Be The Change
Destra Returns to Queen’s Hall for Reflections II in March.
On Monday, Soca star, Destra Garcia said, “Today I begin my spiritual journey back up to the mountain as I begin my annual Lenten cleansing, reflecting and renewing with fasting and prayer with my family.” She shared the expression in the aftermath of Carnival 2026, having enjoyed an exuberant season of revelry, performing her hits ‘Happy People’ and ‘Free Again,’ for fans at various events. Now, as the female soca powerhouse retreats to restore and refresh, she announces the second edition of her Gospel concert in Trinidad and Tobago.
‘Reflections: Sound. Spirit. Surrender’ will be hosted at Queen’s Hall on Saturday, March 28th. The live gospel concert brings together testimony, worship and a collective moment of prayer for Trinidad and Tobago. The event is described as a deep personal journey of faith and will offer the audience an intimate and honest expression of Destra’s walk with God.
“No matter what time of year it is, whether it’s Carnival or Lent, trust that I’m always walking after the Holy Spirit, who guides all my steps,” said Destra. “It may not make sense to everyone, but I am on my own path. I can only be myself. I may not be perfect, but I love God, and I have so much to be grateful for. My blessings keep overflowing.”
For more than 30 years, Destra has observed a sacred personal tradition following Carnival – 40 days of fasting and prayer to reset her heart, mind, body and spirit. “This is why I take this time every year after the Carnival season to cleanse and realign through fasting and prayer,” she explains. “I acknowledge the source of all goodness in my life – my ultimate love, the giver of gifts, the Almighty, the One who has set me free.”
Last year marked the first time she shared that private devotion publicly through Reflections. “After doing this quietly with my family for over 30 years, I opened up and revealed that side of myself for the first time to my fans with Reflections The Album and Concert, and I felt whole,” she said. “On Saturday 28th March, the day before Holy Week begins, join me as I take that journey again. Together we brought to life, a part of me that’s usually hidden. I’m ready to do it all over again with you,” said the entertainer.
Last year’s inaugural concert drew an overwhelming response from patrons who came seeking something deeper than entertainment. This year, Reflections: Sound. Spirit. Surrender builds on that foundation with an even more personal focus – creating space for positive, purpose-filled music that strengthens families and lifts the nation in prayer.
According to a media release, those attending the event can expect powerful live vocals, heartfelt moments of reflection and a carefully curated musical journey centered on resilience, grace and purpose. Within the iconic setting of Queen’s Hall, the evening promises artistic excellence and emotional intimacy, where music becomes both celebration and prayer.
“Queen’s Hall is truly honoured to welcome back Destra Garcia to the Winifred Atwell Auditorium on Saturday 28th March 2026,” says Garfield George, General Manager of Queen’s Hall. “Last year’s Reflections concert was more than a performance – it was a transformative experience that demonstrated the power of music to uplift, inspire and unite. Destra’s artistry, courage and spiritual depth resonated profoundly with our audiences, and we are proud that Queen’s Hall continues to be the stage where such meaningful cultural moments unfold. We eagerly look forward to hosting her once again for what promises to be another unforgettable evening of excellence, inspiration and world-class production.”
Tickets for Reflections are available online at queenshalltt.com and at the Queen’s Hall Box Office , Monday – Saturday, 10am – 6pm.
Be The Change
Dwayne Bravo Foundation Charity Golf Tournament Returns for Year Two, With Team Wilco Taking Back-to-Back Victory.
The Dwayne Bravo Foundation Charity Golf Tournament returned to St. Andrews Golf Club, Moka, Maraval in Trinidad on Monday for its second year, bringing together some of Trinidad and Tobago’s biggest names in sport, corporate T&T and a new generation of golfers for a day of competition, camaraderie and giving back.
When the final putt dropped, it was a familiar trio at the top of the leaderboard.
Team Wilco, comprising Liam Bryden, Ryan Gomez and Willie Medford, successfully defended the tournament title, becoming back-to-back champions after taking the inaugural title in 2025 as Team MRI. The three players returned this year as Team Wilco, proving that their winning combination remains intact.
The tournament was hosted by Dwayne Bravo, head coach of the Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) and former West Indies all-rounder, and featured a strong gathering of sporting legends, TKR personalities, corporate leaders and young golfers.
Among those in attendance were West Indies batting legend Brian Charles Lara, Trinidad and Tobago football legend Russell Latapy, TKR CEO Venky Mysore and members of the TKR team, along with representatives from corporate Trinidad and Tobago. The event also welcomed members of the Trinidad and Tobago national youth golf team, giving some of the country’s emerging golfers the opportunity to share the course with established sporting figures and business leaders.
While the competition on the course was spirited, the purpose behind the tournament remained at the heart of the day.
Speaking at the prize-giving ceremony, Bravo shared his long-term vision for the Foundation and the impact he hopes its work will continue to have on children across Trinidad and Tobago.
“My ultimate vision for the Foundation is to one day build a facility dedicated to underprivileged children, a place where they can feel supported, empowered and have access to opportunities that can change their lives. Until that dream becomes a reality, we will continue doing the work, supporting children in need and giving back to our communities in every way we can.”
Since its establishment in 2015, the Dwayne Bravo Foundation has supported children, families and communities through a range of charitable initiatives. The Foundation has now donated more than $200,000 to causes and programmes across Trinidad and Tobago including the National Centre for Persons with Disabilities, Martha El Katow Home, he Credo Foundation for Justice, the Margaret Kistow Home, , the Living Water Community – Our Lady of the Wayside Home, St Jude’s Home for Girls and Helping Her TT.
