FROM jazz festivals to sea-bathing, sporting events to goat racing, Tobago has long been the go-to destination for the Easter weekend.
And this year is no exception. The island is replete with activities for people of all age groups.
The action begins at the Shaw Park Cultural Complex on April 17 with Melodies of Heaven, the gospel night of the inaugural Tobago Rhythm and Soul Festival.
The festival also includes Buccoo Sea Food Jazz at the Buccoo Integrated Facility on April 19 and Fusion at the parade ground of the Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet, on April 20.
The event suffered a major blow on April 3, when the Tobago Festivals Commission Ltd announced that Jamaican reggae icon Buju Banton, the headline act for Fusion, would not perform.
In a video, the artiste requested compassion and understanding as a close member of the team was seriously ill – someone he acknowledged as "family."
Buju Banton had said: “Trust and believe that your love and support, your admiration has been overwhelming over the years and we plan to make it up to you. Nothing is more important, and nothing is more vital than health – so right now I am in the throes fighting for a good friend’s life.”
The announcement was met with mostly negative reactions on social media as many people, who had purchased tickets for the show, demanded refunds.
Buju Banton has been replaced by Stephen Marley, son of reggae legend Bob Marley.
[caption id="attachment_969064" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Isasha - Photo by Jeff K Mayers[/caption]
The commission assured that patrons can still look forward to a spectacular show on April 19.
Headlining Melodies of Heaven is international gospel sensation Sinach (Osinachi Kalu Okoro Egbu).
The Nigerian-born singer and songwriter has a slew of gospel classics to her name, including Way Maker, I Know Who I Am, I Stand Amazed and Great Are You Lord.
TT artistes Positive (Joel Murray), Blessed Messenger (Tyronne Dominic Walters) and Guyanese singer Samuel Medas also are in the line-up.
On April 17, just metres away from the Shaw Park Complex, Capital Chambers will host the Good Vibes Reggae Show on the Esplanade as a precursor to the third edition of the Scarborough Fisherman’s Festival on April 18 – Good Friday.
The reggae show, scheduled to begin at 8 pm, features a star-studded cast, including Ziggy Rankin (Khori Francis), Jah Melody (Michael Williams), Isasha (Brendon Young) and Gardah Knight (Christopher Joseph). The artistes will be backed up by the Trinidad band, Cornerstone.
Raphael Ben Yisrael, the organisation’s president, said the show was conceptualised to send a strong message against gang violence on the island.
[caption id="attachment_1150013" align="alignnone" width="683"] Vaughnette Bigford - Photo by Andrea De Silva[/caption]
“Our tag line is ‘Say no to gang violence,’ which is mashing up Tobago and by extension, Trinidad and Tobago,” he told Newsday.
“So it is a positive message that we are bringing to Scarborough because of all the crime for the past two years,
