Despite several government restrictions on Carnival celebrations this year, ‘TGIC’ (Thank God It’s Carnival), Nailah Blackman’s 7th instalment of Sokah Origins was a spectacular experience. Held at Soundforge on Sunday, January 4, 2026, the show was divided into fantastic segments to celebrate Soca’s rising stars and veterans alike.

DJ Travis World helped set the tone with a medley of Soca hits that energized and prepared the crowd before the host and entertainer, Itz Rome, kicked off the first segment with his signature charm and dynamism before introducing the acts.

The first song, Kibwee’s “Hold Meh Cup”, inspired the audience to groove along with its infectious melody. Carnival Rap Up progenitor Chromatics sent the crowd into hysterics with his animated rendition of “Smart Man”. Other energising acts included Radio Announcer turned Artiste Fro Hummer with “Bumper Lore” and performances by “The Sweetheart of Soca” It’s Rae, Guyana’s Soca Artist of the Year Maya Hall, and Ohxone and Juby with their offering “Fete List.

Two-time National Junior Soca Monarch winner Aaron Duncan astonished the crowd with his towering personality, and his 2026 soca offering “Birthplace” showed his development into a full-fledged Soca star.

The second segment commenced after an interlude by Reecie T and Whitney Husbands. Husbands weaponized her stage presence and skill in broadcasting to maintain the vibe and keep the crowd in a tight state of anticipation for the ensuing acts.

Tevin Hartman captured the crowd with the ‘vibesy’ “Rock With Me”, showing his stagemanship. Christo sated the audience with the Candy sweet “Chillibibi” before inviting Dev on for his upbeat offering, sung with a calypso cadence, “Duck the Wuk” which excited the crowd with its tempo and relatable lyrics. Rome performed an unreleased song that he has with Nessa Preppy. Full Blown’s “Respectfully Yours” seemed to be a crowd favourite.

The highlight of the night, however, was the Soca Princess herself, Nailah Blackman, who began the third segment with her characteristic pomp and fanfare as she entered the stage accompanied by a storm of dancers and snatched the attention of the entire venue, performing “Origins”, which hails the musical lineage she heralds from. Ever the consummate performer, her skill was on full display, and her vocals were distinct despite the physical rigour of her dance routine.She continued with some of her popular songs: “Wave,” “Jam Of The Year,” “Games,” “Sokah,” and “More Sokah” deftly escalating and reigning in her energy to match the tone and tempo of the music. Similarly, she displayed her physical technique effortlessly, falling in with her dancers for coordinated gestures before bursting out onto centre-stage and commanding the spotlight.

Nailah gave way to other Soca acts such as Sekon Sta, who invited media personality and local comedian Certified Sampson to perform their song “Euphoria” together as the crowd exploded in glee before experiencing the likes of Erphaan Alves, Freetown Collective, Young Bredda, and Coutain. Freetown Collective serenaded the audience with nostalgic rhythms and renditions of “Kaya” and “Take Me Home”. Young Bredda showed off his song-making skill with his 2026 offering “Inch by Inch”, while Coutain portrayed his liquid smooth vocals with “Wedding Band (Ms. Walker).”

In her second act, Nailah reemerged in a sexy leather bikini-like outfit and performed songs from her repertoire like “Feels Like Love,” Baila Mami,” and “Sweet and Loco” before drifting in and out of the spotlight to share the stage with collaborators like the Soca giant Patrice Roberts for their song “Bad Gyal” and her collaboration with Lyrikal, “Best Self” amid the artistes own hits. She also made space for electrifying performances for acts like Muddy with “Payroll” and Lil Kerry’s “Bury All” before coming out to close the show with “Origins”.

Given the seriousness of the new restrictions, the latter portion of the show was a tad rushed in order to finish within the assigned timeframe. Still, with the abundance of musical acts and Nailah’s consistently masterful performance, Sokah Origins TGIC was a delightful audience experience.