10/13/2026
With Miami Carnival freshly complete, we looked for insider insight on the inevitable discussion that follows large Caribbean diaspora events - do they compete with festivals on actual Caribbean soil, lower the tourism numbers by providing an experience without any travel, and ultimately sn**ch dollars from the economies of the home countries they claim to honour?
C15 is intent on growing the Caribbean economy, so we believe this is worth examining on an ongoing basis, and from different angles. So today we turned to Kerra Denel, Entertainment Manager for GenX Carnival / GenXS Jamaica, which has fast become a staple brand in multiple diaspora communities when it comes to carnival-style experiences. Here is how she responded:
“For us, operating outside of the Caribbean is about extending the reach of a culture that has its roots and its heartbeat in the region.
Caribbean culture has always travelled with its people, and Carnival experiences throughout the diaspora give us an opportunity to showcase our music, mas, artists, food, creativity and traditions to wider audiences while keeping Caribbean people abroad connected to home.
We believe that exposure ultimately creates greater interest in the Caribbean itself. Someone who experiences Carnival culture abroad may be inspired to visit the region, experience Carnival at its source, explore our islands, stream Caribbean music, support Caribbean artists, designers and brands, and develop a deeper appreciation for everything the region has to offer.
There is also a responsibility that comes with benefiting from Caribbean culture. As operators, we should be intentional about ensuring that the people and communities behind the culture benefit as well through employment, partnerships, artist bookings, purchasing, promotion and opportunities that keep value circulating within the wider Caribbean community.
We see what happens in the diaspora as an extension of what begins in the Caribbean. Every authentic opportunity to share the culture with the world can create another connection to the region, another supporter of Caribbean creativity, and potentially another visitor wanting to experience the Caribbean for themselves.
Ultimately, our goal is not simply to take Caribbean culture to the world, but to use that global platform to continuously celebrate, support and point people back to where it all begins, the Caribbean.”
Denel sounds clear in intention, and the GenX brand has potential to grow even more. The benefits she outlines would therefore grow too. So now let’s hear it from YOU, how does it bear out from where you sit? What would you say she and GenX overall can do to realistically strengthen their symbiotic relationship with Caribbean culture?
— Amplifying Caribbean voices for the world.
