Caribbean Buzz
Taking A Stance for The Youth with Righteousness. Queen Omega Is Ready to Fight.
A Queen she is.
The name Queen Omega is well respected globally. A woman of strong conviction, yet humble and unpretentious, she knows the power she wields when she stands in a studio booth behind a microphone. On Saturday, December 9th, she will break all chains and barriers at Skinner Park, in San Fernando when she hosts, ‘Queens Awakening.’ The concert is being touted as one to re-ignite goodness in the hearts of her people at home, in Trinidad and Tobago.
“The Queen’s Awakening is really to bring an awakening to the people. There was a time when conscious music was the music played on radio. I would like to bring this consciousness back to T&T, especially with the crime and violence we are seeing right now,” she told Ebuzztt. She added, “love must be promoted to the people, now more than ever.”
Queen Omega has been a celebrated female reggae artiste around the world, for many years. Her vocal strength and powerful cadence places her in a category of her own. She has toured internationally and shared stages globally with major reggae artistes out of Jamaica, however she laments that even with this level of global appeal and recognition, many of Trinidad and Tobago’s people still think that she is Jamaican. “I’m not known in Trinidad as much as I’m known internationally. People still think that I’m from Jamaica. Many people don’t know that I was born in Trinidad until they listen to my songs so I think this is a good opportunity to let Trinbago know the gem that they have,” she proclaimed.
In 2022, Queen Omega was called on stage by reggae artiste, Luciano, at the Redemption concert in Trinidad. Her star power shone brightly then, and much will be the same when she hits the stage at Queens Awakening on the weekend. “The people can expect, Chantuelle Queen, Kushite, Stephanie Joseph, NISA, Sister Efa, Larva Marva from Jamaica and more, along with two additional artistes, out of Jamaica,” Lutan Fyah and Iba Mahr,” she said. She also guaranteed that fans could expect an hour long performance from her, alongside the Kornerstone Band.
THE MUSIC OF TODAY
With her Spotify streaming numbers certainly proving her musical excellence- the artiste having achieved some 25 million streams and 1.2 million new listeners in 2023, Queen Omega still expressed her personal concern for the musical energy being touted. “Trinidad is like a melting pot of talent and I really appreciate that, but I can see the impact the music has – the New Age music, what we call the TriniBad, which is a break-off of dancehall. I just wish it could be more positive content because we can see that it is really doing something to the minds of the youths,” she highlighted. The artiste who recently achieved SONY Music recognition for a dub plate done, that has since gone viral, said, “music is a weapon.” “Music is a powerful tool. It can be misused. It can be abused. If we use it in the right way, it can bring healing effect and if we use it in the wrong way, definitely it can have some detrimental effects,” she warned.
The San Fernando, Trinidad native continued her expression of concern, lamenting that the youths who are listening to this type of music, are proving this point. “The youths are listening to this type of music and if you watch their behavior right now, they are very vile,” she pointed out. Explaining that artistes often reason with each other on such topics and concerns, she went on to note that at the end of it all, it comes down to individual choice, as artistes. “Somebody can only write according to their personal experiences so for instance, if someone had a hard life, or if they were around violence, they would write about that but then that is where the gift comes in now, where you can still take that negative energy and put it in a positive way.”
Likening artistes to alchemists, Queen Omega reminded her fellow songwriters and entertainers that they have the power to take negative energy and transform it into positive music. “We take a bad thing and make a song out of it and make people dance- and still feel a good vibes about it and this is the power of music,” she said.
A MESSAGE FOR WOMEN
Her travels vast, Queen Omega says coming from Trinidad and Tobago, she is always proud to highlight to her audiences that she is from this little twin island. “The highlight of my travels is always to let people know where I am from – to let them know that Trinidad is a little island but we full of vibes – calypso, soca and of course, reggae, because here I am, Queen Omega. I am the female reggae ambassador of my island.”
