Eleven-year-old Janaya Clark is this year’s National Junior Calypso Monarch winner. She lifted the title following a spirited performance of her song, Role Models, at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain, yesterday.
In the song, the home-schooled student called on leaders to set better examples for young people.
“So where are our leaders today, when the young ones looking for a role model, who could tell meh how to walk, when I see you walking crooked and looking shady, you want to tell me how to talk when I say in parliament you go cuss somebody,” she sang.
Her performance, in position number 13, was enough to secure the $25,000 prize. Last week, the young performer, who is no stranger to the big stage, also copped the San Fernando Junior Calypso Monarch title.
Yesterday, however, she admitted she was nervous and unsure she would deny the other contenders of the title.
“Before performing, I was nervous but on stage everything was good...No (I didn’t think I could win) because anything could happen,” she said afterwards.
Asked who is her role model, Janaya said it’s God. But she was not the only student at the Queen’s Park Savannah (QPS) who had a message for adults.
Second place and $20,000 went to Caylan Allen, of Holy Name Convent (Port-of-Spain), who sang Man-Men Are Needed.
She sang, “Some family bonds are severed by a man who has disappear, see we don’t live here alone, our fathers are not at home, but those houses continue on, the anger and bitterness that house don’t have no room for it but with no father to keep them warm they can burn the whole village down...we running mad or running dead when houses run without a head.”
Khalea Ramsey, of Bishop’s High School, Tobago, was third with her rendition of Who Am I and fourth place went to Queen’s Royal College student Kacique Wilson, with his song Identity. Ramsey won $15,000 while Wilson won $10,000 for their efforts. Those who placed fifth to 16th each took home $5,000.
Also getting the crowd to sing along to his advice was Cael Pyke, who attends the Athenian Presecondary School, with Bad Example.
Last year’s monarch, Xhaiden Darius, of Savonetta Primary School, placed ninth with his song Instrument of Change, while last year’s second-place finisher Koquice Davidson finished 14th with Put Your Self Back in Place.
Zacary Ransome placed tenth with Listening.
Four-time national Junior Calypso Monarch Aaron Duncan performed his 2026 soca Nah Leaving for the students. He, along with other former monarchs such as Kizzie Ruiz and Karene Asche, were the emcees for the competition.
