‘Calypso music is God music’ ...but not enough credit given to it –Massimba

Lamenting that not enough credit has been given to calypso music, Massimba said: “During CMH we are trying to find ways for citizens to appreciate this powerful and spiritual music” On the CHM theme: “Kaiso...

the Mother Music”, Massimba engaged and educated students present at the launch about the derivatives of calypso.

He said from Mother Calypso came soca, parang soca, chutney soca, ragga soca, rapso, gospelypso, zouk, cadence and Caribbean pop.

He told the children that even reggae and dancehall music also had their genesis in calypso citing Nerlin Tate, a Trinidadian who took a steelband strum on a guitar to Jamaica resulting in the origins of reggae music.

Massimba added that Trinidadian calypsonian and music promoter Harold Phillips, aka Lord Woodbine, was regarded by some as the musical mentor of famed British group The Beatles.

Phillips was a promoter of The Beatles in their teenage years, then known as the Silver Beetles, and occasionally, as the “Woodbine’s Boys”.

Getting very passionate as he spoke, Massimba stated that despite the pressure calypsonians have borne over the years, calypso has survived. More than that, it is alive and active in the emergence of various musical styles across the continents.

Feature speaker Devon Seale said: “We must affirm our commitment as a people in treasuring and protecting our indigenous music we call Mother Calypso.” He said just as a mother is a protector, a disciplinarian, a friend and who will sacrifice their own wants and needs to fulfil the needs of her children, we must look at how this music became mother, but first we must understand the history of it.

He then spoke of the evolution of calypso and the different genres it spawned after which he took the letters of “mother” to explain how we must treat calypso music going forward.

He said M is the many facets of our nation that calypso represent, therefore we must do more Manage and Market our calypso.

While people can love other music, calypso should be number one and the only music we must adore.

For T he said calypsonians must be Together in making that Transition, where they utilise the Technology and cut the Time when performing calypsoes to keep the audience’s attention.

H if for all the Honour we must give calypso music so it will be known openly that we love Her.

E is for the Entrepreneur that is calypso since she works for her children, all the facets that fall under the umbrella of calypso.

And for R he said we must treat her with Respect and we must give her the Reward and the Recognition she deserves.

“We need to incorporate this Mother music, calypso as a strategic element of intervention for poverty reduction, crime reduction and also use it as a springboard for sustainable development as a nation. We must always be mindful that this music of ours can reap economic benefits for the people,” said Seale before urging Tuco to continue its work and appealed to all citizens especially the young ones to get involve in the artform and to uphold our traditional values.

He closed by saying: “There is a time when your mother will need you more than you need her and that time is now.” Following is schedule Schedule of Events 2016 SEPTEMBER Thursday 29 - Karokee North Zone Audition - 9 pm - Apex Rec. Club, WMR, St James OCTOBER Saturday 1 - Walkathon - 8 am - QPS, PoS (Paddock) Saturday 1 - Gary Cordner in Concert - 8.30 pm - Kaiso Blues Caf?, Newtown, Woodbrook Saturday 1 - Men Who Can Cook (Tuco South/Central Zone) - 8 am S/F’do. East Sec.

Sch. Wednesday 5 - Calypso Show (Tuco East Zone) - 8.30 pm - Mas Camp Pub, Woodbrook Friday 7 - Ninja Soca Parang Show - 9 pm - KB’s Rest & Bar, Maloney St, Petit Bourg Wednesday 12 - Children’s Workshop (Tuco North Zone) - 10 am - NALIS, PoS Wednesday 12 - “1,2,3 Humour in Yuh Queven” (North Zone) - 8.30 pm - Mas Camp Pub, Woodbrook Thursday 13 - Children’s Workshop (Tuco North Zone) - 10 am - Nalis, PoS Saturday 15 - NACC Stars of Gold top 20 Kaiso’s for 2016 - 7.30 pm - Central Bank Auditorium, PoS Sunday 16 - Vintage Calypso Competition Audition (Tuco Tobago Zone) - 10 am * Fairfield Complex, Tobago Sunday 23 - Bring Yuh CD & Come (Tuco East Zone) - 4 pm - Destiny’s Pub, Malabar Road, Arima.

Sunday 23 - Karokee South Zone Audition - 9 pm - Wilkies Recreational Lounge 12 Naparima, Mayaro Rd, Cocoyea Vlg, S/F’do Tuesday 25 - Karokee East Zone Audition - 9 pm - Caps Bar, EMR, Tunapuna Tuesday 25 - Culture & Creativity of Sangre Grande (Tuco East Zone) - 10 am - Sangre Grande Library Thursday 27 - Calypso History & Performances (Tuco East Zone) - 10 am - Tunapuna Library Friday 28 - Dee Diamond in Concert - 8 am - Police Mess, Long Cir Rd, St James Saturday 29 - Vintage Calypso Competition Final (Tuco Tobago Zone) - 8 pm - Pembroke Heritage Park, Tobago Sunday 30 - Tuco Cooler Boat ride - 3 pm - Coral Vision Boat, PoS (Breakfast Shed) NOVEMBER Wednesday 2 - Karokee Tobago Audition - 9 pm - Jade Monkey, Crown Point, Tobago Saturday 5 - Extemporama (Tuco North Zone) - 8 pm - To Be Confirmed Sunday 6 - Tuco Sports & Family Day - 8 am - QPS, PoS (Paddock) Wednesday 9 - Tuco Gala - 8 pm - Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s Thursday 10 - Karokee Final - 9 pm - Apex Recreation Club, WMR, St James Saturday 12 - Explainer Party (Come Glow with me Retro style) - 9 pm - Police Mess, Long Circular Road, St James CALYPSO from page1B