WELCOME BACK!

WELCOME BACK!

Intercol is to Grenada and Grenadians what football is to Brazilians and hockey is to Canadians and the turnout at today’s (March 30^th) final day of competition drove home that point resounding.

First off, the adults – on either side of the divide- should feel ashamed that, pandemic aside, young student-athletes were denied the opportunity for this level of competition and engagement because grown adults could not find an amicable solution to a labor dispute. One hopes this behavior is something of the past never to be repeated.

No less a person that Grenadian Olympian and ‘Iron Man’ Lindon Victor noted in a social media post earlier this evening, “the future of track and field in Grenada is in good hands”.

Anyone, with even a casual interest in the just concluded Intercol will have to agree, wholeheartedly. The performances, spirited and fraught with raw emotions, buoyed by natural talent and gritty determination makes Lindon’s words, track and field gospel.

The familiar names, the household names, the ‘veterans’, the newcomers all contributed to a most memorable return of Intercol.

The Organizers must be commended for the inclusion of the Special Education athletes in this year’s meet and the addition of the combined events. And with each new challenge, each new level of contest our young athletes are stepping to ensure our track and field future is indeed in good hands.

To the Officials the selfless commitment to three days under the blistering sun makes you champions in your own rights. Keith Williams in particular, words cannot describe your efforts in every meet leading up to and including Intercol. Those who are responsible for assigning national honors must not be attending track and field meets, but I digress.

The effort to provide one central broadcast feed for Intercol was certainly the right decision and making the television broadcast free-to-air for the local audience with a pay-per-view option for audiences elsewhere was unquestionably forward-thinking and must be maintained. Now that Intercol is being broadcast to a wider audience issues about the quality of the on-air talent must be addressed in a very serious manner. Workshops, pre-Intercol broadcast meetings and the coverage of school sports leading up to Intercol must all be pre-requisites for Intercol broadcast coverage. Broadcasters are conveyers of the action through descriptive and simple language. The avoidance of cliches and sounding like cheerleaders of a particular school or athlete, cheapens the quality of the broadcast and does a disservice to the action on the track. Grenada has the talent it just requires preparatory work and dedication and a duty to showcase the athletes in a most neutral and controlled tone and nothing else. The same goes for the in-venue announcers, neutrality is your friend embrace it. Provide the audience with the necessary information while sidestepping the urge to be cheerleaders for a particular school or athlete.

Outside of Jamaica, Grenada’s Intercol is the region’s largest and most dynamic schools’ athletics meet. To grow it as a product and event will require greater effort, deeper thinking and planning, a wider scope of involvement and a bigger vision for what the Meet means to the student-athletes in particular and Grenadians as a whole. It is a showcase of our best and with the present-day technology, other schools, coaches, agents and recruiters now have access to the performances in real time to make decisions that can positively affect the life of a young Grenadian forever. Let us not undervalue nor undersell this fantastic platform.

Congratulations to all who made the past three days a success; corporate Grenada, the Volunteers, the Organizers – but most importantly the young student-athletics who were deprived this stellar stage, through no fault of theirs, for the past four years or so.

To all the participants in Intercol 2023 you are all winners, to the medalists and those accumulating the most points, well done. And to Intercol – Welcome back!

A Made In Grenada Publication ©

GOOD NIGHT QUEENS PARK -Part 4

GOOD NIGHT QUEENS PART – Part 4

‘Last year the race was tough to the monarchy

Everybody was rough, hard and ready’.

These are the opening lines to Inspector’s 1991 song entitled, They Kill The King. Those lines inferred the quality of the Calypso competition in 1990.

To provide context for 1990 and the five or so years that followed one will have to take a brief historical and political look at Grenada post-Independence.

The December 1984 General Elections, the first after the 1983 collapse of the People’s Revolutionary Government, was won by the New National Party (14 seats) over the Grenada United Labor Party (1 seat).

The NNP was founded on August 26^th, 1984, through a merger of the Grenada National Party, led by Herbert Blaize, the National Democratic Party, led by George Brizan and the Grenada Democratic Movement led by, Dr. Francis Alexis.

As leader of the NNP and Prime Minister Mr. Blaize took his fair share of “licks” from the Calypsonians with Herbie (Smokey1986) and Dead Horse (Skylark 1988) immediately coming to mind.

In January 1989 Dr Keith Mitchell, then Minister of Works and Communications in the Blaize administration, challenged Blaize and was successful in his attempt to become leader of the NNP. Dr. Mitchell was subsequently dismissed from his government post by Mr. Blaize on July 21^st, 1989.

