Тринидадская певица Rawytee Ramroop триумфально выступила на фестивале в Дурбане и готовится к гастролем в Новой Зеландии

GML Freelance Contributor For chutney artiste Rawytee Ramroop, the journey from a 12-year-old girl winning the Mastana Bahar competition to performing before thousands of music lovers in South Africa is a testament to the power of perseverance, passion and family inspiration. Fresh from a triumphant performance in Durban, South Africa, Ramroop is preparing to take her music to Auckland, New Zealand, in October. On August 9, she shared the stage with Trinidad and Tobago’s internationally recognised crossover band Dil-E-Nadan at the Chutney Fusion Festival, held at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium in Durban. More than 8,000 people turned out for the concert, where Ramroop delivered a high-energy performance that introduced her music to an enthusiastic South African audience. A musical journey begins For Ramroop, however, performing on an international stage is another chapter in a musical journey that began during her childhood. She credits her father with inspiring her to sing and said she started performing devotional songs at a tender age. “Since then it was no turning back for me,” Ramroop said. She recalled her breakthrough at age 12, when she entered the Mastana Bahar competition and emerged the winner. “That musical path opened many doors to me,” she said, explaining that she subsequently performed with different bands and at numerous events throughout Trinidad and Tobago. Over the years, those early opportunities have developed into an international career. Ramroop has performed in Guyana, Holland, Spain, Suriname, New York City, Canada and, most recently, South Africa. She also represented Trinidad and Tobago as a cultural ambassador at Carifesta in Barbados in 2025. Her achievements include winning the title of Queen of Chutney Soca at the Chutney Soca Monarch competition in 2024, further establishing her as one of the prominent female voices in the genre. Looking towards the future Despite the milestones, Ramroop said she remains focused on the future and the many goals she still wants to accomplish. “I’m so blessed to know that I can think back and look back and see how much I have achieved and where I am today, and so much more that I wish to do in the future also,” she said. Behind the artiste is a mother who says her son, Arvin, remains one of her greatest sources of inspiration. Ramroop said her son motivates her to work harder and strive to become a better version of herself. That determination was evident in Durban, where she was given the opportunity to perform alongside some of the biggest names in chutney and soca. Winning over South Africa Raymond Ramnarine, frontman of Dil-E-Nadan and known as the Music Boss, told Guardian Media that Ramroop’s performance exceeded expectations. Ramnarine, who was in Holland on tour, said this was his third consecutive year performing in South Africa with Dil-E-Nadan. “The fans here simply adore Dil-E-Nadan,” he said. According to Ramnarine, the band has made history by selling out stadiums and other major venues in South Africa for three consecutive years, with thousands turning out to experience its music. This year, he said, the band recommended Ramroop for the festival, and she seized the opportunity. “This year we recommended this amazing female singer, Rawytee Ramroop, and boy did she deliver,” Ramnarine said. He praised her performance of her hit Pari Karo, as well as her ability to maintain the energy of the concert with her chutney repertoire. Ramroop performed as part of a powerful cast that included Shivam Rajaram, Dil-E-Nadan and Ramnarine himself, alongside several leading local performers. A growing musical family For Ramnarine, the South African experience was about more than music. “We built a family bond on this trip and she has become part of us,” he said. He described Ramroop as “a gem of an artiste” and predicted that audiences could expect greater things from her in the future. The Chutney Fusion Festival at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium has also strengthened Dil-E-Nadan’s relationship with its South African following. Ramnarine said the 2026 concert was one the Durban audience would not soon forget. With fans already calling for the band to return in 2027, and Ramroop preparing for her next international engagement in New Zealand, the Trinidadian artiste’s musical journey appears to be entering another exciting phase.