Convoy Conversations With Sokanista!

We’ve featured quite a few of our Convoy members- now hear from the one who started the movement herself-Shermica “Sokanista” Farquhar and her thoughts on the West Indian Day Parade in NYC!

What country do you represent? Trinidad

Where are you based? DC

What you know about this Soka Tribe life? 😉 (i.e. what is your affiliation, how long, how did it start) Hahahahaha! I some how rolled into it and now they are stuck with me!

What brought you to this particular carnival? I missed NYC. The Caribbean Labor Day Celebrations- I mean the entire weekend holds so many memories for me. So traveled back to see some familiar faces and actually ended taking extended Famalay visiting from Trini their first Labor Day Experience.

Have you played mas before? When and where? NYC- Boston – Miami- Los Angeles – Trinidad -Barbados – Jamaica … Spain …Sort of a long story for a different post. I’ve been playing mas since 1988, yes 21 years. Like since I was born cause clearly I’m only 21 .

What carnivals would you rinse and repeat? Trinidad because I am biased and it’s home. Every carnival is something different to look forward to and they all can’t be the same. I will say I’ve done Jamaica consecutively, and have a strong desire to get to Grenada and St. Lucia.

What do you wish you knew about this carnival before going? The weather report! If I had on some rain boots, I would have been happy to keep prancin’. I’ve done it before and I’m sure I’d do it again. I just wasn’t prepared. 

What would you say makes this carnival different from others? NYC has a huge Caribbean population and so many come out and so many travel to unite and celebrate our culture during this time. I matter what the naysayers say the energy of the joy on Eastern Parkway is crazy.

I will say because it’s so many people there is also level ‘madness’ as well and that’s disheartening but you can’t throw the baby out with the bath water. 

Soca Artist that you would want to fete with:The one with the waistline

Anything else the Soka Tribe should know about you? I love y’all thanks for reading and supporting SokaTribe  

My social media handle is personal:  @Sokanista  crew: @sokatribe

Labor Days from 1988-2007