 Sadly, while still Prime Minster, Herbert Augustus Blaize, passed away on December 19^th, 1989. The then Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ben Jones became Prime Minister until elections were held on March 13^th, 1990.

The New National Party split with George Brizan and Dr. Francis Alexis forming the National Democratic Congress, which won the 1990 General Elections. The GULP won four seats the NNP and the TNP two each.

True to form the Calypsonian addressed the signs of an impending break up of the “House” (the symbol of the NNP) when Black Wizard orated in his 1987 performance of The House the following chorus:

‘Everyday her walls keep cracking,

I can see them pillars shaking,

Like she didn’t have no good foundation,

Everyday is more erosion,

Its rocking to and fro,

So if a strong breeze blow,

Boy that house will be no more.’

This state of political turbulence and the sadness of losing a seating Prime Minister influenced the songs that were composed and performed during the 1990 Carnival season.

The Calypsos delivered on Dimanche Gras night, in particular, were a mixture of potent lyrical tunes and some classic party songs.

Among the offerings were:

• What Next Shall The World Be, The Hitman – Inspector
• Do It For The Children, Double Tenor Girl – Ajamu
• What is Calypso, The International Airport – The Praying Mantis
• Majority Rules, Walls – Black Wizard
• More Steelpan, Salsa She Want – Randy Isaac
• Reconstruct Grenada, Launching Rockets – Squeezy
• Grenada Reality, Ah Coming – Skylark
• Fire, Down Dey – Eggies

Among the topics addressed in those stellar masterpieces were the collapse of the Berlin Wall, the release of Nelson Mandela, the attempted coup in Trinidad and the burning of the local treasury building. 

The show opened with the defending Monarch, Inspector, singing in position number one and it was always going to be a tough task  for him to repeat.

Ajamu came back with a vengeance in 1990 after losing out to Inspector in 1989 and in addition to the two songs rendered on the night his other 1990 recordings included, Open Up The Door (the 1990 road march winner)and Warrior Come Back.

During his encore performance after being announced the Calypso King, Ajamu performed Warrior Come Back that included this verse:

‘Well ah hope them judges prepare cause this year

Ah aint want no controversy ah taking them clear

Ah go have everybody jumping to my soca melody

So ah want you tell winer boy Inspector for me

This year is me and he

This time I won’t have no sympathy for no one at all

So anyone ah them who tackle me ah go make them bawl

Black Wizard ah warning you

Be careful of what you do

‘Cause ah wont ease up on you’.

Black Wizard placed second on that night, the Inspector lost his crown and Grenadians witnessed one of the greatest calypso competitions in the Country’s history.

That riveting night of calypso excellence and the prevailing party atmosphere was further enhanced by a vibrant performance of Drunk and Bawling Out by Durity, one of the more popular songs of the 1990 carnival season.

The Calypso brilliance continued in 1991 and some well-known and timeless compositions came out of that carnival season.

Lick Them Down by Ajamu

When The Carnival Over by Black Wizard

Give Them Space by Inspector

The Ting Doh Work by Tangler

Pull Him Out by Squeezy

Call The Doctor by Eggies

Sing Ah Calypso by African Teller

Imagine the standard of competition when these classics and others were all performed on one night and on the same stage.

One of Inspector’s most underrated recordings, They Kill The King ((98) G.B.T.V. CultureShare ARCHIVES 1991: INSPECTOR “Deh kill de king” (HD) – YouTube) encapsulates the intensity of the 1991 season.

Even with the high level of songs the lyrical jabs were very much alive, In When The Carnival Over, Black Wizard went back to Inspector’s 1989 winning number Me Neighbor for material for the third verse.

‘You dabbling in prophecy,

you singing big philosophy, year after year,

Why don you do like Inspector,

and sing something with humor, like neighbor,

Girl ah man beating he woman,

is a very serious question, in this era,

It is not something to make fun,

to make you jump up and down, in Dimanche Gras.’

The quality of the competition in 1992 quite possibly surpassed the 1991 season, not only for content but also historic context. Ajamu won his third consecutive crown, joining Flying Turkey to accomplish that rare feat and at the same time surpassing Turkey’s four titles to be the first five-time winner of the national calypso title.

Ironically, Flying returned to competition in 1992, after an eight-year hiatus and his songs included the immortal Grenada Belongs To We and placed third with Wizard second.

