CHARLESTOWN, Nevis – THE overall objective of the Junior Calypso Workshop held last Saturday (Nov. 7) on Nevis is to ensure that the work of the pioneers of the art form does not go in vain.
This is according to Vernon Springer, Manager of reigning Culturama Calypso King Calvin ‘I-Soursop’ Johnson who orchestrated the workshop at the Nevis Cultural Centre.
Springer told this media house: “The concept is that after 35 years of Culturama you want to ensure that the Meekos, the Gingers, the Dis ‘n’ Dats, the Flamingos, who would have tarried for years to keep the art form alive under trying circumstances, would not have done so in vain.
“The modern day calypsonian have almost everything on their platter. Those guys didn’t have the support back then. Nowadays, once you get yourself organised you can get corporate support.”
Springer said Johnson and his team want to make a contribution in the realisation that benefits could be gotten from being a calypsonian.
“You only have to look at Monarch (Clement O’Garro) who toured the world through calypso. He went into the Trinidad market and ruffled a few feathers at a time when it was difficult to do so.”
Springer said the workshop, under the theme “I-Soursop, Making A Difference”, is a way of preparing young aspiring calypsonians for what lies ahead. He pointed to 2008 Junior and Senior Calypso Monarch on Nevis – Husani De Inspirer’ Parris, who he said was catapulted into the international spotlight in a matter of weeks.
“…everything happened so fast for him at 14 years. He became the first junior king to win the Culturama crown; then he was off to Anguilla; then he was somewhere in Canada. Everything happened so fast.”
According to Springer: “Our thing is, let us try and see how we can prepare our kids because we don’t know who the next Inspirer is going to be. We need to be able to pass that experience on so that they will know that this is what is going to happen. I’m not saying that Inspirer did not know that these things were going to happen, but they happened so fast that they almost caught him by surprise…and his management team did a wonderful job.”
Springer said his team is however going to ensure that they prepare the young brigade, letting them know that if they dream; like Inspirer, anything is possible.
Sales and Marketing Manager for St. Kitts Bottling Company Antonio Nias, who was present on Saturday, said his company supports anything that involves the development of young people and is happy to provide support for the efforts to promote calypso and strengthen as well as develop the youths along those lines.
Other sponsors included Sol, Sunshine Bar and Grill, Sandy’s Chicken, Nevis Bakery, TDC Nevis, and Best Buy Supermarket Nevis.
