Caribbean Buzz
Grenada to the World. Sabrina Francis Is Our New ‘It Girl.’
Sabrina Francis is the Caribbean’s new ‘It girl.’ The world will know her name. On May 25th, the striking, confident songstress graced the stage at the Big Black Box, in Trinidad. It was the first time the Grenadian singer had ever performed in T&T. She definitely left an impression.
Sabrina’s an Afro-Caribbean pop singer. She has been making inroads onto the international music scene, touring the UK and other countries, in recent years. She however desired breaking into the Trinidad and Tobago mainstream market with hopes of sharing her music. On May 25th, Sabrina presented an acoustic showcase alongside four members of her Treehouse band. The intimate event brought out a hearty audience of people appreciative of soulful music. Opening for Sabrina was fellow Grenadian singer, Laura Lisa who set the tone for what would come.
Sustainable Music
Ahead of the showcase last Saturday, Francis shared her hopes for her music. “I would like my music to be sustainable. I’m working on building a solid enough fanbase and writing impactful songs, so that in 20 years, I will still be able to get on stage and perform my best work to people who’ve been touched by this music.”
Her choice of Afro-Caribbean music, she explains, was quite the “organic development.” “I’ve experimented with a few genres in my time, but I’ve always had a deep connection to traditional African music, and by extension, traditional Caribbean folk music.” Sabrina took a trip to South Africa in 2019 while working on her second album and she says on that trip, she met and worked with great musicians, among them, Young Mbazo from South Africa, Frank Mavhimira from Zimbabwe and Matchume Zango from Mozambique. “That changed my life on a spiritual level,” she said.
Success in Trinidad and Tobago
On her trip to Trinidad, the singer explained that her aim is to build her Caribbean audience. “I think it’s a powerful thing to have your own backyard cheering you on. I also sense a shift in our tastes in music as Caribbean people- an openness that wasn’t fully there before. I think the people are ready,” she said enthusiastically.
At the Big Black Box, Francis, dressed tantalizingly elegant in a long, figure -complimenting dress, took the stage with a level of confidence that could only come from within. She introduced herself eloquently and thanked her audience for sharing their time with her. She expressed her humility, noting the number of people who had shown up. Her song list then commenced and rolling one track into the other, the Grenadian songbird told of her writing process, highlighting that all of her music comes from personal experience.
The Music
Songs like,‘Magical Life,’ ‘Overflow,’ ‘Cocoa Tea,’ ‘I Feel Amazing,’ ‘Mama Say,’ and many others, delivered a truly appetizing musical array that everyone present enjoyed. “I want my music to be a soundtrack to people’s lives. I have music you can listen to when everything is right in the world, and I have songs for when everything is wrong. I have music for when you’re in love, and music for when your heart is broken,” she shared prior to the showcase. On show night, she proved it.
Over the hour or so that she had impressed her sound and energy on those gathered, Sabrina Francis offered a refreshing taste of just what blossoms out of the Caribbean. Her hope is that islands across the region, will take the time to hear her and others like her, doing what each island can, to promote and sustain the Afro-Caribbean sound that is intrinsically ours.
Caribbean Buzz
Dancehall Trailblazer, Patra Will Gets Her Flowers at This Year’s Caribbean Music Awards.
There was a time when Jamaican dancehall was largely viewed as a male-dominated space. Then came Patra, a bold, distinctive voice who helped change the conversation about what a female dancehall artist could achieve.
The Jamaican entertainer rose to prominence in the late 1980s and exploded onto the international scene in the 1990s, bringing her commanding delivery and unmistakable style to audiences far beyond Jamaica.
Songs such as “Worker Man,” “Romantic Call” and “Pull Up to the Bumper” introduced Patra to a global audience and helped establish her as one of the most recognizable female faces of the dancehall movement during its international expansion.
Her success was significant not simply because of the records she sold or the charts she reached. Patra was part of a generation of Caribbean artists proving that music born in Jamaica could compete for attention on the world’s biggest stages.
She also helped create a path for the many female dancehall artists who followed, demonstrating that women could command the same attention, confidence and cultural influence in a genre traditionally dominated by men.
Now, decades after her breakthrough, Patra is receiving her flowers.
The Caribbean Music Awards will honor the dancehall veteran with a special recognition at this year’s ceremony in Trinidad, alongside fellow Caribbean music legends Shyne, Calypso Rose and Alan Cavé.
For Patra, the honor represents more than a career milestone. It is recognition of a woman who helped carry the sound and spirit of Jamaican dancehall to the world—and in doing so, became part of Caribbean music history.
Caribbean Buzz
Trinidad and Tobago, First to Host Caribbean Music Awards Elite Weekend Experience, This September.
After three celebrated years at Brooklyn’s historic Kings Theatre, the Caribbean Music Awards (CMA) expands beyond the awards stage with the launch of the inaugural Caribbean Music Awards Elite Weekend Experience, a destination celebration taking place September 18-20, 2026, in Trinidad & Tobago.
This year’s celebration unfolds under the theme, Sounds of the Caribbean, honoring the rhythms, voices, and cultural traditions that have shaped generations and continue to influence music around the world.
Photo Credit: Nikita Small
The Fourth Annual Caribbean Music Awards will take place on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) in Port of Spain, marking a milestone moment as the celebration expands into the Caribbean region for the first time.
