No Music Ban, But DJs Urged To Avoid Violent Songs At Tobago Carnival
Music that is positive and free from messages of violence is what the Tobago Promoters Association hopes to encourage during the upcoming Tobago Carnival, scheduled to take place from October 30 to November 1, 2026.
However, President of the association, Kevon Mc Kenna, made it clear that there are no plans to ban any genre of music.
Mr Mc Kenna was clarifying the association’s collaboration with the TTPS in Tobago, aimed at discouraging content that promotes gang and criminal activity.
« So for us it wouldn’t be a ban. It would be letting us influence positively the change that we want to see by saying we would prefer that a DJ or an artiste not perform these types of songs at this event to help raise the positive part of our event. »
Mr Mc Kenna noted that the decision stemmed from a meeting with the head of the Tobago Division of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.
« We didn’t exclude any artist or any genre of music. From the discussions with the head of police in Tobago, what we came to mutually agree on is that any music that promotes gun violence or any kind of criminal activity, we decided that we would encourage our members to discourage our DJs to not feature this music, or the songs, in the Carnival. »
The Tobago Promoters’ Association President identified the type of songs DJs will be encouraged to avoid during Tobago Carnival.
« If it’s a Soca that has some really explicit words in it, it means that we will encourage our DJs to just not play that particular song. So it is not specific to a genre. It’s not specific to an entertainer because we have seen when entertainers can come to an event and just not perform specific songs. »
He highlighted the importance of the decision to the people of Tobago.
« It’s about each one doing their part in a small way that would contribute to the bigger part of crime reduction. And if one such way is looking at the type of music that we put out in events, the Promoters’ Association is willing to help. Similarly, we have teamed up with other organisations for the Tobago Carnival. We have teamed up with the Division of Health and Social Services, where we are doing something called ‘Ready, Set, Fete’, where they will provide sober zones. »
