Calypso Legend Dr. Anthony ‘Mighty Gabby’ Carter of Barbados believes that calypsonians in every Caribbean country and the work that they have done should be valued.
His remarks came during a lecture on ‘The Role of Calypso in Caribbean Society’ held at the University of The West Indies Open Campus (UWI) – Dominica on July 5.
He was accompanied by his son, the junior ruler of Barbados, Mighty Bit Bit.
The lecture formed part of a week-long celebration of the third edition of Calypso Day which began on Sunday, July 2.
“This calypso that we have taken for granted has documented the history of the Caribbean time and time again, better than any journalist, no disrespect to my journalist friends here this evening, because it takes a journalist to write that article…it makes either front page, headline or both,” he said. “Today, by this evening or by tomorrow morning Miss Mary is wrapping fish with it in the market. It’s not that valuable.”
He continued, “But when you write a song and it is recorded it’s almost as perennial as the grass and so we have to value our calypsonians and the work that they have done in every Caribbean country because they keep the politicians on their toes.”
Mighty Gabby added, “This thing called music belongs to us, Calypso music is all.”
According to him, Calypso is one of the most politically charged musical traditions in the world.
President of the Dominica Calypso Association (DCA), Davidson ‘Observer’ Victor said the DCA started a movement three years ago and realized this movement is growing and has potential.
“The responsibility of the Dominica Calypso Association is to sustain the calypso artform, but we cannot do it alone,” he stated.
Victor said the association has reached a stage where its members believe it has grown so much that, “it is important now for us to try to bring other persons along with us.”
“We are always here to listen to people, we are always ready to collaborate and we are happy that the collaboration is bearing fruit and we look forward to doing better and greater collaboration,” he noted.
Meantime, in a previous article, Daryl Bobb, the brain behind Calypso Day, this year’s theme, is more focused on the education of the art form.
He stated that the event has begun to acquire public notice and that the DCA hopes that in the near future, this day will become a national day in which everyone on the island participates.
The week-long celebration of the third edition of Calypso Day kicked off with a church service in Grand Bay led by former Calypsonian Father Brancker John.
On July 6, the official Calypso Day, activities began at 2:30 p.m. with a youth dialogue among students throughout the island on the theme: “Does the inclusion of political issues within the lyrical content of Calypso music strengthen or weaken the art form?” and “Is the lyrical content of other genres of music, such as dancehall and bouyon, more attractive to the youth than that of Calypso?”
The link to view the full lecture is attached below:
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