The Charity Golf Tournament is an extension of that commitment, using sport to bring people together while raising funds to support the Foundation’s ongoing work.
Year Two was made possible through the support of sponsors Ansa Motors, Proton, Carib, Bmobile, Coca-Cola, Dynamed Medical and Rhino Pack, whose partnership helped bring the tournament back to the greens for another year.
For Bravo, the event is about more than a day of golf. It is about creating a platform where sport, business and community can come together to make a tangible difference.
The Foundation will continue to build on its charitable work, with its focus firmly on creating opportunities and providing support for children and families in need.
Be The Change
Season of Anansi Returns, Bringing Folklore, Afro-Futurism and Epic Storytelling to a New Generation.
Trinidad and Tobago’s beloved trickster spider is once again spinning a web across the nation as the Season of Anansi National Folklore Festival returns for its fourth edition, continuing a decade-long mission to transform local folklore into a dynamic force for education, performance and cultural innovation.
Produced by the Wire Bend Folklore Theatre, the festival has become one of the country’s most ambitious youth-focused cultural initiatives, blending storytelling, theatre, literature, visual arts and Afro-Futurist imagination while reaching thousands of students and audience members across Trinidad and Tobago.
This year’s festival has already been making its way through primary and secondary schools nationwide via its popular Anansi Storytelling Tour, which runs throughout April, May and June. Students have been treated to immersive performances inspired by the bestselling New Adventures of Anansi book series, as well as engaging explorations of folklore, history and Caribbean identity.
Schools visited so far include Naparima Girls’ High School, St Mary’s College, Sangre Grande Secondary School, Chaguanas Government Primary School, Four Roads Government Primary School, Curepe Fatima RC School, St Helena Presbyterian School, and the Pentecostal Light and Life Foundation Multifaceted Educational Complex in Tobago, among others.
The festival’s reach has extended beyond the classroom. In a recent collaboration with the Alliance Française during its Week of Latin America and the Caribbean, audiences packed the venue for a sold-out presentation that explored the origins of Anansi, the enduring relevance of folklore, and live dramatic excerpts from the New Adventures of Anansi novels.
Building on a Landmark Year
The 2026 season follows what organizers describe as a breakthrough year for the festival.
In 2025, the festival significantly expanded its footprint through the multimedia exhibition and seminar Black Infinite: The Global Rise of Afro-Futurism, staged at CinemaOne IMAX. The event attracted international contributors, academics, creatives and pop-culture enthusiasts, introducing global science fiction and fantasy audiences to Trinidad and Tobago’s growing presence within the Afro-Futurist movement.
The festival also celebrated the 10th anniversary of the acclaimed stage adaptation of Anansi & the 10 Dragons with a major production at Queen’s Hall, while a moving Tribute to the Storytellers at the Little Carib Theatre honoured legendary cultural figures Paul Keens Douglas, Aunty Thea and the late Rapso artist Brother Book.
Organizers say the 2026 edition aims to deepen those international and local relationships while strengthening the schools outreach programme that has long been at the heart of the festival’s mission.
Reimagining Folklore for the Future
For 11 years, Wire Bend Folklore Theatre has been dedicated to presenting curriculum-aligned cultural programming that introduces young audiences to folklore through contemporary performance techniques and cutting-edge technology.
Since 2015, the company has created 13 original productions and performed for thousands of students and public audiences throughout the country. Its signature style combines elaborate costumes crafted by master artisans with interactive animation, digital media and immersive theatrical storytelling.
At the centre of the movement is founder and artistic director Rubadiri Victor, author of the bestselling New Adventures of Anansi series. Victor’s novels have helped pioneer a new wave of Caribbean folkloric fantasy fiction, reimagining ancestral stories for modern readers while inspiring live performances that continue to captivate school audiences.
One of the series’ most distinctive innovations is its focus on a female Anansi character—the young grandmother of the famous spider trickster—offering fresh perspectives on gender, leadership and resilience while challenging traditional storytelling conventions.
The stories tackle themes that resonate strongly with contemporary audiences, including community breakdown, misinformation, tyranny, slavery, greed and self-absorption, all while remaining rooted in the rich traditions of Trinidad and Tobago’s folklore.
Folklore Meets Afro-Futurism
A major highlight of this year’s programme will be the return of Black Infinite: The Global Rise of Afro-Futurism, which will be remounted at the National Library’s Rotunda in Port of Spain from July 6 to July 16.
The exhibition explores the growing global influence of Afro-Futurism and its connections to Caribbean storytelling traditions, offering visitors a unique blend of visual art, history, speculative fiction and cultural commentary.
For festival organizers, the objective remains clear: to inspire young people to see themselves reflected in epic stories and to recognize their own communities, landscapes and cultural traditions as worthy of imaginative exploration on the grandest scale.
As the Season of Anansi continues throughout June, the festival once again demonstrates that folklore is far from a relic of the past. In the hands of a new generation of storytellers, artists and dreamers, it remains a powerful force for creativity, identity and cultural transformation.
The Black Infinite: The Global Rise of Afro-Futurism exhibition opens at the National Library Rotunda, Abercromby Street, Port of Spain, from July 6–16, 2026. Admission is free.
