|Home|Project Overview|Glossary|Bibliography|Project Elements|

|Sweet Pan|Drums|Sweet Music|

CALYPSO

Calypso music originated in Trinidad and Tobago at about the start of the 20th century. It began with the arrival of African slaves, who, not being allowed to speak with each other and robbed of all links to family and home, began to communicate by way of song. They used the calypso, which can be traced back to West African ‘Kaiso’ to create their songs and to make fun of the slave masters. This forged a bond among the Africans.

Calypsos spoke about personalities, events, and the life on the plantation. The stories were disguised with such skill that the slave masters were not aware of what was going on.

It was the French who brought the tradition of Carnival to Trinidad. Therefore, many early calypsos were sung in a French-Creole dialect called patois ("pat-was"). These songs, usually led by one individual called a griot, helped to unite the slaves. The griot later became known as the chantuelle and today as the calypsonian.

Calypso singing competitions became popular at Carnival time and grew in popularity after the abolition of slavery by the British in the 1830s. It is a principal event of today’s Carnival which is held annually on the two days preceding Ash Wednesday.

It could be said that Belmont was ‘shaped by calypso’ being populated mainly by African slaves.

Lord Beginner, one the early greats of calypso, was from Belmont and that baton has passed on from generation to generation touching the hands of the people like Lord Relator and David Rudder, the latter we had the privilege to interact with.

The following is a modern day example of the double entendre of the calypso. The song Ben Lion was sung by the group 3-Canal and tells the story of an international event.

Can you tell what the event is from these words? Who is Ben Lion?

                                     Ben Lion

Chorus.

Ben Lion, Ben Bad Man

Why you wine so and get on bad in the people place?

Ben Rude Boy, Ben Bad Boy

So you wine right down to the ground and mash up the place.

All Caribbean, go pow, come inside the fete,

All American, pow, pow, all Afghanistan, pow, pow, pow,

The money belt tie yet, is one world, a free world

Verse 1.

The eagle was flying high

Until you cause him to cry

Now all over the dance They calling your name.

They say you're a wanted man

And is time that you understand

The things that they say you do

They coming for you.

Standard 5's Performance

Welcome song- Words adapted to the tune of David Rudder's

'Trini to the Bone'.

Calypso is Social Commentary

Calypso and Creative Writing

David Rudder

The Man and His Music

Top of page