Time for wise heads to save our calypso

Then premier Dr Eric Williams intervened when the Mighty Sparrow staged a boycott of the Calypso King competition during the late 1950s. At that time the first prize for the competition was $40 and a brass crown.

Williams intervened and the first prize was raised to $1,000. It was only then Sparrow called off his boycott.

Then when calypsonians voiced their disapproval concerning the lack of airplay for their music during the 1980s, then prime minister ANR Robinson took the lead in granting a radio station licence to the calypso organisation, TUCO (Trinbago Unified Calypsonians’ Organisation).

Now President Carmona, himself a competent “kaisonian”, has lamented the state of poverty endured by some calypsonians.

The reality is that at present there is an absence of anything which can really be called a calypso industry in TT.

Some high-profile soca artistes have been able to establish a performing circuit, nationally, regionally and internationally, while the majority of soca artistes continue to dream of the “big time”.

Also, only “one or two” calypsonians (Calypso Rose) can claim to “eat ah food” from calypso music outside of the Carnival season.

Back in the 1960s and 70s, calypsonians who did not win competition money could have depended on making a hit record and earning some dollars.

However, the calypso recording industry has collapsed because of piracy, new technology and even an absence of airplay.

Also, the calypso tents which were once the pride and joy of our nation are only being kept on life support by government subventions.

Most tent singers earn a three to four-week salary during the calypso season.

At present, the only way out for calypsonians to make a “good buck” is to win a big-money prize in a competition and there can only be a few winners. At the same time, most calypsonians remain in the “dreamland” of making a trip to the national semifinals at Skinner Park or the grand finals at the Queen’s Park Savannah on Carnival Sunday night. As Valentino sang, “next year is back to the ... tent.” As a nation we have all failed to establish calypso as a viable and sustainable industry as other nations of this hemisphere have done with their art forms. Hence, the reason for the despicable state some calypsonians find themselves in and without the annual Carnival subvention from the State, the situation will be more devastating.

The time is now for all the wise heads of calypso to brainstorm a way forward to save this glorious art form which our forebears left for us.

Let me give some kudos to the PNM for staging a calypso contest to highlight its 60th anniversary.

OPOKU WARE Scarborough