Be The Change
Heeding Blaxx, Jelani Verse Aims To Change Mindsets.
Violence and crime never once plagued his consciousness. He had been instilled with a fear of God and chose a path less walked, even as a native of Arima, East Trinidad. The nephew of the ever-loved and truly missed Soca artiste, Dexter ‘Blaxx’ Stewart, Quacy James fondly remembers his uncle’s words…“Always remember, write music that is positive in nature. When I pass on, I want my music to live on and be relevant to any time.”
A living testament to the importance of purposeful parenting. Quacy, an artiste who delivered his very first single in January 2023, is now ready to unleash more music. He plans on becoming a name everyone in Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean and even the world, will one day know. When they speak of him however, their acknowledgement will always be in the positive. “I chose the name Jelani VERSE- my stage name, because Jelani means mighty in Swahili and VERSE is an acronym for, Vision Empowers Respect, Sacrifice and Endurance,” explained the multi- faceted youth. You see, when he isn’t writing songs or recording new melodies, Quacy is wearing his professional hat as either an Emergency Medical Technician or a senior Human Resource Clerk. Driven and mindful of his blessings, Quacy believes a person’s dreams are more than just a faint image of their imagination. “To me, your dream amounts to all the hard work – your sweat, your tears, your sacrifices that you make to accomplish your goals,” he rationalized.
A brand-new reggae single, collaboratively written with music producer and artiste, Azaryah, James attests to his mother’s strength and guidance throughout the lives of he and his siblings. “The song, “Day One Queen,” was written in honor of my mother for her sacrifice and hard work that she put into raising us. A mother will never stop loving her child and because of that, she is every child’s “Day One Queen,” explained the upcoming entertainer. Crediting his mother and other women in his life, for the role they each played in how his life has unfolded, Quacy says he believes it is important that the music being released at this time, deliver messages that can uplift and honor women, rather than degrade them. “If God gave woman as a gift to man, why are there so many negative reports in the media about negative things happening to women?” he questioned.
Equipped with true humility and gratitude, Quacy highlighted the amazing effort put in by Azaryah. “I told Azaryah that I wanted something magical and he did not disappoint. He produced a song that is really amazing, touching, and to the effect and standards that I was looking for.”
“Day One Queen” was recently released and is the first of many projects set to be unleashed by Jelani VERSE. “I will continue to write positive, meaningful songs that I believe will inspire people and change mindsets,” he said, intently. Much like his uncle, Blaxx, Quacy’s determination to use his gift for the greater good, shines through.
To listen to the new song, click here. Follow the journey of Jelani VERSE, and cheer him @jelaniverse on TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.
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.