BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – HAVE you ever wondered where are the artiste of the old school? Have you wonder where are those stars of our past, those artistes who engraved their names in our history?
SKNVibes Entertainment has undertaken to launch our new feature dubbed “Where are they now”, which would take a look at the trail blazers that have set the foundation upon which entertainers throughout the decades have built.
For our first publication, we tracked down and interviewed a man by the name of ‘Sundar Popo’.
In less than one week, SKNVibes Entertainment began making its rounds, making phone calls with a view to tracking down Sundar Popo.
Surprisingly, there was not much information about the former artiste, other than him winning the first Road March title back in 1971.
But after a few attempts we were able to locate Sundar Popo for a one-on-one interview about life, work, and most importantly, where he is now.
Legally known as Irvin Barnes, Popo copped the first Carnival Road March title after the carnival was named the “National Carnival” in 1971 with his uptempo hit “Play You”.
Now more than 40 years later, the generation of today has the privilege of looking back at that moment in history and speaking with the man at whose hands it was made.
It was obvious to SKNVibes Entertainment that Sundar Popo is a man of few words and one who prefers to remain outside of the limelight but he did spare a few moments to enlighten us on his entertainment journey and his observations of the calypso art form of years past and of present.
Although he believes that he may not have necessarily won the Road March title in 1971 - but rather one or two years after - all information which SKNVibes Entertainment has received confirms that 1971 was his year.
Our exclusive interview took us to Greenland’s where we found the veteran Kaiso performer hard at work. When approached by SKNVibes Entertainment, the philosopher was exiting the yard of a premises at which construction work was taking place. Clab in suitable garb, Barnes declined to mention what role he played in the construction process when the question was posed to him.
The deeper we got into the interview, the more evident it became that Sundar Popo preferred to be limited in his responses.
Entering the Competition
Before he won the Road March title however, Popo said he worked with the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force and was later encouraged by another colleague - Lord Windy - to enter the competition because he recognised the talent he possessed.
“I used to sing before at different places but not for competitions. Singing was never really a passion of mine. I was more for painting and architectural work, a passion I had since I was a child,” the former entertainer said.
Popo explained that at the time, he decided to enter the Calypso Monarch Competition, in which he did not place. And he began performing with a band called Captain Val Morris and Orchestra in the 70’s, one which made its name as one of the leading bands of that period.
Why ‘Sundar Popo’?
Most calypsonians and other artistes would prefer to have a name that is original and unique. Not so with Barnes however, who, after apparently taking a liking to the name of Trinidad’s now fallen calypso pioneer Sunilal Popo Bahora - whose stage name was also Sundar Popo - decided to take the name unto himself.
He explained that the icon performed most of his Kaiso singles with a blend of Chutney and Soca music wrapped in a calypso shell.
On his (the Trindadian Sundar Popo) Wikipedia page, he was given credit for the Kittitian Sundar Popo's "Play You" song and the Road March title. But when asked about how he felt about the Trinidadian native receiving international recognition for the song which he penned and performed, Barnes nodded for a few seconds and declined to answer the question.
SKNVibes Entertainment understands that that bit of information has since been removed from the Wikipedia page.
Calypso then and now
The native - who grew up in St. Johnston Village - told this publication that the Calypso art form has evolved drastically from his days of performing to now. And he was not at all coy in highlighting what he feels are some of the shortcomings.
“The difference that I have seen with the artistes and bands now as compared to my time is that they’re not into their music. Everybody seems to be playing the same thing. Compared to Ellie Matt and the other musicians...they gave you music and melody and you could have followed precisely what is going on,” Barnes explained.
Popo noted that although he won the Road March Title in the early 70s, he was never able to place in the Calypso Monarch Competition for the three years he participated and as such, he took an early retirement from performing.
Evolution of Carnival
When asked about the evolution of Carnival from his time to now, Popo had this to say: “Well in my time the folklore participation was a must in the traditional aspect, and you had a feeling for that particular phase of Carnival. For instance with the bull, it had drama, but now they not performing it, is anybody just get up and doing it.”
He said as simple as it might sound, the actual art of performing The Bull, dates back to the earlier years where people who worked on the estates had to attire themselves in traditional clothing and accurately perform the reenactment.
“The culture to me has changed somewhat over the years and to me we have not totally lost it but it has changed. It no longer takes on the original meaning but I guess it’s a new generation of people performing,” the veteran said.
Popo - who is in his 60’s - said he is heavily involved in painting and landscaping, passions he developed as a young man even before earning himself the Road March title almost 43 years ago.
He also currently studies advanced Philosophy and is a member of the Rosicrucian Order in St. Kitts.
Rosicrucianism is a generic term referring to studies or membership within a philosophical secret society said to have been founded in late medieval Germany by Christian Rosenkreuz.
It is described by www.dictionary.com as “a member of a society professing esoteric religious doctrines,venerating the emblems of the rose and Cross as symbols of Christ's Resurrection and Redemption, and claiming various occult powers”.
Editor's Note: SKNVibes solicits suggestions from the public in identifying other individuals who have made a significant contribution to the calypso art form in St. Kitts and Nevis. Feel free to email us at newsroom@sknvibes.com or call us at (869) 466-9242 or (869) 662-3901 and pass on the relevant information.
