There has been a 40 year hiatus since the 1972 debut of carnival in Seychelles, but festivities have now returned to the Creole tropical islands in the Indian Ocean - and the Trinidad soca darling Lima Calbio will be in the midst of the celebrations, waving high the red, white, and black flag. Comprising 155 islands in the Indian Ocean, east of mainland Africa and northeast of Madagascar, the Republic of Seychelles is a melting pot of cultures.

The 2011 Seychelles ‘Carnaval International de Victoria’, which is being held under the theme ‘The melting pot of cultures’, promises to showcase national carnivals from around the world. Lima will be performing at the March 4th-6th event, representing the twin island republic of Trinidad and Tobago. “I’m very excited, and I can’t wait to get to Seychelles and represent my country”, says Lima. “Since the 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 even the region too, as I am not aware of any other performer from another Caribbean island.”

Lima’s trip to Seychelles has come about through the efforts of Caribbean Exposé, who last year booked her for the Ip-Art Festival in Ipswich, England; she returns there again this summer. Lima also has plans to work on a Christmas album and record songs for the 2012 carnival season. Known for her infectious personality, Lima has performed with bands such as Blue Ventures, Atlantic, Arrow’s Multinational Force from Montserrat, Antigua’s Baygon Band, and Byron Lee’s Dragonaires, Jamaica’s oldest soca band. She 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.