St John’s, Antigua | Wish you were here (Mar/Apr 2021)
Postcards from the Caribbean’s most extraordinary places
Issue 163 (March/April 2021)
It’s been a full year since our last print issue — but Caribbean Beat is back in print and on board Caribbean Airlines flights! And of course, you can continue to read the digital replica of the magazine online (see below)!
In this issue, we head out to explore Trinidad’s north coast by hiking trail; learn about the musical rhythms that animate Santiago, Cuba’s second city; and consider three itineraries for a Barbados road trip. Also, meet T&T’s iconic novelist Merle Hodge and St Lucia’s most medalled athlete, Levern Spencer. Plus our usual coverage of Caribbean music, culture, and more!
Need to know | Event calendar (Mar/Apr 2021)
Essential info to help you make the most of March and April — even in the middle of a pandemic
Bookshelf (Mar/Apr 2021) | Book reviews
This month’s reading picks from the Caribbean, with reviews of Inheritance: The Story of a West Indian Family by Ian McDonald; of colour by Katherine Agyemaa Agard; My Mother’s House by Francesca Momplaisir; and The Wondrous and Tragic Life of Ivan and Ivana by Maryse Condé
Playlist (Mar/Apr 2021) | Music reviews
This month’s listening picks from the Caribbean — featuring new music by Kalpee; Payge Turner Music; Natiruts, Ziggy Marley & Yalitza Aparicio; and Will the Wolf & X.O. Drew
Barbados by road | Explore
Barbados is world-famous for its spectacular beaches — but when you’re ready to experience the rest of the island’s natural beauty and cultural riches, there’s no better way than a road trip. A full gas tank, your favourite playlist, and good vibes are all you need to enjoy these three itineraries
Paria Bay bound, Trinidad | Offtrack
Trinidad’s north coast, where mountains tumble down to the sea, is home to popular beaches like Maracas and Las Cuevas — but also to little-known bays accessible only by hiking, plus forest trails, waterfalls, and some of the island’s most dramatic scenery. Nixon Nelson heads out to Paria Bay, one of the gems of the north coast
The Miseducation of Merle Hodge | Backstory
Trinidadian writer Merle Hodge began her career by publishing what would become a beloved Caribbean classic, Crick Crack, Monkey, in 1970. Five decades later, as she prepares to publish her third novel, Hodge tells Andre Bagoo what took so long — and what drives her interest in capturing the often confusing experience of Caribbean childhood on the page
Waitukubuli Trail, Dominica | Bucket list
Explore the stunning Nature Island through the Caribbean’s longest hiking trail
Són city, Cuba | Destination
Near the eastern end of Cuba, Santiago is a regional capital, a treasure house of history — and, Donna Yawching writes, the island’s most musical city. The soundtrack is driven by the rhythms of són, she learns — and the soul of Santiago is in its musicians’ fervour for their heritage
Levern Spencer: higher and higher | Snapshot
For years, the title of St Lucia’s most medalled athlete has been held by high jumper Levern Spencer, who first made her mark at the age of fourteen, over two decades ago. Her career is a textbook example of the value of persistence, writes Sheldon Waithe — and her biggest goal, an Olympic medal, still lies ahead
Get lit | Did you even know
Are you a book lover? Think you know Caribbean literature inside out? Let our trivia column put you to the test
