From the Trinidad Express:

Soca Soars In Germany
By Wayne Bowman

When Bunji Garlin and Fayann Lyons set off on their recent promotional tour of Europe they were not seeking to conquer new territories solely for their benefit. The artistes, who are these days referred to as the royal couple of soca, desired to open doors for all up and coming artistes out of Trinidad and Tobago.

Judging from the response of the thousands of Europeans who flocked to the concerts to see Garlin and Lyons in action, we can safely say that local artistes will have good ground to tread upon on that continent.

The tour ended in Berlin on May 12 when Garlin and Lyons performed in that city's carnival, which is not fashioned after Trinidad's Carnival, but in fact brings elements of cultures from around the world together.

The twelfth annual Carnival der Kulturen in Bielefeld takes place on June 6 and 7. This year's theme is "Call of Nature". The parade will take place on at 3pm on Sunday the 7th beginning on Schloßhofstraße and ending in Ravensburger Park. At 5:30pm the parade participants will present themselves on the stage in the park. All other parties and activities surrounding the carnival are listed at carnival-bielefeld.de.



Some of the participants slated for this year include:

The Faluma Caribbean Music Shop is back online after a two week hiatus with a new look. Faluma is Europe's specialist for soca and calypso CDs and vinyl. They are continuing to add new products to the new store front.

Heitersheim in Baden-Württemberg is celebrating its first Caribbean Night on Saturday, May 31. It is sponsored by the Männergesangverein (MGV), the men's choral association in town. The Caribbean Steelband from Rheinfelden will provide entertainment, along with Latin group, Blue Bananas. Doors open at 7pm and the show begins at 8pm. Cover is 7€.

Caribbean Heatwave, a carnival band based in Germany participates in the Karneval Der Kulturen every year. Here is a peak at members Gail Edmund and Barbara Saltmann as they prepared for this year's parade, from Tagesspiegel:

Anprobe für die Parade
Von Annette Kögel

Vorbereitungen für den Umzug: Gail Edmund und Barbara Saltmann aus der Karibik sind zwei der 4500 Akteure, die beim Karnevalsumzug am Sonntag mittanzen.

Es lohnt sich doch immer wieder, hinter die Fassade zu schauen. Zum Beispiel in Nord-Neukölln, Rütlikiez, Weserstraße. Kaum öffnet Gail Edmund die Tür, tritt man ein in eine karibische Welt: Fotos von Palmen hängen an der Wand, im Hintergrund Soca-Musik und überall leuchten orangerote Flammen aus Stoff. Drei Monate lang designt und schneidert, klebt und verdrahtet die 42-jährige Schneiderin schon an den Kostümen zum Karneval. „Wir Ausländer bringen ein bisschen Salz und Pfeffer ins deutsche Leben“, sagt Konstümmodel Barbara Saltmann lachend. Vielleicht sieht man ihr deshalb ihre 55 Jahre nicht an.

The volleyball fans in Friedrichshafen can look forward to more Caribbean flair in the next two seasons. Middle blocker Marc Honore extended his contract with VfB for two more years with the option of a third. "I'm staying because I enjoy being part of this team," he said, "I still want to learn a lot at VfB and to keep improving myself."

His coach, Stelian Moculecsu, is thrilled to keep him on the team. "I am very pleased with his development," he said, adding that Honore is a quick study and hard working. Even though there were a couple players ahead of him in the pecking order for the middle position the coach believes that as long as he keeps up his work rate he will be playing more next season: "Marc still has time and the perspective to play an important role for VfB."

Honore is the first player from Trinidad and Tobago to sign a professional volleyball contract and so is a bit of a star back home. He looks back on his first season in Friedrichshafen with satisfaction. "The season was great. We were very successful and our fans were always unbelievable. I'd like to thank them for that," he says, "I am happy that we were league champions and cup winners."

In the coming year the 2.04 meter tall giant wants not only to improve his German, but also, of course his playing skills. "My goal is to learn and become a better volleyball player. I hope that we will be just as successful as last season and that we manage to make the final round of the Champions League."

translated from volleyball.de:

Honore will weiter lernen – in Friedrichshafen

The mas camp in Yaam began on April 13 and is open Thursday to Saturday from 5pm. Entry is free except for Sunday Specials. Everyone is invited for the lime even if not working on a costume. Food is available at nominal prices along with appearances by various Soca DJ's from Berlin, bottle and spoon jams and just plain nice folks. "Carnival Fever" T-shirts will also be available.

The closing party is on May 5 at 8pm.

Bunji Garlin and Fay-Ann Lyons will perform on May 11 at the Glow Carnival Special at the Festsaal Kreuzburg in Berlin supported by the Soca Twins, Supersonic, Mash up Crew, and Barney Miller. The event begins at 10pm.

The Berlin Carnival, Karneval Der Kulturen, gets in swing this week from May 9 to 12. Heads up High Carnival Special With Soca Twins, Bacchanal Sisters, and Soundbwoys Destiny takes place on Saturday night, May 10 at the Maschinenhaus, Kulturbrauerei at 11pm.