Antigua and Barbuda’s celebrated calypso artist, Sir Leroy MacLean ‘King Short Shirt’ Emanuel, was awarded the Degree of Doctor of Letters Degree from the University of the West Indies, Five Islands. Sir MacLean expressed his gratitude to all who supported him and acknowledged that he was both humbled and blessed to have carried the mantle of Antigua and Barbuda’s culture for more than 60 years of his life.
In his acceptance speech, Sir MacLean spoke of his commitment to using calypso to raise the consciousness of the nation, bring awareness to the masses in Antigua, the Caribbean, the Afrocentric diaspora and globally, and to be the voice of the poor, oppressed, downtrodden and the economically disenfranchised.
He implored the graduates to adopt some of these traits and become standard bearers of their own cultures.
Sir MacLean, who has amassed more than two dozen titles as a fierce competitor, is described as a colossus of calypso, having won the competition 15 times in Antigua and Barbuda, becoming the first to win three successive competitions and also the only one to boast three separate Calypso ‘hattricks’.
Since entering the calypso arena in 1962, the 81-year-old has copped the Caribbean Calypso competition seven times and won seven Road March crowns.
King Short Shirt has thrilled audiences in Antigua and Barbuda and across the region for several decades with hits such as ‘Lamentation’, ‘Tourist Leggo’, ‘Power and Authority’, ‘Nobody Go Run Me’ and ‘Vivian Richards’. His music has given him a unique opportunity to build Antigua and Barbuda’s identity.
Over 7,500 new ‘UWI Pelicans’ are expected to receive their diplomas as the 2023 graduation season at The University of the West Indies began on Saturday.
The Gospel Ministers who are laboring in the fields of lost souls who are on their way to Hell are never recognized. But that’s okay. Their reward is not an earthly temporary one; but an eternal and everlasting reward. Their treasures are in Heaven. So no congratulations 🎈 from me.
So, Angela Basset wasn’t on hand to present the doctorate award? I guess if she was, there’d be a US party 🎉 afterwards with the First Lady and Hitler swinging away and drinking champagne 🍾 Doctorates are flying out the windows like Hot Cakes these days.
But don’t you think you are just a damn nuisance talking crap!
Look after your own soul, some of you who play preachers are in it for money, and that is why there is so much poverty in Dominica. What award should be given to a preacher, if one is called by God to preach his word, don’t you think God will reward those he called in due time?
You all stupid people are jealous of everything and nothing at all.
Well done “Sir”!! You totally deserve this award for you have never settled for mediocrity. I wish that you live many more years in good health and financial satisfaction and that you continue to inspire the younger artists.
Respectfully submitted.
Well deserved! Many of his songs are still very relevant today. I want to wish him good health and longevity.
Congratulations, Shorty. Thank you for the contributions you made to West I and Ian music and development. Songs like yours a badly needed in this new dispensation.
Congratulation King you deserve that, thanks for the great calypso’s. We have a double doctor in dominica what did he give or do to get them , just want to know according to to the Doc the writing is on the wall.
Dominican’s go on You Tube and get that song THE HAND WRITING IS ON THE WALL, BY KING SHORT SHIRT AND PLAY IT.
Short Shirt is a true Caribbean legend
He should have been honored years ago.