SKN top calypsonians to compete in Leeward Island Calypso Competition

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THREE of the Federation’s top calypsonians will be battling for the Leeward Islands Calypso crown at the Landsome Bowl center, Anguilla on Saturday, August 7, 2010.

The reigning National Carnival Calypso King, Sylvester ‘Socrates’ Hodge, the recently-crowned Culturama Kaiso King, Oscar ‘Astro’ Browne, and the reigning Leeward Island Calypso King, Konris Maynard, will be competing against other top regional calypsonians.

Maynard, who won the regional title in 2009, is hoping to repeat his performance in the competition. He said that he would be performing ‘Mommy and Daddy’ and a “surprise selection”.

“I think my chances are good,” said the young calypsonian who won the National Calypso Monarchy in St. Kitts and Nevis four times in a row but took a break from the 2009 Finals.

A win for Maynard would make him the first Kittitian to ‘two-peat’ at the regional competition, while Hodge, who is retiring from competing in calypso shows, hopes to win as it would be a perfect end to his career. 

Hodge has won the National Calypso crown on five occasions and the Leeward Island Calypso crown in 2001.

He told SKNVibes that, in his opinion, the Federation would have the best representation at the regional competition and it is possible for them to capture the three top positions.

Hodge, who is already in Anguilla, said it was an honour for him to be representing his country in the competition.

He will be performing ‘The real health scare’, a song that enabled him to capture the 2009/2010 monarchy; and in the second round he said he will be performing a new song that was specially written for the competition.

“This song will address the issue of domestic abuse,” he said.

The reigning National Calypso King said he has been well received in Anguilla and had the opportunity to attend the national calypso competition, where the female calypso competition was also staged on the same night.

He said the winner of the female competition, Singing Vinnie, also won the national calypso competition.

“So she received two crowns on one night and sang a total of three songs. It was interesting how they held the competition,” he said.

Capturing the Leeward Island Calypso crown would give Astro bragging rights of being the first Nevisian to win the regional title.
Browne recently captured the Culturama Calypso Monarchy for the third time and this will be his second outing at the Leeward Island Calypso Competition, having competed in 2003 and 2006.

He will be performing ‘De Crusade’ and ‘Criminals be Gone’; the latter helped him secure the First Runner-up position at the 2009/10 National Calypso Monarch Competition.

He thinks his chances are good.

“I feel proud and honoured to represent my country…it is something to look forward to,” he said.

“When I compete, I don’t compete with others, I compete against myself. After Carnival in December I prepare along with my team for Culturama and I keep focused,” he added.