On that auspicious occasion Ajamu was crowned by the 1992 Carnival Queen, Miss Linda Waldron.

That win was hard-fought against a cast of finalists that included:

Squeezy, Peter Humphrey, Praying Mantis, Black Wizard, Flying Turkey, Smokey, Inspector, Bubbler and Vibrator.

A struggling NDC government felt the full wraith of the Calypsonians in 1992 with offerings such as:

Structural Adjustment – Bubbler

Ah Doh Know – Black Wizard

Please – Smokey

Out Ah Control – Inspector

Bees – Vibrator

The chorus to Vibrator’s Bees represented the collective opinion of one section of the population.

‘B for Braithwaite, you also know B for Brizan

B for Bishop, B for Blaize and B for Bernard

B for Ben Jones and all ah dem rule this Country

Go back to the G ‘cause we getting sting by the Bees’

But the night belonged to Ajamu and during his performance of Take It in round 2 he distanced himself from the others.

His picong verse went like this:

But ah never see such ignorancy, now they attacking me personally

The man like he want to strangle me, he saying is me that want the monarchy

But tell him he make ah big mistake, like the braids and gold teeth have him blind

Why should I crave behind the crown when everybody know the thing is mine

So Squeezy you looking for sympathy, but let me tell you , you aint talking to me

You trying your best to belittle me at any cost, but tonight tonight we go find who is the boss

Listen people I aint like to boast, but they making me do it by force

So tell them ‘Jamu maniacs to hold on tight, ‘cause ah feeding them with Turkey soup tonight.

Next we look at Inspector’s 2^nd senior calypso crown, Black Wizard’s first, more classics performed on Dimanche Gras night and the final Calypso competition at Queens Park.

A Made In Grenada Publication ©

Video credit – Gentle Ben TV

GOOD NIGHT QUEENS PARK Part 3

Arthur ‘Smokey’ Stephen won two Calypso titles in 1985 and 1986 with what could be considered heavy-hitting songs with immense lyrical content addressing political disturbances and social ills.

In 1986 Edson ‘Ajamu’ Mitchell made the calypso finals with two compositions –Desiree and La Diablesse that were considered lyrically light when compared to Make Me Wonder and Save The Youth by Smokey.

 Smokey was dethroned by Ajamu, in 1987, with one of Ajamu’s compositions being Calypso Warrior. During his winning performance on Dimanche Gras night Ajamu referred to the debate about his choice of songs for the 1986 competition. During the third verse he sang:

“They say ah throw away the crown last year with the songs I chose to sing in Dimanche Gras show

But some say my lyrics just couldn’t compare with the Smokey boy political calypso”

The subtle and not so subtle digs at each other by Calypsonians on Dimanche Gras at the Queens Park became a staple of the competition and proved to be a stimulant to attract thousands to the Park during that glorious era of Grenadian calypso.

Ajamu’s other song, that gave him his first calypso crown, was We Shouldn’t Worry. The opening lines of the song went like this:

“Its not everyday the sun will come out to shine, so brother don’t worry, ah tell you don’t worry

Regardless of how high is the hill you have to climb so sister don’t worry, ah tell you don’t worry”

With Ajamu defending in 1988 the target was on his back and it was expected that the other finalists would come after him and Praying Mantis certainly did so. He responsed to Ajamu’s We Shouldn’t Worry, with a song entitled Portrait with the distinct hook line “I must worry”.

“If I cannot drive me girl to a quiet place at night

Because ah ‘fraid ah bandit go ups with ah gun and out we light

I must worry about the state of things in this country

I must worry about the crimes occurring daily

I must worry, yes I must worry

I am so sorry but I must worry”

Praying Mantis’ other 1988 rendtion was entitled I Am A Winner

And included the following lines:

“In 1986 they really let me down, refuse to play my political song

But Smokey mock the PM and he won the crown

So I tell myself that something must be wrong “

The 1986 reference is to Smokey’s Herbie.

In defense of his crown Ajamu’s 1988 offerings were the immortal My Grenada and Heat.

Singing in position number nine on Dimanche Gras night Ajamu did not back down from competition, offering in the third verse of Heat:

“ Is all kinda ole talk in me head,

They trying to see if they could get me scared.

