July 29, 2025 – Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago — Trinbagonian soca sensation Vanessa ‘Nessa Preppy’ John made history on July 26 2025, as the first soca artiste to perform at Festival Latindandes in Brasília. Delivering a high-powered performance at Festival Latidandes 2025, Nessa left the audience mesmerized and dancing from start to finish.
Held annually in Brazil’s capital city, the Festival Latinidades is the largest Black women’s festival in Latin America, focused on Black women’s art and culture. This year’s event attracted approximately 8,000 patrons, with Nessa’s participation marking a cultural milestone and deepening diasporic ties between the Caribbean and Latin America. As Nessa recalls her first performance in Brasilia, she shares, “The crowd showed so much love, and I felt proud to share a piece of home with the people of Brasília.” She added, “Performing at Festival Latinidades was pure magic and I am thankful to the organizers for believing in my talent so much to include me,” said Nessa.
Jaqueline Fernandes, General Director of Festival Latidandes, emphasized the historic and cultural importance of including an Afro-Caribbean performer for the first time: “Latinidades is a space of connection between Black diasporas around the world, and the presence of an Afro-Caribbean performer represents exactly that: the celebration of the diversity of global Black culture. Soca is a powerful rhythm, full of history, ancestry, and joy. Including an artist like Nessa Preppy recognizes the centrality of the Caribbean in the formation of Black culture in the Americas and strengthens important cultural and political ties for the Afrolatinas Institute.” Fernandes also describes the energy of Nessa’s performance as “electrifying, exciting, and unforgettable.”Additionally, she shares that “Nessa Preppy’s performance touched the hearts of the audience and got even those who had never heard Soca before dancing. We’re incredibly happy with the decision to bring her to Brazil for the first time. We hope this is the first of many!”
For Nessa, this visit to Brazil reinforces her commitment to sharing the music and culture of Trinidad and Tobago with the world. The experience at Festival Latinidades is a reminder to Nessa that “There is a space for Soca music globally and there are people in every part of the world who are open and willing to experience our music and vibe.”
During her visit to Brasilia, Nessa and her team, which consisted of Artiste representative and Publicist Adanna Asson and Disc Jockey Shakeil “Chucky Rayban” Joseph, paid a courtesy visit to the Embassy of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in Brazil. The team at the embassy, which comprised Counsellor Charlene Lashley-Caruth attended the festival to support Nessa.
Recent Comments