Former Byron Lee and the Dragonnaires frontline singer Lima Calbio will perform at the return of the Seychelles Carnival International de Victoria. The last time the Seychelles hosted a festival such as this was in 1972. Under the theme, the melting pot of cultures, the Carnival International de Victoria, will run from March 4 to 6 and is expected to showcase national Carnivals from around the world. Calbio, who has sung with several bands over the years including Blue Ventures, Atlantic, Arrow's Multinational Force and as a solo act, said she is very excited about the trip and representing T&T. "Since my 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 my country and the region too." Calbio will perform on a float around the city streets on the last day of the parade.
Her trip to Seychelles was made possible through the efforts of Caribbean Exposé, who last year booked her for Ip-Art Festival in Ipswich England. She will also be a part of that festival again this year.
The versatile singer, who also sings R&B in her extensive repertoire, 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. One hundred and fifty islands in the Indian Ocean comprise the Seychelles. East of mainland Africa and northeast of Madagascar, the Seychelles 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, English and Creole. Before going to Seychelles, Calbio will perform in the Cayman Islands and New York.