Taking Cues from T&T Calypso

Time to Take Cues from Calypso

By William Doyle-Marshall

Where do we go from here? This is a question nationals of Trinidad and Tobago and their colleagues in the Caricom region should be asking themselves. Calypsonians who represent the newspaper of the poor people in the country have spoken loud and affirmatively during the season that has just come to a close as a prominent section of the Carnival festival. The world now knows that Devon Seal emerged as the Monarch, a title he deserves. But we should not take for granted that the other performers did not contribute immensely. Even some who did not make it into the finals.

  Politics ruled supreme, as it relates to the government of Kamla Persaud-Bissessar (the People’s Partnership) which was summarily removed from office last September and replaced with the People’s National Movement. The world was reminded by the Calypso Monarch that the then Prime Minister turned her back on her words “the voice of the people is the voice of God”. Having lost the election and found herself in opposition she and her peers criticized the Election and Boundaries Commission and obtained permission to file a suit in court. The feeling is, her party has been tried and convicted in the court of public opinion. The most decent action for her to take now is withdraw their action now before the courts of Trinidad and Tobago.

   Amidst the plethora of compositions lamenting rising crime in the country, domestic violence, allegations of corruption, and more, Kurt Allen, a popular calypsonian who has titles of Young King and Calypso Monarch to his name (the last Bad John) presented to music lovers his “Pot of Gold” in which he sees a rainbow. “Some dark clouds, the crime rate will soar, kidnapping and more bodies on the floor, gang war implode at we door, contempt for the law, Oh God, no one is secure,” he enumerates.

   Allen contends that poverty will rise, full disguise, political lies; rich despise, the poor man cries but he sees a rainbow and at the end he sees Trinidad and Tobago – that trinity, this little pot of mine – you and me, Ah singing from my soul, my pot of gold, I singing for the whole wide world.”

   Some people may not be aware that nationals who reside in the Diaspora are referred to their brothers and sisters at home as (RR: returning residents). In the past Lord Nelson lamented that they were calling him “foreigner”. But this year Joanne Rowley (Tigress) stepped boldly into the arena and reminded her critics that they are no more Trini than she and the others who have taken that important step to better themselves, their children and the country of their birth – Trinidad and Tobago. The judges did not see fit to include her among the finalists but at the Calypso Fiesta – semi finals her performance made that very important mark.

   She danced onstage for the semi-final segment of the competition accompanied by flag bearers representing foreign countries where nationals of Trinidad and Tobago are domiciled. Then she did her roll call for England, Canada, America, Denmark and Germany. She reminded the gathering that those at home have a way of calling Trinis who migrate to those foreign countries to make a living “sell out” and they even refer to them as “get the hell out Trini”.

A Toronto gathering for the launch of our festival at Nathan Phillip Square

Macomere Fifi, one who is promoting T&T in the ice....

They even question she sang, “how you could leave the fire and wine and jam to go and freeze in the ice with Uncle Sam just to be a scholar or  to run down U.S. dollar”.  But the energetic performer responded eloquently “who does fly the flag highest all over? We who live in the ice.

  “Who create Labour Day and Caribana? She enquires. And the answer: “We who live in the ice. Who does eat crab and callaloo in the snow? We who live in the ice. Who more Trini than me? I want to know.”

    For those who are still enquiring, Tiger has real, solid advice “I could come from the fire and still exist in the ice. When they have desire they doesn’t think twice to make a call from the fire and request thing in the ice. Don’t mind in the fire is corruption like mad and customer service is so bad. Don’t mind in the ice it could get so lonely and cold.”

  Winston Peters (Gypsy) who served as Minister of Culture in the previous government, offered the season a soul searching composition titled “Too Many” in which he lamented seeing Black youths in the country not where they are supposed to be. Parents’ insensibilities cause the youths potentials to fail into obscurity, he charges. He questions why is it that after bringing a child into this world, how can we leave them to be raised by remote control. Peters acknowledges there are good parents but he is troubled that soon after some babies are born, “mammy don’t know where daddy gone or mammy just disappear, with no one to care for them.” They desert the poor little heart. That is where Black people problem start,” Gypsy pronounces.

During his performance at Skinner Park pettiness emerged as the toilet paper brigade waving toilet paper at him but danced along. In the past the waving of toilet paper at a singer signaled that his or her composition was missing standards But to see these individuals waving toilet paper and dancing proved they were not serious. Being the extempo champion that he is, Gypsy did not let them get away. He countered with precision: “Too many Black children are going astray, I see too much toilet paper in here today. Ah telling you I can’t see where you coming from. You better save it when you go home give your children some. Because tomorrow when you finish you have no money and today you come here waving all that toilet paper at me; that is simply playing the fool. Your children need the money to go to school and that should be the way. You would be preventing more Black children from going astray.”

This past calypso/carnival season provided evidence that the social workers, business leaders, policy makers and politicians must begin paying serious attention to the commentaries of calypsonians. To continue ignoring their pronouncements would surely lead down to the road to disaster. People like Chalkdust, Mighty Duke, Mighty Sparrow, Penguin, Brother Mudada, Kitchener, Lord Shorty and many others have been carrying the baton for years and their compositions have been ignored. Yes we clap in the calypso tents and dance to their music in dance halls and at festivals but everything stops their. From this year’s crop of compositions, it is clear that things have to change.

   Being open-minded is the first step. Then review the compositions. Truthfully politicians are aware of the needs of the country. There is no time for discussion but pull people together and take serious action.