Beenie Man claims Jamaica predates Trinidad in Carnival origins

Dancehall artist Beenie Man has sparked debate regarding the origins of Caribbean Carnival after claiming during an interview with Shani Kulture on Hot 96 that Jamaica began the celebrations before Trinidad and Tobago.

Beenie Man credited the late Jamaican musician Byron Lee with pioneering the festivities approximately 60 years ago. While Lee is recognized for his significant contributions to Jamaican Carnival, historical records contradict the claim that Jamaica's tradition predates that of Trinidad.

The National Carnival Commission of Trinidad and Tobago traces its Carnival celebrations back to 1783, when French settlers established pre-Lenten festivities. Following the emancipation of enslaved Africans in the 1830s, these celebrations integrated African cultural expressions, such as Canboulay traditions, to form the modern institution.