Blind singer Nyol Manswell is the new Star of Tomorrow. Manswell, a member of the Birdsong Academy and graduate of Berklee School of Music, USA, won the Stars of Tomorrow Calypso Monarch competition, hosted by the National Youth Action Committee (NYAC), on February 5, at the Learning Resource Centre, UWI, St Augustine.
Commenting yesterday on his victory, Manswell said: "I was a little shocked when the results were announced, as the competition was very tough. I thought my closest rivals would have been Helon and Amrika Mutroo."Manswell sang A Better World to win the title, edging out Bevon St Clair (Another Flambeau) and Helon Francis (Homeless Hero).Manswell, renowned as a jazz singer and balladeer, added that he is no stranger to singing calypso.
"I have sung calypsoes before with Raf Robertson and Birdsong, doing a lot of songs by the masters like Sparrow and Kitchener."This year, I am singing at the NJAC Generation Next calypso tent at CWU Hall, on Henry Street, Port-of-Spain. I have another song entitled Magic Pan Song. I want to go all the way to the Big Yard," he said.
Manswell, who turns 26 on May 14, is Tobago-born. From age 12 he lived in Trinidad and was a pupil at the School for the Blind in Santa Cruz. Manswell also attended Bourg Mulatresse RC School, where he wrote SEA, and passed for San Juan Secondary Comprehensive.He was regarded a child prodigy. It took Manswell three years to complete his GCE O-Level examinations. He was one of the first blind children in the Caribbean to write A-levels [CAPE] using a laptop.
For his efforts he also received a national award for being a young person who perseveres despite living with a disability.Under the mentorship of Raf Robertson, Manswell received a partial scholarship from Berklee in 2009.The other part of his funding came from the board of the Sports and Culture Fund in the Prime Minister's Office, which recognised him as an up and coming ambassador for T&T.On his return home, Manswell did his first major show on July 2-3, 2011, at Central Bank Auditorium, Port-of-Spain.
A Better World
Today this world that we live in
Down is up and up is down
Every Jack for himself and money rules this town
Capitalism take over
The rich get rich and the poor poorer
A cliche, yes, it's true but that just means more pressure
But I have a dream like the king
For a better future for the children
So I starting from now to sing
And hope that someone out there is listening
In a better world bullets ain't go pelt like rain
Black boys ain't go drop like flies
Mothers ain't go cry again
In a better world young girls ain't go sell deyself
Starving children will get fed and politicians know to help
I present one crazy idea that we use the dollar to show how we care
Human goodness will unfold in a better world.
Placings and selections
1. Nyol Manswell � A Better World
2. Bevon St Clair � Another Flambeau
3. Helon Francis � Homeless Hero
4. Shradah Mc Intyre � Dey Doh Know
5. Amrika Mutroo � Doh Judge Me
6. Sergio Francisco � Peace
7. Ezekiel Yorke � Character
8. Philman � Seeing It Clearly
9. Kyle Cowie � My Will Be Done
10. Vornique Benjamin � Ah Putting Mih Foot Down