The 15th annual Emancipation Calypso & Extempo Competition will be held on July 29, at the SWWTU auditorium, Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain. The event is being held by the National Action Cultural Committee (NACC), in association with First Citizens and the National Youth Action Committee (NYAC).The competition starts at 8.30 pm, and the age categories are five-18 years and 19-32 years for the calypso segment, while the extempo competition is open to all ages. Auditions are scheduled for July 16.The annual competition was first held in 1995, and serves to empower youth for the future, through knowing their past.Back then the lack of material written on Emancipation had become quite obvious, prompting the NACC to host the first competition of its kind in T&T.
This event has encouraged the continuous production of calypso compositions that highlight the wide range of issues related to Emancipation, and the historical experiences of our people in their search for lasting freedom.Significantly, the first winning calypso, One Billion Shall Rise, sung by Sheldon Reid, went on to become the theme song for the Internationalisation of Emancipation Day movement.The research undertaken by contestants in each competition has successfully increased the national repertoire of calypsos with Emancipation as their theme.This year's competition coincides with the General Assembly of the United Nations' declaration that 2011 is the International Year for people of African Descent (IYPAD).
For further information contact NACC and NYAC Offices at 40 Duke St. Port of Spain, call 623-5470 or e-mail: ACCcommunications@gmail.com.