Calypsonian
Encyclopedia
A calypsonian originally known as the chantwell is a musician
, from the Anglophone Caribbean, who sings songs called calypso
. Calypsos are musical renditions having their origins in the West African griot
tradition. Originally called "Kaiso" in Trinidad
, these songs, based on West African Yoruba
, Ewe-Fon and Akan musical beats, were sung by slaves and later ex-slaves in Trinidad and Tobago
during recreation time and about a host of topics including their land of origin, social relationships on the plantations and the lives of community members including plantation managers, overseers and owners.
which resulted in the adoption of French Creole
as the language of Kaiso.
, in an effort to Anglicise the island which resulted in a decline in the use of French Creole in the songs so that by the 1930s English Creole became the language of Trinidad Calypso.
Despite the changeover, many words and expressions survived in Trinidad Creole and as a result also survived in its Calypsoes including terms such as "Santimanite" from the original "Sans Humanite" among others.
Trinidad became the mecca of calypso in part because it was the most prosperous territory in the region and consequently many migrants headed to the island during the 20th century including performers. As a direct result Trinidad became known as the land of Calypso.
Traditionalist see calypso as social commentary because in earlier years it served the purpose of telling stories, relaying news events and giving criticisms of persons and policy.
Calypso was therefore divided into two classes, the social commentaries which had songs based around politics and community issues and the humorous calypso which told stories of events, real or imagined, with the intent of making the audience laugh.
The latter form was supplemented by the "Extempo" which was a singing competition between two competitors. In classic
extempo, competitors were pitted against each other hurling insults in verse about each competitors appearance, singing abilities or personal situations.
Extempo and Calypso Monarch competitions are held during Carnival time in Trinidad
. The Extempo competitions have developed where competitors choose a topic from a container and were given a designated period of time to compose an agreed number of verses to be sung. Each performer sang one verse and then his competitor was allowed to reply either to the verse sung or to sing about his competitor.
Verses about competitors could range from insults about their attire to physical deformities and form part of what Trinidadians term "pekong" where someone is allowed to insult another for fun.
The major difference between a calypsonian and a calypso singer is that a true calypsonian writes his/her own material, and sings topical music that reflects the reality of the community, an example being Atilla the Hun, whereas a calypso singer will tend to sing standards, like, for example, Ritchie Delamore.
Calypsonians traditionally use sobriquets based on the ideas they wish to convey of based on childhood or community based "nick-names" including some such as the Mighty Sparrow
of Trinidad, Short Shirt of Antigua and Ras Irie of Barbados.
"Lord Melody
" for example wished to convey the idea that he was the lord of melodious singing while "King Obstinate" of Antigua gained his name as a young man in his home village of Greenbay
where people declared his attitude to be "obstinate" indicating he was mule headed.
The political calypsonian Sugar Aloes
of Trinidad uses two almost opposite ideas to convey his character. The name indicates that while his singing, and perhaps himself, is sweet, his calypsoes are so scathing that they are bitter for those about whom he sings.
Leading calypsonians of the 20th century include Lord Kitchener
, Roaring Lion
, Lord Invader
, Mighty Sparrow
, The Arrow
and Lord Melody
.
Some calypsonians both compose and sing their calypsoes while many calypsonians in more recent decades have turned to professional composers, some being fellow calypsonians, for songs which they in turn sing.
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, from the Anglophone Caribbean, who sings songs called calypso
Calypso music
Calypso is a style of Afro-Caribbean music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago from African and European roots. The roots of the genre lay in the arrival of enslaved Africans, who, not being allowed to speak with each other, communicated through song...
. Calypsos are musical renditions having their origins in the West African griot
Griot
A griot or jeli is a West African storyteller. The griot delivers history as a poet, praise singer, and wandering musician. The griot is a repository of oral tradition. As such, they are sometimes also called bards...
tradition. Originally called "Kaiso" in Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
, these songs, based on West African Yoruba
Yoruba music
The music of the Yoruba people of Nigeria is best known for an extremely advanced drumming tradition, especially using the dundun hourglass tension drums. Yoruba folk music became perhaps the most prominent kind of West African music in Afro-Latin and Caribbean musical styles...
, Ewe-Fon and Akan musical beats, were sung by slaves and later ex-slaves in Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
during recreation time and about a host of topics including their land of origin, social relationships on the plantations and the lives of community members including plantation managers, overseers and owners.
Origin
In Trinidad, the songs seem to have been religious songs brought with the enslaved from their African homelands which were inevitably adjusted for their new circumstances and location. The songs evolved further as Trinidad gained a significant number of free and enslaved blacks from neighbouring GrenadaGrenada
Grenada is an island country and Commonwealth Realm consisting of the island of Grenada and six smaller islands at the southern end of the Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea...
which resulted in the adoption of French Creole
French-based creole languages
A French Creole, or French-based Creole language, is a creole language based on the French language, more specifically on a 17th century koiné French extant in Paris, the French Atlantic harbors, and the nascent French colonies...
as the language of Kaiso.
Historical
By the late 19th century the British began large scale immigration projects, mainly from BarbadosBarbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
, in an effort to Anglicise the island which resulted in a decline in the use of French Creole in the songs so that by the 1930s English Creole became the language of Trinidad Calypso.