The fellas like Mantis who playing test,

Saying they go put Ajamu to rest”

Among the finalists competing on Dimanche Gras night 1988 were:

Bubbler (deceased)

Black Wizard

The Inspector

Singing MC

Eggies

Jenny Adams

Ajamu’s two-year reign ended in 1989 with what most calypso pundits deemed an eventuality – the Inpsector winning his first Senior Calypso crown.

Inspector became Grenada’s youngest holder the senior calypso title, just eclipsing the Flying Turkey who was also nineteen when he won his first crown in1976, by a few weeks.

On the night of Sunday August 13^th, 1989, the Queens Park witnessed a showdown of epic proportions, it was a night of big tunes and dynamic performances to match.

Ajamu with Unity and My Calypso

Praying Mantis with Tribute to the Martyrs and Spice Island Jam

Black Wizard with Tell Stone and IMF.

{It is the view of this author that IMF is one of the greatest calypso compositions of all time. A complex topic broken down into three verses and chorus that are comprehensible across all social strata and placed on a sophisticated bed of delightful yet intricate musical arrangement}

Inspector with Wrong Way and Me Neighbor

It was Inspector who eventually prevailed, completely stopping the band during the rendition of Me Neighbor. That moved surprised the audience at Queens Park but the timeliness of the restart of the band had the Park in a frenzy and even the judges had to agree that Inspector was the best on the night.

Other Calypsonians making the finals that year included Randy Isaac (his first Dimanche Gras), Reggie Charles, Skylark, Little Pinky and Darius.

The calypso intensity would continue in 1990 as Ajamu began another winning streak that would place him among a very select few in Grenada Calypso royalty.

A Made In Grenada Publication ©

_{Video compliments Gentle Ben TV}

GOOD NIGHT QUEENS PARK Part 2

GOOD NIGHT QUEEN’S PARK – Part 2

 The collapse of the Grenada Revolution in October of 1983 meant that the Flying Turkey who was serving in the People’s Revolutionary Army was once again private citizen Cecil Belfon and available to partake in the local Calypso competitions. His return was majestic and like Timpo in 1981, Turkey won both the Road March and Calypso titles in 1984! Curious Children and Byron were his two renditions with Byron the tune of choice for the road. The presentation of that song, with popular Master of Ceremonies Senator running through the stands of the old Queens Park mimicking a “madman” all but guaranteed that the Flying Turkey was about to secure his fourth consecutive title – he won in 1976, 1977, 1978, did not compete thereafter and won in 1984 his first year back. Turkey’s win also shifted the momentum from what was shaping up to be full dominance by Calypso Tents from outside of St. George. Kalypso Kastle from St. Andrew and Black Roots from St. Patrick being able to brag of the winners of the three previous years. Flying Turkey belonged to the WeTent based in St. Paul’s. It was a tent he co-founded after winning the calypso monarch for the first time in 1976. He was previously a member of the Norman DeSouza- managed Southeast Brigades.

The upstart We Tent featured the likes of Lady Success, Defender, Bush Tea and Chain.

After his win in 1984 Flying Turkey felt he had nothing to prove in calypso and so he retired. He would later return in 1992 (more on that later). The We Tent also folded in 1984 following Turkey’s retirement, leading to the formation of another calypso tent in the Laborie/St. Pauls area, Culture Rise. This tent featured the likes of Little Reds, Soca Boca and Smokey.

The winning traditions of the constituency of St. George South East continued with Smokey earning the calypso monarch titles in 1985 and 1986. Smokey’s first title featured performances of song entitled Love and a seminal rendition –  Herbie. The song focused on the governance challenges facing then Prime Minister Herbert Blaize. As with all great calypsos Herbie provides an accurate historical context through the unique story-telling skills of the Calypsonian.

 Smokey’s second calypso crown, in 1986, with the entries, Make Me Wonder and Save The Youth again were topical and timely renditions. Even with professional music duties on cruise ships Smokey maintained his connectivity to what was taking place at home thus enabling him to be a staple in the calypso finals at Queens Park throughout the 80’s and into the 1990’s.

While Smokey’s two-year streak was taking place another significant streak of wins, within the same timeframe was happening. A lanky teenager from St. Patrick emerged in 1985 to win both the Junior Calypso Monarch and the Road March. The exact same feat was repeated in 1986.

Elimus ‘Inspector’ Gilbert won his first National titles at age fourteen and immediately endeared himself on a population that embraced his awkwardness and his captivating stage presence. Dance became an immediate hit and was a unanimous winner of the coveted road march title.