Giving tremendous kudos to her fellow female reggae artistes, Queen Omega took the opportunity to remind women of their worth. “I want to tell Trinidad and Tobago’s women, you have to love yourselves. You have to love yourselves so much and set the trend that you all must be beaming love, shining love and anybody and everybody that comes around you will feel that love and give you that respect because love comes with respect, honor, humility and peace. Once you are on that level as a woman, you will be respected, you will respect yourself, you will carry about yourself modestly,” she said. The artiste further explained that the old adage, “women are to be seen and not heard,” simply means that a woman should not have to use her voice to be recognized, because a woman’s mere presence should be enough to command the attention of others. She said this could only be achieved when a woman searches her soul and loves herself.
Excited about what lies in wait, even beyond Saturday’s event, Queen Omega told EBUZZTT that her recent success with the ‘No Love’ dubplate done with Little Lion Sound, is quite exciting. “SONY music has now made the dub plate a song and this is the first time in history that a dub plate is being made a song. Not even a Jamaican artiste has ever achieved that.” The dub plate achieved some 33 million digital views and as a result, SONY has officially placed the song for purchase on all major music platforms. “It’s a blessing. No time ever in the history of reggae or dancehall, was a dub plate made a song,” she said happily. “This will open many, many doors and I am prepared to walk through most, if not all of them,” she assured.
Queens Awakening will start at 2:30pm and end at 9pm on Saturday, December 9th. Tickets are currently on sale at a cost of $200 General Admission and $700 VIP.
Caribbean Buzz
Aisha Manrique is The Voice of the Caribbean Music Awards.
The stage is being prepared for what is ultimately the most anticipated staging of the Caribbean Music Awards on September 19th, 2026. For the very first time since its inception three years ago, the event moves from New York, to Trinidad and Tobago where superstars from across the Caribbean region and internationally, will gather. It’s a meaningful moment for many people, but one person in particular, feels immensely excited and proud to be at the centre of it all.
Aisha Manrique is the voice of the Caribbean Music Awards. Her tone, expression, sound and articulation, which has narrated the entire show for the past three years, aligns seamlessly with brand Caribbean along with the overall delivery of this powerful celebration of Caribbean creativity and beauty. “I am extremely excited that the Caribbean Music Awards is being held at home in Trinidad and Tobago this year,” said the South, Trinidad native.
Three years ago, Aisha landed the opportunity of a lifetime to become the Voice of God for the Caribbean Music Awards. The former Marketing Officer was essentially screened after a series of meetings and panel interviews, The Caribbean Music Awards would eventually agree to welcoming Trinidad born, Aisha Manrique into the organization. Added to that, the team, after doing their research on Manrique, offered her the opportunity to be the Head Writer for the production. Now in its fourth year, Aisha is the person who writes and narrates the entire production for show night, inclusive of nomination packages, host and presenter scripts and all else. “It’s a lot of work but I am tremendously grateful to be doing what I love,” she expressed.
The 2026 staging of the CMA’S in T&T is a welcomed experience for Aisha. “Having my team with me to be able to prepare in terms of making this moment at home, memorable, is something I’m looking forward to. Every year despite efforts to glam up and be a part of the show with makeup and everything else, I would announce behind the scenes in sneakers and jeans because of the rush as a result of the rigorous production schedule in addition to the intense traffic amid the excitement of Labour Day weekend.”
Manrique says this year she’s looking forward to wearing a gown and getting some photos taken while doing the work that she has dedicatedly done for the past three years, behind the scenes. “I can at least be a part of the glamorous side of things this year,” she laughed.
From San Fernando to the world, Aisha’s journey has been one filled with lessons and testimonies. An entrepreneur now, having answered her life’s calling a few years ago, Aisha says her mother’s insistence on key things, has shaped her path. “As a young child I would envision myself standing in front of thousands and thousands of people and using my voice. My first audience was made up of my uncles and grandmother. I remember my mother waking me up at 5am every morning to work on pronunciation, breathing and posture. Of course, as a child I wasn’t happy about that but now, I appreciate it so much.”
Her mother has since passed away, however Aisha Manrique is inspiring many these days, having been taught the principles of life, focus and dedication, by the woman who was her tower of strength throughout her life.
