Calypso queens find their voice

THE EDITOR: My unreserved compliments go to the new Calypso Queen, Stacey Sobers. Her calypso, Queens and Kings, was a look at the irony when youth call each other queen and king. “There seems to be a trend/ Prevalent by the youths/ Hailing each other as queens and kings/ Sometimes nothing further from the truth.”

Part of the chorus, sung to a dub rhythm, says, “Makandal Daaga he was a king/ He was ah king/ Uriah Butler oh what a king/ Oh what ah king/ Be careful who yuh calling queens and kings/ Because true royalty doh do certain things.”

I want to congratulate each of the women who took part in the competition. In the past I read the criticism that the queens were “preachy.” From my point of view they were just finding themselves and were searching for suitable modes of expression from a female perspective. Strange it was that the critique came from a woman journalist.

Not so now. They have found their voice. The growth of the Calypso Queen competition was a deliberate process that came out of NJAC’s and NWAC’s pursuit of women’s development. Olabisi Kuboni, Liseli Daaga, Dela Obika, Gizelle Russel and Stephanie Charles guided the work of the National Women’s Action Committee (NWAC) where the calypso was concerned. The late Chief Servant Makandal Daaga was their mentor.

The Calypso Queen competition is now a benchmark for female calypsonians. This year, 16 women (as well as two female reserves) are among the 40 Calypso Monarch semi-finalists. Six of them and one reserve are in the 2018 Calypso Queen competition.

I took note of excellent writing and musical arrangements. There was a broader spread of topics than that of the Young Kings, with a finer display of stage poise, diction as well as costumery.

However, I do have some concerns. After 34 years of experience the organisers and the artistes should know that the audience has come for an entertaining calypso experience. There was too much of a lag caused by the introductory speeches.

And then there was excessive and sometimes inappropriate use of “props.”

On the other hand, Stacey Sobers was very good. Her props were minimalist and effective. The costumes worn by Allison Bernard (Warrior Empress) and Terry Lyons were also very appropriate.

Last of all I compliment the choice of Lady Venus (Marilyn Jiminez-Charles) as the honoree for the evening. The narration of her biography and her accomplishments surprised many.

May Stacey Sobers continue with a good career and may the women of the nation consider her words: “When I hear the word queen I think about an empress/ Exquisite finesse in behaviour and her style of dress/ When I think about a queen, I feel something musically/ A song called she is royal, a symbol of majesty/ I see a strong woman of virtue and class/ Not someone who can’t think for herself or wouldn’t try a cooking class/ Just check out Google, research Queen of Sheba/ And right here in sweet T&T we have a queen in Liseli Daaga.”

AIYEGORO OME, Mt Lambert