A Jamaican high court judge has dismissed an effort by global Dancehall superstar Vybz Kartel to be released on bail pending an appeal against a murder conviction and extended jail sentence, contending that his continued incarceration is not unconstitutional. Justice Andrea Thomas ruled that Adidja Palmer should remain in prison until the local appeals court decides whether he should be retired or freed for the 2011 murder of associate Clive “Lizard” Williams. Kartel along with co-accused Shawn Campbell, Kahira Jones and Andrea St. John were convicted and given 25-year-plus sentences for the m ..read more

The Queens College of Guyana Alumni Association-New York, has announced the eagerly awaited annual Night of Film, in collaboration with Third Horizon Films, set for the Jamaica Performing Arts Center (JPAC) in Queens. The return of the festival will be held on Saturday, June 15, to celebrate its seventh year. According to the organization, the critically acclaimed festival will showcase an expertly curated selection of five live-action and documentary short films from the Guyanese and Caribbean diaspora. “June is Caribbean-American Heritage Month, and we are especially excited that our 2024 Ni ..read more

The Caribbean Elite Group on Tuesday announced the highly-anticipated Caribbean Music Awards for Aug. 29. “With over 150 nominees and over 40 categories spanning a diverse range of islands and genres, this year’s awards promise to celebrate Caribbean music’s finest talents,” the group said. “Carefully chosen through a rigorous selection process, the nominees represent the pinnacle of Caribbean music excellence. “From the infectious rhythms of reggae and soca to the pulsating beats of dancehall and beyond, these artists embody the rich tapestry of the Caribbean musical landscape,” it added. “Th ..read more

Can You Bring It: Bill T. Jones and D-Man in the Waters, a documentary in Black Public Media and WORLD’s AfroPoP: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange series, has won a 2024 Peabody Award. Rosalynde LeBlanc and Tom Hurwitz’s documentary about Jones’ powerful and healing ballet, sprung out of the heartbreaking AIDS crisis, opened season 15 of the popular documentary series AfroPoP: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange. AfroPoP is co-produced by Black Public Media (BPM) and WORLD, and the film was co-presented and distributed to public television stations by ..read more

Nigy Boy, a beacon of determination, is now celebrating the culmination of his hard work. The dancehall artist proudly graduated from Stony Brook University in New York, earning a bachelor’s degree in law, government, and political policy. The “Continent” artist, whose real name is Nigel Hector, sparked inspiration as footage of his graduation went viral on social media. Fans admired and were amazed at his remarkable talent and resilience in overcoming his disability. A video showed when Nigy Boy crossed the stage to collect his certificate, guided by his devoted mother, Claudette Hill. In an ..read more

Brooklyn Borough President, Antonio Reynoso and Bushwick-born-and-raised, GRAMMY Award-winning actor and arts advocate Anthony Ramos Wednesday night, May 15 teamed up to bring free, year-round after-school theater education back to Bushwick Campus. Reynoso and Ramos announced an allocation totaling $40,000 to “Opening Act,” a Brooklyn-born nonprofit that brings inclusive theater education to New York City public schools. Reynoso said Opening Act began partnering with Bushwick Campus in 2015 but was forced to pause after-school programming at the Academy of Urban Planning and Engineering i ..read more

“The Black Girl Survives in This One,” edited by Desiree S. Evans and Saraciea J. Fennell c.2024, Flatiron Books                                   $19.99                                     368 pages   Don’t go into that room. Don’t start downst ..read more

Nola Rodney, the proud owner of Waterfall Lounge, has embarked on an exciting new venture that blends her culinary background with a passion for community and ownership. Known for her talents in the kitchen, Nola’s journey into the business world is deeply rooted in her family’s legacy and aspirations. Owner of Waterfall Lounge & Bar, Nola Rodney and her son Pharaoh during their grand opening. Photo by Tracey Khan A Culinary Journey with a Twist Trained as a chef, Nola’s path into the culinary world began with a catering business she started in 2015 after attending culinary school. Howeve ..read more

Across the Caribbean we’ve got our ‘own’ way of making Curry Goat and over the years I’ve shared the sort of Classic Curry Goat, an Outdoor Fiery Curry Goat, Slow Cooker Curry Goat, a One Hour Curry Goat using a pressure cooker, Curry Goat Done In The Oven and the Classic Jamaican Curry Goat. While they’re all brilliant recipes, this version is a bit different and probably the easiest as you’re about to learn. Photo by Chris De La Rosa You’ll Need… 3 lbs goat (with bones) 1 lemon (juice) 1 medium onion (sliced) 8 cloves garlic (smashed) 3/4 tablespoon ground masala 1 teaspoon ground roasted cu ..read more

Dominican Republic singer Edgar Suarez last Friday headlined Brooklyn Public Library’s (BPL) Older Adult Fair, singing both classics and original music for the crowd gathered on the Central Library Plaza. BPL’s spokesman Fritzi Bodenheimer told Caribbean Life on Monday that Suarez, a salsa and merengue vocalist, was born in Santo Domingo to a musical family. He said Suarez’s mother is a Christian singer, and that Suarez moved to New York City 12 years ago to “conquer the American Dream and, by all measures, has done just that.” In 2023, Bodenheimer said Suarez was selected from a group of near ..read more