Reigning Calypso Queen, and newcomer to the Calypso Monarch competition, Janae Jackson is the winner of yet another award.
On Wednesday, at the prize-giving ceremony for Mas Dominik 2016, attorney-at-law and former calypsonian, Duncan Stowe presented Jackson with the award for 2016 ‘Nation Building Calypso’.
The award is a new one initiated by Stowe and Jackson was received a plaque, along with a cash prize of US$2,500.
“I am delighted that this award goes to a young lady who I have been impressed with from the beginning of her career,” he said.
He noted that the initiative is to foster patriotism and will be making annual contributions to a calypsonian who performs the best song geared toward nation building.
He explained that he worked with a team which helped identify a deserving calypsonian and helped raise funds to present the cash award.
Contestants’ lyrics, melody, and nation building appeal were named as the criteria to be considered for the award.
This year, the contenders were revealed to be Daryl Bobb, for ‘Mama Dominica’; Earl White, with ‘Fè Vite’; and Janae Jackson, with ‘My Love, My Country’.
“It was felt that all three songs had a very strong national appeal. Janae, however, edged out the two others on the point system that we have,” Stowe divulged. “It was also felt that in both lyrics and melody, Janae topped the award.”
Stowe expressed his hope that the award will encourage calypsonians to focus on the subject of patriotism.
“My fervent hope is that this annual award for the best nation-building song will add some level of diversity in calypso compositions, and, at the same time, promote appreciation for the land of our birth.”
Give award to how all u wan.’t but that will not stop my king dice dice all the time and every time My love of country u people that have Dominica in that mess it in give me a break u people love DOMINICA?
well it is ok for me or anyone else to nominate a singer that sing a song thats of relevance I will in the near give my reward to mr x personally and I will not publicists it
But all Dice calypsoes are nation building, so because he’s the watch dog pointing out the ills and wrongs of the pm, it’s not nation building, look jokes!
My Dominicatradehouse.com is a better nation building song than My Love, My Country as it is stopping corruption which has a direct impact on poverty. Stowe losing it.
Congratulations Janae. But just remember that is a politically motivated psychological award.
Mr. Stowe I see you trying to deflect the blows DLP getting from social commentary calypsos. Very sly indeed but, some of us can see even in the darkest of nights. Let me remind you my friend that Skerro and the Cabal, including those passport sellers
that have no accountability to the country will continue to be bombarded in calypso. Nothing wrong in singing about nation building but for so long Hunter doing it you all never gave him anything but blows falling now so you all trying a ting.
Nothing more than trying to influence the content of calypso by giving the award to a young person so the upcoming ones will remember there is money to be gained by not beating on unscrupulous politicians and their clique. I am watching ..
Always Assertive!
In “Nation building” some people’s freedom fighters are called terrorists by others.
nation building” but they are entitled to their version. SMH!!!!
Duncan and others do not have a monopoly on what is ”
I congratulate the winner Miss Jackson. well done and we do look forward to your continued participation in the competition thus assisting to improve on the artform. I am particularly pleased with my friend, Mr. Duncan Stowe for this outstanding practical contribution to the arts. I am sure that you, like me, was very disappointed with the treatment of the young lady at this year’s calypso final. Your efforts to encourage the young lady cannot go un-noticed. Here is a beacon of hope for our young people and the sustainability of the art form. Janae should accept the gift as encouragement not only to sing ad nauseum about the travails of our young people but she should be the true beacon by practical example for all youths irrespective. Congrats counsel. Congrats Ian and Janae.
Ron Charles!! Compliment your friend Duncan Stowe, But stating that you were disappointed with the treatment the lady got, is very unbecoming of a professional like you and somebody involved in the music industry. Are you supporting the idea that the young artist was sabotaged, by the band and the engineer? If so, What a shame!!
Was the award only geared towards the Senior Calypso Competitors? I ask this because I am of the belief that the reigning Junior Monarch “De Irish Kid” would have been a very strong contender for this award as well with his rendition “All for Each and Each for All, this Year”.
I second the motion. This to my mind was by far the best “nation building” song this year, but got very little publicity or airplay and was thus overlooked.
Very interesting. Who decided on this award? What is the criteria used to select the wining song? Who sponsored the prize money? Sounds like a calyspo for 2017 in the making.
Anyways there is night and day; black and white;; good and evil. So we cannot pretend that while bad things happen to only sing about good. We are in lent and we sing “Father I have sinned…”.
Be that as it may congratulations to Janee
congratulation!
Who has the job of deciding which calypsos are nation building & which are not? Seems like a very tall task to me.
I don’t perceive that deciding if the lyrics of a calypso can be seen as nation building is a tall order.
Hats off Duncan and friends! Congratulations for finding some way of countering the self-gratifying political axe-grinding at the expense of Dominica.
Sure Calypsoes have always exposed political wrong-doing and so they should, but this constant bombardment in almost every sphere where the beneficiaries of this strategy find a voice is becoming overbearing. It has reached the stage where it appears that if Dominica becomes a casualty in the process it really does not matter to those short-term beneficiaries.
Duncan, I get the sense that this process is outside the normal judging as arranged by the Calypso Association. If I am correct, that is even better.
Congratulations!
deflection at its best… congrats Janae u sang well and u had a good message….although we do not forget alll the messages given in alll the songs of allll calypsonians singing about what is happening in d.a …the good the bad and the ugly.
My goodness it was a personal decision by Mr. Stowe. What is wrong with you people?????
Common sense has swimmed out of Dominica man?
The massive sound like robots, negative, negative, negative.
Who Duncan thinks he is fooling with his Nation Building Award? Social commentary eliminates inequalities among members of society, thereby allowing the littlest of men to be heard. What the commentator transmits is what is of concern to him; not necessarily to the nation. So if you try to steer calypsos in the direction of nation building only, you are effectively destroying the latitude of the art form. But, Duncan is much smarter than trying to narrow calypsos to nation building. Rather, he is after Pat, Dice, Mass Camp, etc., etc..
Frank talker
Your argument would have validity if it was really the littlest of men being heard but it seems that it is the agenda of not so little men which is being pushed through the littlest of men.
I’m not in Duncan’s mind to know his intentions but I didn’t understand the process to be aimed at narrowing all calypsoes to the nation-building type, it seemed more like striking a balance to me. Then again nobody can do anything in Dominica these days without some sinister motive being ascribed to them, particularly if it is something positive.
others have steered calypso into strictly political rhetoric to the point where if you don’t sing about skerrit you can’t win crown
but i don’t hear you saying that they have narrowed the latitude of the art form
which is now as narrow as a sheet of paper
it you don’t sing about skerrit, his politics and or his government you will not win crown
good job stowe
passport money at work… congratulations
Ok good her dad will be proud so she will not have to resing for the judges to hear her
good for you my girl. thats way way way more money than you will ever see from Stardom in 10 years