To commemorate the 100th anniversary of vocal calypso recordings, Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation (Tuco) has published a commemorative magazine. Titled Kaiso Magazine–Celebrating the Calypso Tent, and costing $75, the glossy, 98-page publication is chock-full of historical, current and topical chapters.
Opened with coloured portraits of President Anthony Carmona, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Arts and Multiculturalism Minister Dr Lincoln Douglas, and forewords by editor Luke Benai and Tuco president Lutalo Masimba (Brother Resistance), the magazine was co-ordinated by calypsonian Wayne "Kassman" McDonald.
Its editorial team includes writers Luke Benai, Kymie Lowyu, Sharon Spence and Gomer Pyle, and photography by Darren Rampersad.
Opening its editorial content with the chapter on the genesis of the calypso tent, the magazine climaxes with We Remember, an obituary on stalwarts in the calypso fraternity who passed in recent years, including Syl Dopson, George Ng Wai, Calypso Princess, Michael Als, Teddy Belgrave and John "Jus' Come" Walcott.
The magazine features just about every individual who either sings calypso, plays calypso music or supports the art form, including recording pioneer George K Cheney, the late Railway Douglas, Caresser, Atilla the Hun, Roaring Lion, Executor, Lord Beginner, King Radio, Invaders, Duke of Iron, Houdini, Mighty Spoiler and Kitchener.
There are also chapters devoted to Sparrow and Penguin and more recent generations of calypsonians, like Roderick "Chucky" Gordon, Pink Panther, Trinidad Rio, sisters Dianne and Shirlaine Hendrickson, Michael "Mr Nature" John, Joanne Foster, Marq Pierre, Ronnie Mc Intosh, Destra, Bunji Garlin, Fay-Ann Lyons, Blaxx and Stephen Marcelle. Entire chapters are also dedicated to Chutney Soca Monarch Raymond Ramnarine and Ella Andall.
Other must-read chapters include one on The Prophet of Sisyphus (President Carmona), formerly a member of the CDC calypso tent cast, and a past semi-finalist in the National Calypso Monarch competition. All of the major calypso tents have also been given individual chapters.
For any bona fide calypso connoisseur Kaiso Magazine–Celebrating the Calypso Tent is a must-have collector's item.