French envoy celebrates Rose

In his address, Picquart who described Rose as a true ambassador of TT , and of Caribbean music said: “It has been two years that we have been following very closely the development of this musical adventure that is the Calypso Rose story, from Bethel in Tobago to the concert halls of Paris. And what a beautiful story, this Queen of Calypso who had long been winning the big competitions of TT , as well as the adulation of people here, and who today is conquering the imagination and hearts of the people of France.” Speaking directly to Rose he said: “Your success at the awards ceremony of les Victoires de la Musique has made you indeed, as you yourself put it, a Queen of France!” The ambassador then acknowledged the support of Rose’s team and her managers Jean-Michel Gibert and Lorraine O’Connor.

Rose then thanked Picquart and expressed her happiness at being present to be received by him. As a descendent of the French territory of French Guinea, she said her grandmother who passed away when she was just five-years-old always told her: “No man knows his burial ground.” She said she only understood what it meant much later and then wrote a calypso, then she broke out in song: “Sitting on another man land, yuh only suffering, toiling on another man land, yuh getting nothing….

But I want to go the land is too far, I want go, I am begging Jah, over yonder where there is many moons yonder, I want to go back to Africa.” She then said: “When we did the video The Lioness of the Jungle, I knew I was back in Africa. And then now with this new album, Far From Home, in French, you know when my name call and I went up on stage you know what I sang? Amazing Grace, and I know I was home.” She spoke about her trials and tribulations she went through as a young woman singing calypso and urged that artistes need to stand together as one.

She then hinted that given the upcoming French elections, she intends to sing a calypso on that.

Rose called on THA Chief Secretary Kelvin Charles, who she said was her cousin, to join her at the microphone.

She thanked all who supported her efforts over the years