BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - FOR many years female calypsonians in St. Kitts and Nevis have been looking forward to competing amongst themselves in the Female Calypso Bacchanal, but they will not be afforded the opportunity to do so in 2012 because that event was removed from the National Carnival calendar.
The removal of the event from the Carnival calendar suggests that the females would only be able to compete in the National Calypso Monarch Competition in which a woman is yet to triumph in its 40-year history.
Queen Anastasia, Singing Jackie and Queen Kibby have all made a name for themselves as being top female calypsonians and are even highly rated amongst the males in national competitions.
In some quarters, these women, on some occasions, were perceived to be better than their male counterparts and should have walked away with the crown.
King Socrates, leader of Legends Calypso Tent, stated that the females’ participation in calypso competitions has increased over the years and many of them were looking forward to participate in this year’s Female Calypso Bacchanal.
“Last year we had a discussion about the same show for this year, and there was an indication and a suggestion from others to make it regional and have a female regional competition in St. Kitts,” he said.
Socrates said the idea was agreed to but because of the discussion group not having a chairperson, the suggestion was aborted.
“It is my hope that in the future it can be redressed, because it is an element that a lot of young women look forward to,” Socrates said.
Socrates added that the female show is crucial for women to get to that level in order to successfully compete against their male counterparts.
He also stated that in the absence of a competition that finds females vying amongst themselves for supremacy, the art form would continue to be dominated by males.
Last week, Chairman of the Sugar Mas Committee, Sylvester Anthony said that the Female Calypso Bacchanal was not permanently removed from the National Carnival line-up and noted that “it was one of those rational decisions”.
Anthony, who is also Chairman of the Calypso Sub-Committee, insinuated that the general public does not support the show satisfactorily, which has resulted in a loss of “tens of thousands of dollars” over the years.
He also indicated that from a ticket financial perspective, due to the tough economic climate, “money is tight” and a decision was made by the Committee with regards to what events could be kept and those that could not.
The Chairman however claimed that although the event is not on this year’s line-up, it does not mean that the Committee “can’t rethink” its decision.
The Female Calypso Bacchanal is expected to be replaced by a Calypso Extempo, scheduled to take place on Christmas Eve Day (Dec. 24).
