Top things to know
- Hundreds gathered at NAPA on Wednesday as The Mighty Sparrow lay in repose.
- President Christine Kangaloo and First Gentleman Kerwyn Garcia SC paid respects.
- Diplomats including Canadian High Commissioner Michael Callan visited NAPA.
- The State-assisted funeral is scheduled for Friday, October 16, 2026.
Hundreds of mourners gathered at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) on Wednesday to bid farewell to calypso legend The Mighty Sparrow, as stories of his impact on Trinidad and Tobago's culture echoed throughout the venue. From as early as 10am, a steady stream of admirers passed through the halls where the body of the Calypso King lay in repose ahead of his State-assisted funeral on Friday.President Christine Kangaloo and First Gentleman Kerwyn Garcia SC visited NAPA on Wednesday afternoon, joining family members to pay their respects. Members of the diplomatic corps also came out, including Canadian High Commissioner Michael Callan, who said Sparrow's music influenced many beyond Trinidad and Tobago's shores. Educator and author Yvonne Bobb-Smith said, "He's the greatest of our culture, brothers and sisters." The State-assisted Funeral and National Farewell for Slinger Francisco, The Mighty Sparrow, is scheduled for Friday, October 16th, 2026.