Months after Soca fans in Trinidad protested against Vybz Kartel performing during Carnival week, organizers of the One Caribbean Music Festival have officially changed the date.

Soca artist Yankey Boy, who staged a hunger strike last year in protest of Kartel’s involvement, seemingly responded to the postponement.

Sharing a post of his latest song Only Soca — which boldly declares, “Don’t want to hear no Dancehall in the Carnival, only Soca”—Yankey Boy captioned it, “If you do not believe in sacrifice and manifestation, something wrong with you. The Universe has spoken.”

Originally set for February 28, the event has now been pushed to May, with organizers citing “unforeseen logistical challenges.”

In a statement shared on Instagram over the weekend (February 8), One Caribbean Music Festival explained that the packed lineup of events at Queen’s Park Oval during Carnival week made it difficult to deliver the best experience. They also noted that other major venues were unavailable for the 2025 Carnival season.

“Rather than compromising the quality of the event, it has been moved to May to maintain the vibrant, immersive festival atmosphere you expect and deserve,” the release stated.