BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – WITH just a few months away from the staging of the 43rd Annual St. Kitts Sugar Mas, Duncan ‘Big Lice’ Wattley is preparing to make a comeback at this year’s National Senior Calypso Competition.
In our previous exclusive interview with this calypso legend, Wattley told SKNVibes Entertainment that the reason for him opting to not participate in the 2013 Calypso Competition was because of his protest for the tabling of the Motion of No Confidence.
“People tell me every day they look forward to my songs. I see myself as a voice of the downdraught, the poor and those who might not have a chance to express themselves. I listen to them and their issues and turn them into Calypsos,” Wattley said.
As a performer in the art form for nearly 30 years, Big Lice said that one of the main reasons he persevered and continues to sing Calypso is mainly because of his many fans throughout the Federation who supported him even when he did not win.
“The fans always look forward to the reaction. That is someone very unique, because if you are performing for a group of people and you see satisfaction on their faces it tells you a lot, especially when you represent what they are going through.”
He also said that the love of Calypso music and carnival also served as a motivator for him to take part in the annual competition, adding that his career as an educator has its genesis in singing Kaiso music.
According to Wattley, of all the songs he had ever written, the most popular is the ‘Letter’, which he sang about eight years ago, noting that it is still popular and is normally requested by many of his audience whenever he performs.
Big Lice revealed to SKNVibes Entertainment that he has confirmed his participation in the National Carnival Senior Calypso Competition 2014-2015.
“I have made my point! Because, one of the things that I love and try to be on the right side of history, is that I had to make my point that I was not in agreement with what transpired during these dark days in our development,” Wattley said.
What is he doing now?
Currently, Duncan ‘Big Lice’ Wattley is a Senior Lecturer at the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College in the field of Political Science, Cultural Studies and Caribbean Studies. He has been lecturing there for the past nine years.
And apart from his portfolio as an educator, Big Lice is also an entrepreneur, being the owner of the Green Valley Pub.
Editor-in-Chief's Note: SKNVibes solicits suggestions from the public in identifying other individuals who have made significant contributions 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.
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