The Caribbean Music Awards Elite Weekend Experience will transform CMA from a single-night awards ceremony into a multi-day celebration bringing together artists, fans, industry professionals, creators, tastemakers, media, and cultural leaders from across the Caribbean and around the world.
What’s In Store
The Elite Weekend Experience will feature a series of events celebrating music, culture, and community throughout the destination. Festivities will include an exclusive Welcome Reception, pre-show experiences, the Fourth Annual Caribbean Music Awards, the official after-party, a special steelpan concert presented by Stars and Steel, and additional programming designed to celebrate Trinidad & Tobago’s cultural influence. Additional programming, partnerships, performers, presenters, and special announcements will be unveiled in the coming weeks.
The move to Trinidad & Tobago marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the Caribbean Music Awards, while honoring the city where it all began. New York was the ideal birthplace for the Awards, home to one of the world’s largest and most influential Caribbean diaspora communities. It was there that the Caribbean Music Awards established its identity, built its audience, and proved there was a global appetite for a world-class celebration dedicated solely to Caribbean music and culture.
Photo Credit: Nikita Small
Over the past three years, Brooklyn’s iconic Kings Theatre became more than just the home of the Caribbean Music Awards. It became the launchpad for a movement that united artists, industry leaders, fans, and cultures from across the Caribbean and beyond, under one roof. The energy, ambition, entrepreneurial spirit, and relentless hustle that define New York City helped shape the DNA of the Caribbean Music Awards, and that spirit will remain embedded in the brand no matter where it travels.
Now, with a strong foundation established, the Caribbean Music Awards begins the next phase of its evolution by bringing the celebration directly to the Caribbean. As the inaugural host destination for the Caribbean Music Awards Elite Weekend Experience, Trinidad & Tobago sets the stage for a long-term vision that will see the Awards partner with tourism boards and host destinations to spotlight a different Caribbean nation in future years. By rotating throughout the region, the Caribbean Music Awards aims to celebrate each destination’s unique culture, support tourism, create economic impact, and further strengthen the Caribbean’s creative economy while continuing to unite the global diaspora through music.
Majah Hype Returns, This Time With Nailah.
Bringing even more excitement to this year’s celebration, internationally celebrated Caribbean artiste, Nailah Blackman and acclaimed comedian, entertainer, and cultural personality Majah Hype will host the Fourth Annual Caribbean Music Awards, bringing their unique energy, charisma, and deep connection to Caribbean culture to the stage.
Photo Credit: Nikita Small
For Majah Hype, the 2026 ceremony marks his fourth consecutive year hosting the Caribbean Music Awards, making him one of the longest-standing personalities connected to the celebration. Having witnessed the Awards grow from its early years at Brooklyn’s Kings Theatre into a global platform for Caribbean excellence, Majah continues to bring the humor, passion, and cultural pride that have made him one of the Caribbean diaspora’s most beloved entertainers.
“Four years hosting the Caribbean Music Awards? Mi feel like dem haffi give me my own seat at this point!” said Majah Hype. “But seriously, being part of this journey from day one has been a blessing. I’ve watched this celebration grow, seen the incredible talent come through, and witnessed how much this moment means to our people. To see it expand from Brooklyn’s Kings Theatre to Trinidad & Tobago is something special. Caribbean culture is powerful, the talent is endless, and mi ready fi celebrate everybody who continues to carry our music and our culture to the world.”
For Nailah Blackman, this year’s ceremony represents a new chapter in her relationship with the Caribbean Music Awards. Having experienced the event as an attendee, performer, nominee, and winner, Nailah now steps into the role of host while continuing to be recognized as one of the leading voices in Caribbean music.
Photo Credit: Nikita Small
“The Caribbean Music Awards has been a special part of my journey,” said Nailah Blackman. “I’ve experienced this celebration as a fan, as a performer, as a nominee, and as a winner, and now being able to step into the role of host is truly an honor. To do it in Trinidad, surrounded by our people and our culture, makes this moment even more meaningful. I’m excited to celebrate the incredible artists who continue to push Caribbean music forward.”
Since launching in 2023, the Caribbean Music Awards has grown into one of the premier platforms celebrating Caribbean musical excellence, honoring artists across Dancehall, Reggae, Soca, Konpa, Chutney Soca, Zess, Dennery, Gospel, and emerging Caribbean genres. Last year’s ceremony marked a historic milestone with its BET broadcast debut, further expanding the Awards’ reach and strengthening its position as a leading global celebration of Caribbean music.
Following the announcement of more than 250 nominees across more than 40 categories earlier this year, anticipation continues to build toward what promises to be one of the biggest Caribbean Music Awards celebrations yet. This September, the Caribbean Music Awards Elite Weekend Experience will bring together the sounds, stories, and cultures that have defined generations of Caribbean creativity, inviting audiences from around the world to experience this year’s theme, Sounds of the Caribbean, from the heart of one of the region’s most influential cultural destinations.
-
Music News1 week agoSport Anchor and Artiste, James Saunders Turns Focus to Men’s Mental Health in New Song.
-
Ebuzz News4 days agoA Theatrical Carnival Production Is Set for August 30th, Paying Tribute to the Mighty Sparrow. Blow Mano Blow is Coming.
-
Caribbean Buzz5 days agoDancehall Trailblazer, Patra Will Gets Her Flowers at This Year’s Caribbean Music Awards.