Despite the changeover, many words and expressions survived in Trinidad Creole and as a result also survived in its Calypsoes including terms such as "Santimanite" from the original "Sans Humanite" among others.
Trinidad became the mecca of calypso in part because it was the most prosperous territory in the region and consequently many migrants headed to the island during the 20th century including performers. As a direct result Trinidad became known as the land of Calypso.
Traditionalist see calypso as social commentary because in earlier years it served the purpose of telling stories, relaying news events and giving criticisms of persons and policy.
Calypso was therefore divided into two classes, the social commentaries which had songs based around politics and community issues and the humorous calypso which told stories of events, real or imagined, with the intent of making the audience laugh.
The latter form was supplemented by the "Extempo" which was a singing competition between two competitors. In classic
Classic
The word classic means something that is a perfect example of a particular style, something of lasting worth or with a timeless quality. The word can be an adjective or a noun . It denotes a particular quality in art, architecture, literature and other cultural artifacts...
extempo, competitors were pitted against each other hurling insults in verse about each competitors appearance, singing abilities or personal situations.
Extempo and Calypso Monarch competitions are held during Carnival time in Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
. The Extempo competitions have developed where competitors choose a topic from a container and were given a designated period of time to compose an agreed number of verses to be sung. Each performer sang one verse and then his competitor was allowed to reply either to the verse sung or to sing about his competitor.
Verses about competitors could range from insults about their attire to physical deformities and form part of what Trinidadians term "pekong" where someone is allowed to insult another for fun.
The major difference between a calypsonian and a calypso singer is that a true calypsonian writes his/her own material, and sings topical music that reflects the reality of the community, an example being Atilla the Hun, whereas a calypso singer will tend to sing standards, like, for example, Ritchie Delamore.
Calypsonians traditionally use sobriquets based on the ideas they wish to convey of based on childhood or community based "nick-names" including some such as the Mighty Sparrow
Mighty Sparrow
Mighty Sparrow or Birdie is a calypso singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Known as the "Calypso King of the World," he is one of the most well-known and successful calypsonians...
of Trinidad, Short Shirt of Antigua and Ras Irie of Barbados.
"Lord Melody
Lord Melody
Lord Melody was a popular calypsonian, best known for singles such as the self-deprecating "Boo Boo Man", "Shame & Scandal", "Jonah and the Bake", "Juanita" and "Rastaman Be Careful"...
" for example wished to convey the idea that he was the lord of melodious singing while "King Obstinate" of Antigua gained his name as a young man in his home village of Greenbay
Greenbay
Greenbay is a village in Antigua known especially as the birthplace of the calypsonian King Obstinate....
where people declared his attitude to be "obstinate" indicating he was mule headed.
The political calypsonian Sugar Aloes
Sugar Aloes
Sugar Aloes aka Michael Anthony Osuana is a prominent Calypsonian hailing from Trinidad and Tobago. Singing local hits such as "Party Time" and parang favorite "Juanita" Aloes has amassed a fan base of at least three generations of Trinidadians and calypso lovers region-wide...
of Trinidad uses two almost opposite ideas to convey his character. The name indicates that while his singing, and perhaps himself, is sweet, his calypsoes are so scathing that they are bitter for those about whom he sings.
Leading calypsonians of the 20th century include Lord Kitchener
Lord Kitchener (calypsonian)
Aldwyn Roberts , better known by the stage name Lord Kitchener , was one of the most internationally famous calypsonians. He was the son of a blacksmith, Stephen, and homemaker, Albertha.-Life:...
, Roaring Lion
Roaring Lion
Roaring Lion was a calypsonian...
, Lord Invader
Lord Invader
Lord Invader was a prominent calypsonian with a very distinctive, gravelly voice....
, Mighty Sparrow
Mighty Sparrow
Mighty Sparrow or Birdie is a calypso singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Known as the "Calypso King of the World," he is one of the most well-known and successful calypsonians...
, The Arrow
The Arrow
The Arrow is a four-hour miniseries produced for CBC Television in 1996, starring Dan Aykroyd as Crawford Gordon, experienced wartime production leader during World War II and president of A. V. Roe Canada during its attempt to produce the Avro Arrow supersonic jet interceptor. The film also stars...
and Lord Melody
Lord Melody
Lord Melody was a popular calypsonian, best known for singles such as the self-deprecating "Boo Boo Man", "Shame & Scandal", "Jonah and the Bake", "Juanita" and "Rastaman Be Careful"...
.
Some calypsonians both compose and sing their calypsoes while many calypsonians in more recent decades have turned to professional composers, some being fellow calypsonians, for songs which they in turn sing.
Further reading
- Hollis Liverpool, Rituals of Power & Rebellion: The Carnival Tradition in Trinidad & Tobago 1763–1962. Frontline Distribution International, 2001.
- M. Warner-Lewis, Guinea's Other Suns: The African Dynamic in Trinidad Culture. Majority Press, 1991.
- M. Warner-Lewis, Central Africa in the Caribbean: Transcending Space, Transforming Culture, 2002.