Junior Monarch contestants ensuring calypso artform thrives

By Kimberley Cummins

Although some might argue that the political tradition of critique in calypso might be waning in Barbados, a cultural official says the future of the genre is in good hands with the up-and-coming juniors.

And Music Officer at the National Cultural Foundation (NCF), Kevin Moore, is crediting the talented youngsters as well as the guidance being imparted by the Foundation. During an interview with Barbados TODAY recently, Moore noted that through sustained developmental programmes he was optimistic about calypso’s continued growth and continuity.

“It is an artform that can and will survive as long as the proper exponents are developed and continue to maintain themselves. What is necessary is for good material to be continued to be written.

“We have some very good arrangers, some very good writers and very good musicians and what is necessary is the support from the public for the artform. I think that the artform will continue to live and the NCF will continue to support and develop the artform,” he said.

His comments come ahead of the July 16th Scotiabank Junior Monarch final to be held at the Wildey Gymnasium. Speaking about the readiness of the youngsters, the officer expressed confidence about their preparedness as he noted that the NCF had invested much time to ensure they are well-trained and developed to understand the artform generally rather than simply being trained for competition.

So, for instance, the children have taken part in mentorship sessions in the form of vocal training and stage presence and on Thursday a seminar was conducted by Scotia Bank which shared financial planning advice ranging from saving to investing their winnings.

In addition, a workshop was conducted at which Cultural Ambassador and 10-time calypso king Stedson “Red Plastic Bag” Wiltshire and former Party Monarch queen Terencia “TC” Coward-Thompson shared encouraging words and advice about the on and off-stage aspects of the music business.

Cultural Ambassador and multiple Pic-O-De-Crop monarch Anthony “Gabby” Carter and Dr. Stefan Walcott are also expected to engage the participants over the weekend about the history of calypso.

Due to the interpersonal assistance, Moore reports that the NCF has witnessed a massive improvement in the contestants from their video applications to the present. For him, mentorship is especially important not only to ensure longevity but also if Barbados is to maintain high standards in the artform.

“We are not worried about taking out the organic because the training is not in a way that you must do this and do that. But more suggestions based on, ‘if you are doing this you can try doing this to enhance what you are already doing or getting it to connect a little better’.

“So, it is not a situation where we want to create robots or a specific style of the deliverer of the artform. We are just trying to ensure that when an artiste chooses how to deliver their song, they do it to the best of their ability, knowledge and information that guides them on how best to connect with the audience,” Moore said.

He continued: “It is okay on one hand to say the artistes in Barbados are doing this and doing that, but if we don’t guide the young artistes in the direction they should go or how they should develop, then we can’t quarrel about how they present themselves.

“So, the aim is to guide them and give them the tools necessary so when they make the decision in the direction they want to go in the industry if they choose to persist with it, whether it be calypso, soca, bashment soca, whatever, it is to the best of their ability, in a professional way that gains them the best representation publicly.”

Next weekend during the Scotia Bank Junior Monarch, defending champs Kenaz “Mighty Bit Bit” Walker and Shontae Alleyne-Clarke will seek to defend their crowns against 15 others.

In the category of soca: Joshua Blackman, Joshua Oxley, Kiah Shurland, Milka Goodridge, Revenn Moseley, Sephon Sealy and Trinity Clarke. Those in the calypso category are: Alyssa Harris, Danesha Davis, Dondria Forde, Ethan Edey, Kadarius Allen, Kari-Anne Holford-Sam, Yahandje Daniel and Rimiya Wilson.