AGSelectPR, Port of Spain, has issued a confirmation on Wednesday, February 15, 2011 that Lima Calbio is heading for the Seychelles carnival.
After a 40-year hiatus since the 1972 debut of carnival in Seychelles, the festivities have returned to the creole tropical islands in the Indian Ocean, and the Trinidad Soca darling Lima Calbio will be in the midst of the celebrations; waving the red, white, and black flag.
The 2011 Seychelles “Carnaval International de Victoria,” which is being held under the theme “the melting pot of cultures,” promises to showcase national carnivals from around the world, and Lima will be performing at the March 4-6, 2011 event representing the twin island republic of Trinidad and Tobago. “I’m very excited, and I can’t wait to get to Seychelles and represent for my country,” said Lima, who was a part of the Trinidad and Tobago trade mission to China, Korea, and India in 2007. “Since the trip to India, I have had a growing interest in visiting that part of the world. I am just ecstatic that I can do that and be on stage representing for my country and even the region, too, as I am not aware of any other performer from another Caribbean island.”
Comprising 155 islands in the Indian Ocean, east of mainland Africa and northeast of Madagascar, the Republic of Seychelles is a melting pot of cultures. These islands have no indigenous population, with the inhabitants now being descendants from settlers from the four corners of the world. The official languages of the Seychelles are French and English and Creole. It is against this backdrop of diversity that the 2011 Seychelles “Carnaval International de Victoria” is being held.
Lima will perform the three days of carnival in the Seychelles, commencing with the opening ceremony on March 4. The launch of 2011 Seychelles “Carnaval International de Victoria” will take place in the capital, Victoria, and will see many dignitaries, invited guests, and representatives of participating countries. On carnival day, March 5, a costumed Lima will perform on a float, which will parade around the city streets expected to be lined with jubilant locals and tourists alike. When the procession ends, local revelers will congregate in Victoria in costumed bacchanal. The last day of the festival is carded as a family fun day and will take place in Victoria. Lima will also join other international artists and their Seychellois counterparts in entertaining at a grand musical show, which is part of the carnival activities.
Her trip to Seychelles was through the efforts of Caribbean Exposé, who last year booked her for the Ip-Art Festival in Ipswich England. She returns there again this summer. Lima also has plans to work on a Christmas album and record songs for the 2012 carnival season. Known for her infectious personality, Lima has dazzled fans — whether performing to playback or with bands such as Blue Ventures, Atlantic, Arrow’s Multinational Force from Montserrat, Antigua’s Baygon Band (now Burning Flames), or Byron Lees Dragonaires (formerly Byron Lee and the Dragonaires), Jamaica’s oldest Soca Band. She has been featured on compilations such as Soca Gold and Kassav’s Difé Soupapé. In 2004, Lima won an International Soca Award for her hit song “Di Garden.”
Lima will soon leave Trinidad for performances in the Cayman Islands and New York. She will fly from JFK International Airport on March 1 and stop in Dubai before arriving in Seychelles for the island’s 2011 carnival.
