BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – WHILE the moniker he uses in the Calypso arena is synonymous with large biting and or bloodsucking insects, Duncan Wattley is known to effectively employ it in his messages as a social commentator.
The Cayon native and educator is popularly known as ‘Big Lice’. But have you ever wondered how he got that name?
The former Junior and Senior National Calypso Monarch, who has been out of the Calypso arena for approximately one year, explained to SKNVibes Entertainment how and when he got involved in the art form.
“It was 1982, I think, when I used to attend Cayon High School and there was a local competition. I entered and I was crowned in the school setting before I went on to entering the National Carnival Junior Calypso Competition.”
Wattley added that in 1984 he was crowned National Junior Monarch. “I beat out the likes of King Ayatollah and those guys, and from that point I took the art form seriously and decided to enter the senior competition.”
He explained that being raised in a Christian home, his mother was not too fond of his passion for Calypso music, but he continued in his quest with the support of his brothers.
“I grew up in the church; I was a Seventh Day Adventist in my upbringing and singing in church. She wasn’t too happy and it wasn’t something she supported initially or probably she never did,” Wattley said.
He added that despite the fact that his mother did not support him, he still had a passion for singing Calypsos and he continued to persevere.
Questioned on how he arrived at the stage name ‘Big Lice’, Wattley explained that it was a nickname given to him as a child by an Anguillan named “Mr. Guishard”.
“I used to be around their home…and it’s a funny story. One day I was in their home and I saw a cockroach and I called it a big lice. So, Mr. Guishard began to call me big lice and eventually it became my name.”
As Wattley grew, the nickname stuck. And when the time came for him to choose a performing name, he decided to use ‘Big Lice’.
Big Lice has been singing Calypsos for some three decades and was inspired at a young age by Antiguan calypsonians Swallow and Short Shirt, while locally he looked up to the legendary Ellie Matt and King Sweeny.
Wattley explained that he was well-known for his hard hitting social commentaries whenever he performed for his hundreds of enthralled fans.
Could the Federation see Big Lice’s return to the Calypso arena for Sugar Mas’ 43?
Look out for Part Two in which Big Lice talks about his career both in Calypso and personal life as well as what he has been up to lately.
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.
