) - Some artist's must work hard to perfect it, while others possess the package and merely take their place among the greats. For US based, Trinidad and Tobago born artist, Rane Blackman, artistry comes naturally and skill has been honed consistently. Now on active duty with the US Navy, the Maloney raised entertainer is more driven than she’s ever been and as 2022 stands on the horizon, Rane releases ‘Dutty’, a soca track that she believes will be the career launcher she’s been anticipating. 

Port-of-Spain, Trinidad (ET-CET-ERA The Company) - There was no major strategy in that which unfolds in the world of Soca on this day, Boxing Day. The only goal had been to help the people. Trinidad and Tobago, the home of the carnival festival the world anticipates annually, is under duress. Halted by a pandemic that has all but totally crippled the entertainment industry, Carnival 2022’s true status is still unknown, but in true Trinbagonian style, a major player in the world of Soca says the rebellion will not be stifled. ‘Look Trouble Again!’ 

NEW YORK, NY - Caribbean roots TV star Nick Creegan, is set to be honored in NYC next month.

Kingston, Jamaica - Minister Marion Hall (formerly Lady Saw) is in a reflective mode with her newest single, “If I Was Famous.” The self-produced track, which dropped December 17, 2021 on Zojak World Wide, paints a stark contrast between her present life as an ordained minister and her past career as a Dancehall artiste.

CASTRIES, St. Lucia –The St. Lucia government has approved of Carnival celebrations next year, but maintained that it would be held subject to the full approval of the Ministry of Health and in keeping with established health protocols.

Tarrytown, New York - Jamaican jazz veteran Monty Alexander, recognized as the fifth greatest jazz pianist ever in The Fifty Greatest Jazz Piano Players of All Time (Hal Leonard Publishing) was on Thanksgiving Friday bestowed with a US Proclamation from Westchester County (NY) Executive George Latimer. The presentation took place at the Westchester Music Experience (WME) concert at the Tarrytown Music Hall where Alexander was the headline performer. Mayor of Tarrytown, Thomas Butler Jr made the presentation.

Port-of-Spain, Trinidad -Rhonda Knights is the undisputed female HipHop queen of Trinidad and Tobago and this incontestable fact facilitated her rise to acclaim in the 90’s in Trinidad and Tobago, but she’s far from done. As fierce as she’s ever been, Sistaron, as she’s popularly known, now delivers another hit single, this time with melody that’s intrinsically Soca.