Part 1 of 4
Nasser Khan
At our nation’s recent 2018 Republic Day Awards ceremony the following calypsonians (sobriquets only showed) were recognised for their contribution to nation-building through the calypso artform: Explainer, Ella Andall, Explainer, Funny, and Composer.
Over the years, since 1969, when national awards were first introduced, many calypsonians have received such awards: Sparrow, Kitchener, Duke, Attila the Hun, Pretender, Calypso Rose, Chalkdust, Roaring Lion, Terror, Stalin, Winsford De Vine/composer, Melody, Brother Resistance, David Rudder, Shadow, Denyse Plummer, Valentino, Composer, Superior, All Rounder, Nelson, Bunji Garlin.
T&T is the "Land of Calypso", the month of October officially being declared "Calypso History Month" in 2002. We have heard the often-used statement, "By calypso our stories are told." Calypsoes, through their poetic lyrics and rhythms, capture a lot of our history by telling our stories in song, like no history book can. This special month focuses on exhibiting and educating the public through a full calendar of events (see Tuco's Facebook page). Courtesy First Citizens this series will focus on some of the calypsoes that have documented significant events in our history.
According to The Mighty Duke, calypso is an ‘editorial in song’ while The Lord Beginner said ‘when I sing about a cricket match, you didn’t have to read the newspapers again’. Of course, the latter is famous for his immortal 1950 calypso “Victory Test Match” (also known as Cricket Lovely Cricket) which heralded our regional team’s historic victory over England at Lord’s.
Here are a few ‘story telling’ calypsoes:
1933: Graf Zeppelin, Attila the Hun. About the day when the legendary airship, the Graf Zeppelin, flew over Trinidad.
One Sunday morning I chanced to hear
A rumbling and a tumbling in the atmosphere
I ran to stare, people were flocking everywhere
Gesticulating and gazing and pointing in the air
It was the Graf Zeppelin which had come to pay a visit to Trinidad...
1950: Victory Test Match (Cricket Lovely Cricket), Lord Beginner. West Indies defeat England at Lord's cricket ground.
Cricket lovely Cricket
At Lord's where I saw it
Yardley tried his best
But Goddard won the test
They gave the crowd plenty fun
Second Test and West Indies won
Chorus:
With those two little pals of mine
Ramadhin and Valentine...
1962: Federation, Mighty Sparrow. Criticism of Jamaica for the failure of attempts at Caribbean integration/federation.
People want to know why Jamaica run from the Federation
Well, they want to know why Jamaica run away from the Federation
Jamaica have a right to speak she mind, that is my opinion
And if you believe in democracy, you'll agree with me...
1985: Visit of His Holiness Pope John II, Roaring Lion.
The visit of His Holiness will ever be
Indelibly written in our memory
For His visit will most certainly
Herald a new epoch in our history
So flash the news around, by telegram and radio
He has visited, the Land of Calypso
Let it be known, we're proud and glad
To welcome Pope John to Trinidad…
This series is courtesy First Citizens
Nasser Khan has authored “Heroes, Pioneers & Role Models of Trinidad & Tobago”, available as a free download at http://www.safaripublications.com/firstcitizenstt/heroesprofilestt/. In it are featured our pioneering calypsonians in the chapter Culture and the Arts. He also authored “History of West Indies Cricket through Calypsoes”…documenting the lyrics of over 200 cricket-themed calypsoes from 1926 onwards. He has also written many newspaper and magazine articles on calypso, mas, and steelpan.
Email nkhantt@gmail.com