Did you know all these famous people were from the islands of Trinidad and Tobago?
1. Alfonso Ribeiro
You probably know him as the quirky character Carlton from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, but did you know that both of his parents hail from Trinidad and Tobago? His grandfather is even the late famous calypso singer and composer Rafael de Leon, aka Roaring Lion.
2. Nicki Minaj
Born Onika Manaj, this top rapper is one of the few on this list who was actually born in Trinidad, Saint James to be specific. She has used her career to show love to Trinidad, performing there, featuring the island in her MTV special, “My Time Now,” and even filming her most recent video there, “Pound the Alarm.”
3. Nia Long
The actress has stated many times that her mother is from the island of Trinidad, and recently was spotted on the island snapping photos in Port-of-Spain and visiting extended family. As she told The Trinidad Express, “We enjoyed lots of real coconut ice cream every evening from St James, and of course I love curry, so I had rotis every day!”
4. Mike Bibby
This point guard for the New York Knicks was born to an African American father and a mother from Trinidad and Tobago.
5. Romany Malco
This actor caught the public’s attention in movies such as “The 40 Yeard Old Virgin” and “Think Like a Man,” but a majority of people probably don’t realize this Brooklyn native was born to two Trinidadian parents.
6. Lorraine Toussaint
Born in Trinidad, this actress moved to New York with her family at the age of 10. Since coming to America, she has made a name for herself as an actress, studying drama at The Juliard School and landing roles in popular T.V. shows such as “Saving Grace,” “The Young and the Restless,” and “Orange is the New Black.”
7. Jackee Harry
She has been making a name for herself since her first T.V. role on the show “Another World” in the early 80s. While her father is African American, her mother comes straight from Trinidad.
8. Heather Headley
This singer and Tony-award winning actress was born and raised in Trinidad, where she lived until she moved to Indiana as a teen. Before then, she was said to be inspired by the calypso and soca music of her land. “Trinidad is where I learned to sing and to appreciate music. One of the beautiful things about home is that there’s so much music.” She has returned to Trinidad to perform, and is considered a huge star in Trinidad.
~ By Allie Williams, a recent graduate of the University of Georgia. Allie explores her passion for food, travel, and learning about different cultures though her internship with Go Eat Give.
On July 19, Go Eat Give is hosting Destination Trinidad at Tassa Roti Shop in metro Atlanta, where the public can witness live music, speakers and an authentic Trinidad buffet.
