Paula Lindo – Our histories, stories, present, future.

Celebrating Youth in Calypso was the theme of the first concert of Calypso History Month at D Monarchs Pub on Ariapita Avenue. D Monarch’s owner, former National Calypso Monarch, Duane O’Connor, said the event was the first of many carded at the venue for Calypso History Month.

Calypsonian Raeann Guerra began the evening with her 2019 anti-domestic violence anthem, Read the Signs. She listed some of the different signs of abuse in relationships, including possessiveness, jealousy, wanting to check your phone all the time, isolation from friends and family, and exhorted women to be careful and leave their relationships if necessary. Her next song, My Brother’s Keeper, was dedicated to the Caribbean islands that have been ravaged by hurricanes. She said that citizens should have a heart, not to turn away from those who need help, that those who don’t want us to help the islands can’t be human, and we are Caribbean strong.

Young King 2018 Mark Eastman continued the positive messaging of the evening with his 2017 song, Trinbago Wake Up, which said the country is a mess and called on citizens to put their shoulders to the wheel if they wanted to see a difference and create harmony in T&T. The song Fantasy Island plays on the notion that Trinidad can’t be a real place as so many things are wrong with the country, as “right and wrong have no distinction, money is the best qualification, corruption is the norm, high prices and the crime situation are what we live with on this fantasy island.” Calypso Killers took a look at the recurring annual claim that Calypso is dying, and some of the factors which contribute to the claim, including lack of knowledge of what is a good calypso, a paucity of topics, discrimination, disrespect, dishonest judges, bribes and corruption. He said calypso should be used to uplift and educate.

2019 Young Kings Calypso Monarch finalist Kyle “KC” Cowie’s Hail to the Chief expressed his admiration for NJAC Founder Makandal Daaga, chronicling the achievements of “the Chief Servant who brought respect and equality to black people in this Caribbean society.” His 2016 song Early Warning was a call to the Prime Minister to work hard for the people of T&T who elected him and not to take them for clowns. KC’s final song was The Bigger Picture/World Issues, which called on calypsonians to write about world issues in their songs, instead of local issues, in order to take kaiso to the world stage.

Jerrisha Duncan Regis called on citizens to learn from and not repeat history in her song Rise Up. She said they should put down the guns and knives,  experience what it means to be emancipated and brave, and walk with their children hand in hand.” Her next song, A Big Fat Zero, continued in the crime-fighting vein, reminding people that they can’t take their riches with them when they die, so committing corruption, theft, assault and murder for profit doesn’t make sense. She ended her set with a smooth rendition of Kitchener’s Sugar Bum Bum.

Two of Tobago Heritage Calypso Monarch Champion Caston Cupid’s songs focused on relationships and the use of superstitions to influence them. Potions, Deceptions and Les Coteaux Beads chronicled the use of sweat rice, left-hand dumplings, and petticoat in curry goat to try to stop a man’s womanising ways, but he is able to withstand these manoeuvrings because he is from Les Coteaux, until the person working the traditions also comes from Les Couteaux.  Recipes From the Past talked about a man using these same methods to prevent his wife from leaving him for a Rasta man. The potions work on both the woman and the Rasta man, who both eat the food he has prepared. Cupid’s song Flood Nightmare, which was his 2019 selection, talked about how he was affected mentally by the flooding in 2018, as well as the politicians’ response to the plight of those affected.

Jumaane “Juby” Cox brought a groovy soca vibe to the event with his songs Look She Dey about a girl who came out to play at Jouvert, Visa Face, which spoke about people who are able to get into any event for free because of their looks and Carnival Again, about him being a Carnival baby who was born on Carnival Tuesday. All performers were ably backed by the band Cumming and the Wailers and backup singer Kathleen.

The evening ended with tributes to the Mighty Shadow and David Rudder, performed by the band Zaboca, led by Joshua Regrello on pan, Chryston Floyd on guitar and Jahvin Neptune on percussion. MC Eunice Peters invited audience members to stay tuned to social media for future events at D Monarchs Pub.