It’s being celebrated as a big win for local talent, authenticity and indigenous music.

This as national communications solutions provider, bmobile, has announced a strategic partnership with soca songstress Nailah Blackman which promises to ignite the spirit of Carnival and celebrate the vibrant culture of Trinidad and Tobago. This alliance, set to extend throughout the year, embraces the deepening synergy between technology and entertainment, creating a dynamic platform for innovation and celebration.

The agreement was made official before thousands of Blackman’s fans during her highly anticipated Sokah Origins - Eden event held at the Southern Academy for the Performing Arts, (SAPA), on January 7. While on stage, Blackman was gifted artwork from her bmobile photoshoot as well as a bedazzled microphone sleeve by bmobile’s Assistant General Manager, Consumer Sales (Ag.), Kashif Greaves, who said the gesture signified a metaphorical handing over of the baton. He said bmobile was thrilled to unite with Blackman, a dynamic artist, songwriter and musician, who continues to take soca music across the globe. “As the only local telecommunications brand in the country, we take pride in investing in home-grown talent and promoting those aspects of our culture that truly make us Trinibagonian. Nailah embodies the characteristics that our brand stands for - creativity, innovation and investment in local culture.”

Blackman, who has been crowned by bmobile as its “Chief Fun Officer” for the Carnival season, expressed her enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “It feels like I'm coming back home. A lot of times we feel that what’s outside is better because of how it's represented. But it’s really important for me to build and grow with my own. Local is better and I want local to thrive. I am homebred in Trinidad and Tobago and I am so happy to be back with a company that is completely Trinbagonian. The brand of Nailah is very much aligned with bmobile as I'm a nature lover and I’m somebody who believes in going green, overall.”

Greaves credited Blackman - granddaughter of Garfield “Ras Shorty I” Blackman, the inventor of soca - for always shining a spotlight on the artform through her music. He said her efforts to preserve her family’s legacy have been shown through her diverse, eclectic catalog “which appealed significantly” to the bmobile brand. “What connects people to Carnival fundamentally is the music. Nailah has been able to marry soca with different sounds like dancehall which has really breathed life into the genre globally.”

Greaves also noted that the company, whose Carnival 2024 slogan is ‘Iz Ah Vibe,’ continues to leverage its cutting-edge technology to connect with fans nationwide. He said customers can now choose from a number of enhanced bundle packages which will enable better streaming for events this season. “We’re providing even greater support. Our aim is to bridge the gap between generations of audiences so that they can share their experiences through pictures and videos, etc. We are truly committed to fostering innovation and creativity.” And Blackman assures that fans can look forward to more high-energy performances from her and her team this Carnival, adding that, “this is not just a job for me. I am very passionate about what I do and how I relate to my fans. I want to make every event I do this year a memory that my fans and I will never forget.”