A Communications and Confidence Strategist, Public Speaking Coach, Copywriter, International Voiceover Talent and Live Announcer, Vocal Health Instructor, Master Storyteller, Aisha Manrique is moving onward with a distinct level of pride in how she serves. Her company, Voicey Versa Productions Ltd. is a Caribbean-based production and training company transforming how individuals and organizations use their voice, communication and stories to make an impact. She trains and coaches professionals, entrepreneurs, creatives, public figures, and performers to express and create compelling messages that resonate, convert, and inspire, equipping them with the skills to speak with confidence, clarity and authority. Her mother would be proud.
“My plan for my business is to better position the company as a safe space for persons to use their voices. If there’s someone who just wants to preach a sermon with a message, or if a person wants to post a video on social media and they need more confidence to engage broader audiences, Voicey Versa will be that safe space to learn,” she said, adding, “There are many people walking around with struggles internally and they are being silenced because of self-sabotage, imposter syndrome and negative thinking. I know what that feels like,” she noted.
Crediting several experiences throughout her life for her present success, Aisha says there is immense power in pushing past fear. At 15-years-old she attended the Rotary Leadership Awards Conference, where Secondary schools from across the Caribbean were represented by students. It was during that experience that her fear would be counteracted, having stood up when others did not, having been called upon to respond by one of the event’s sponsors, Percy Parker Williams. “He gave me a challenge to come up with a concept for an ad- a men’s cologne. He said he would give me 15 minutes. I said I just needed 1 minute and the whole auditorium erupted,” she recalls. “I created an ad and delivered in a seductive, female voice right there on the spot. The crowd cheered me on and Mr. Parker said I had something special. He awarded me a scholarship to pursue broadcasting and I’ve never looked back,” said Aisha.
There are many testimonies of her journey’s alignment to her gift and natural calling, but for Aisha Manrique, her life’s work is enshrined in God’s grace, having continued to use her gift to the service of others in her life. On September 19th, as Caribbean artistes and other creatives enjoy the fruit of their hard work and creativity in Port-of-Spain, her voice will tell the world at large, just how special they are.
Caribbean Buzz
Collabr: Born in the Caribbean, Built for Creators Everywhere.
For yet another year, cricket and entertainment are collaborating with intention. Superstar cricketer, Dwayne Bravo’s love and passion for both cricket and creativity bring live entertainment to matches across the Caribbean at this year’s Caribbean Premiere League (CPL) Tournament and it’s all thanks to Bravo’s Collabr app.
The idea behind Collabr began with a challenge that exists across the Caribbean: extraordinary creative talent is everywhere, but there has never been a formal structure to identify it, connect it or create a clear pathway from talent to opportunity. For the international cricket icon, recording artist and entrepreneur, that challenge became increasingly apparent through his work developing emerging artistes at 47 Productions.
The talent was there. What was missing was the infrastructure.
Bravo and his team asked key questions: How do you find the right singer, songwriter, producer, dancer, filmmaker or other creative talent particularly when that person may be outside the traditional industry circles? How does a talented young artist in Trinidad, Guyana, St. Lucia, Jamaica or elsewhere in the Caribbean become visible to someone who can provide the next opportunity? And once discovered, how can those creators connect, collaborate, develop their work and ultimately build sustainable careers?
Recognising the need for something bigger than a studio or traditional talent search, Bravo reached out to entrepreneur Joshua Strone to expand the idea. That conversation became the foundation for Collabr – a technology platform designed to make creative talent discoverable and give creators the tools, connections and opportunities they need to move forward.
While its roots are distinctly Caribbean, the problem Collabr addresses is universal. Around the world, millions of talented creators remain disconnected from the people, resources and opportunities that could help them advance. At the same time, the modern creative process has become increasingly fragmented. Creators use one platform to network, another to communicate, another to edit, another to generate content with AI, and still others to distribute and monetize their work. Collabr brings that journey together.
Today, Collabr is evolving into an all-in-one creative ecosystem where artists, musicians, dancers, filmmakers, photographers, designers, producers, content creators and other creative professionals can create, connect, collaborate, get discovered and earn, all within one platform.
It’s a platform born from a Caribbean challenge, but built around a global belief: Talent can exist anywhere. Opportunity should be able to find it.
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