By Lincoln DePradine

Trinidadian Darryl Henry has been making music for more than 30 years and is in high demand as a soca artiste.

Most of his fans do not know him as Darryl but as “Farmer Nappy”, the man who sang memorable hits like “Hookin’ Meh”, “Chippin’ With Meh Own Woman”, and “Big People Party”.

Next month, Farmer Nappy will be in Toronto to perform at JerkFest – the International Jerk Food and Music Festival hosted by the not-for-profit Caribbean Promotions Arts and Culture Inc.

“This performance is going to be groove music; music for the men to hug up their ladies and dance,” Farmer Nappy told The Caribbean Camera in an interview from Trinidad.

The three-day event, described as “a must-attend summer festival”, and sponsored by Toronto Dominion Bank, runs from Friday, August 9, to Sunday, August 11, at Centennial Park, 256 Centennial Park Road, Etobicoke.

Farmer Nappy, an award-winning singer, is the latest big-name Caribbean artiste to be booked to perform at TD JerkFest, an event that attracts an estimated 60,000 people each year.

Jamaican dancehall sensation Masicka will be the featured act on the opening night of the festival, August 9.

Farmer Nappy will be one of the headliners for show nights on Saturday and Sunday. He’ll share the stage with Marcia Griffiths, a reggae icon who was a member of “The I-Threes”, backup singers for Bob Markey and the Wailers.

Farmer Nappy told The Caribbean Camera that he’s concentrating on producing more groove music and looks forward to upcoming visits to Toronto and Vancouver, North Carolina, New York and Europe. He no longer focuses on competitions.

Trinidad’s 2025 pre-Lenten carnival culminates on March 4. Trinidadians will be enjoying music next year from Farmer Nappy, he promised.

Plummer said Caribbean Promotions Arts and Culture isn’t done with the final lineup of performers for next month’s TD JerkFest.

“We will be announcing the last headliner in the next couple of weeks, and attendees can look forward to an entertaining weekend of delicious cuisine, interactive chef demos, family fun, and performances from international and local artistes,” said Anthony Plummer, founder and executive director of Caribbean Promotions Arts and Culture.

A “food demonstration tent”, with well-known chefs Leon Rowe and Nicole King, “who will showcase their cooking skills and teach attendees how to make mouthwatering Caribbean recipes”, will be among the August 10 and 11 highlights of the festival, organizers have announced.