Singing Sonia is National Calypso Queen

It might have taken 33 years, but Singing Sonia is once again the National Calypso Queen.

She first won the title in 1992 with Professional Advice, aka Shadow’s Advice, and she won again on Sunday with a Christophe Grant piece, The Weaker Sex.

She earned not only the audience’s approval but also the judges’.

The National Women's Action Committee (NWAC)’s annual Carnival event was held on February 9 at Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s and saw 18 competitors vie for the top spot.

The contestants sang about a range of topics such as the effects of climate change, crime, calypso, national unity, digital consumption by youth and Tobago’s autonomy and crime.

Kerine “Tiny” Williams-Figaro’s Bon Appetit got her second place and Curlissa Charles-Mapp’s The Original Superwoman earned her third place.

The event also celebrated its 40th anniversary and it was clear it was readying itself for another 40 years.

Singing Sonia said it was great to win the title after 33 years.

“I feel excellent. I feel really, really, happy about it.”

She said artistes had to keep going despite how difficult it seemed.

“An artiste might feel it is their time, but it is not what we think, it is what God says.”

Her love of culture, and not money, gave her the inspiration to keep entering, she said.

People can see Singing Sonia in the Kalypso Revue tent and she also plans to enter the Calypso Monarch.

“Society believes that women are the weaker sex, but I am proving to them that women are not,” she said.

She told TT to keep pushing, praying and believing and they would achieve their goals.

The show ran smoothly, honouring its 4.30 pm start.

It began by honouring performer, choreographer, educator and researcher Hazel Franco for her work.

The committee’s vice president Susan Manswell delivered a brief address and said in 1985 NWAC took over the responsibility for the competition.

“I am proud to say that the National Calypso Queen competition has become one of the most prestigious events held during the Carnival season.”

She said before NWAC hosted the event there were mainly two recognisable female calypsonians: Calypso Rose and the late Singing Francine.

“Through NWAC’s involvement, the National Calypso Queen competition has given rise to a greater number of women in calypso and increased recognition and respect, both nationally and internationally.”

Manswell said many iconic female calypsonians like the late Denyse Plummer, the late Singing Sandra and Karene Asche and Stacey Sobers were birthed from the competition.

NWAC’s purpose has always been to provide guidance and leadership within the framework of gender equality, she said.

“By way of this competition, we have provided many women with a platform to express themselves on many relevant issues through the calypso art form.

“This platform serves as a medium that can give women a voice to develop their strength, self-perseverance and independence.”

The competition has seen significant growth and sustainability over the past 40 years, she added.

Manswell called on women in all societal spheres to rise further and play a greater role in shaping and developing the social fabric of TT.

She said many of TT’s women had become victims instead of victors and called on them to be the “female warriors” they were meant to be.

“Let us put on the armour of protection with God on our side to save our nation,” she said.

The 2024 winner, Naomi Sinnette, made a guest appearance and gave a spirited performance of her 2025 single, Live Your Life.

The competition began with prison inmate Avelon Lett singing Seedlings in Society, which used an agricultural metaphor to speak to youth’s contributions to society.

“The watering can in TT is rusty,” she sang.

Tobago contestants like Wendy Garrick and Roslyn Reid were among those warmly received by the audience.

Reid’s Sing it in Kaiso asked who would be the voice of the people if calypsonians were afraid to speak on their behalf.

“There is a vacancy in kaiso no one wants to fill,” she sang.

Similarly, Tiny’s food metaphor used the concept to speak to how people should be served in the country. Her performance was also a crowd favourite.

There were no lulls between performances, and host Shirlane Hendrickson carried on playful banter with the audience throughout the evening.

Former calypso monarch Terri Lyons' guest performance closed the show at around 8.30 pm with her 2025 single Ask Yuh Man. Many people left the Winifred Atwell Auditorium dancing.