Stephen Weir articles, editorials and popular social media weir postings

  Celebrate the Spirit of the Caribbean at Carnival Winter Market and Parang Extravaganza on Saturday, December 2nd Princess Trinidad “The Carnival Winter Market and Parang Extravaganza is the work of the Toronto Caribbean Carnival,” explained the newly reconfirmed President of the Organization of Calypso Performing Artistes (OCPA) Henry Gomez (aka King Cosmos). “We are providing the evening’s entertainment.” Hosted by the charismatic King Cosmos, the Parang Extravaganza features performances by some of OCPA's artists, including Caribbean Monarch Macomere Fifi, Guney Cedeno, Princess Trinidad, and DJ Red X. In addition to his MC duties, King Cosmos will also be performing during the evening. Expect a joyful sound from the singers on stage because it has been a joyful year for the Calypso organization who have seen a rebirth to performing in the city. “We held the first Calypso Monarch competition this summer since 2016,” continued Gomez, “It was a sold-out event. There was also a C...

  PARANG MUSIC HERALDS THE BOXING DAY RETURN OF JAI! By Stephen Weir:  On December 26 Jai Ojah-Maharaj ( pictured above ) will be back. His return comes just in time to bring Parang music back to the airwaves. The godfather of Soca and Parang on Toronto radio will soon be heard on CHIN radio, the station where it all began for him over 30 years ago!  His  Caribbean Connection  Saturday night show will be a huge Boxing Day present for FM listeners from Toronto to Buffalo and beyond. “ I have been talking to Lenny Lombardo (the owner of CHIN radio) on and off for quite sometime now,” said Jai yesterday. “ Things began to heat up about three weeks ago, when we learned the Saturday night  South Asian Show  was giving up its weekly time slot.  They have had that (time slot) since I left CHIN in 2011 (to join the just launched G-98.7), and of course I want it back!” “ Because of the Pandemic the community is missing the joy of Parang,” he continued. “So...

X Marks The Spot For Last Big Fete Before Christmas   By Stephen Weir for the Caribbean Camera   The X-factor at last weekend’s Sagi Time fete was an early early Sunday morning performance by raising Soca star Olatunji. The Trinidadian singer flew into Canada just hours before taking to the stage in Toronto to entertain a room filled with his fans. With the holidays almost here, the  annual Sagi Time (short for Sagitarius Time) had a near full house for the last big bash before Christmas. Held at the Eglington East Latvian Community the fete combined good food, Trinidadian and Canadian performers and a well used large dance floor.   Trinidad's Olatunji Olantunji  (Edward Yearwood) earned global recognition when he won Trinidad's  International Soca Monarch in 2015, after singing his blockbuster single "Ola” (which he sang at Sagi Time). In September he was a contestant on the UK X Factor  and competed on the wildly po...