In 1986 Inspector was even more dominant with No Kicks For ’86, a song that was banned from radio air-play and relying on DJs rewinding cassettes each time the song ended, No Kicks still proved impossible to beat as loyal and dedicated fans waited patiently behind music trucks for the rewind process to be complete and the song to begin all over again.

Following the exploits of Smokey and the Inspector in 1985 and 1986 another streak of wins began in 1987 with Edson ‘Ajamu’ Mitchell winning his first calypso crown. His renditions in that year included We Shouldn’t Worry, and his second winning composition introduced Grenada to the “Calypso Warrior”. Ajamu repeated in 1987 with anthemic My Grenada and Heat.

For the next decade or so Grenada and Grenadians enjoyed the greatest calypso rivalry since Independence and the phrase, Good Night Queens Park would become cemented in Grenadian vernacular forever.

Part 3 delves deeper into those historic rivalries.

Pictured below – the old Queens Park

_{(picture sourced from RealFM’s Facebook page)}

SOCA AT A CRUCIAL INTERSECTION

March 06^th, 2023

Over the weekend the news broke that the National Cultural Foundation in Barbados has taken the decision to cancel its Soca Monarch competition, in the same year Trinidad had to cancel its International Soca Monarch competition.

Let us be clear, it is not a trend since both competitions happened under different governances – the International Soca Monarch was a privately-owned enterprise depending on a public-private partnership for sustenance. The Barbados Soca Monarch is government-owned (through the NCF).

Additionally, the reasons for cancellation are not similar in anyway. Lack of funding and general lack of interest (by Artistes and audience) has led to the demise of the product in Trinidad. In Barbados, the decision to cancel was reached after consultations with stake-holders and with a view to provide better opportunities and a more lucrative outlet for Barbados’ soca.

In Grenada, as far back as 2002, we undertook to do the ‘one concert’ concept featuring the best songs and Artistes of the season. This idea gave birth to Made In Grenada and total local showcase featuring 40 Artistes.

The necessary infrastructure is already in place to accommodate Barbados’ venture into a new realm of commercialization for its soca music. A functioning copyright organization (COSCAP), a bevy of professional Artistes Managers, outstanding production houses and studios (the Red Boys immediately come to mind) a track record of billboard success via Rupee and the inspiration wrought by the immense global success of Rihanna all provide the ingredients for soca in Barbados to evolve from the confines of an annual, one night showdown to compete with other global genres that satisfy the tastes of a global village.

Here in Grenada the lack of any proper support structure makes a similar venture, at least for now, unattainable. A mature conversation needs to be had, excluding the individuals who are not in sync with the working of the global music industry. Too often decisions about the Grenadian music industry lies with those who either don’t know or don’t care to know. Last year’s decision by some of the top Acts to sit out the various competitions drove home the point that the audience is interested in the seeing and listening to the Artistes not the administrators.

Grenada’s Soca Monarch competition has been unique in that it still commands an audience in the thousands, still allows for at least one break-through act each year and produces songs that are less about instructions but more about melody, lyrics and music.

The way forward should be to get Boyzie, Wuss Ways, Dash and Vaughn back into competition, at least for 2023 while at the same time using the Government’s mandate of focus on the Creative Industries to build the necessary infrastructure a la Barbados.

However. Its not all on Government and committees, the Artistes must want better for themselves, must have a clear understanding of how the music industry works and must be willing to put in the hard work along with the discipline to enjoy the successes of Hip-hop, Reggaeton, Afrobeats etc.

Soca music is at a crossroads the decisions taken over the next couple of years will determine its fate.

A Made In Grenada Publication ©

Grenada Celebrates…50!

MARCH 02nd, 2023

Made In Grenada announces its theme for the celebration of Grenada’s 50 th
anniversary of Independence.

Our selected theme is – Grenada Celebrates its People and Successes at 50 with
an abbreviated version – Grenada Celebrates…50!
The theme was specifically chosen to focus on celebrating our outstanding
citizens and our achievements over the past fifty years.
The Made In Grenada celebrations begin in March of 2023 and will end in March
2025.

Those celebrations will include publications, research and documentation, music
production (remakes, remixes and original music) and events.

The presence of the above creative, conversion of the Grenada flag will signify an item
or event as a certified Made In Grenada 50 th Anniversary item or event.
The first item in the Made In Grenada 50 th anniversary celebrations is a multi-part
series of essays on the background of the Calypso Competition at the Queens Park
in St. George’s.

GOOD NIGHT QUEEN’S PARK – Part 1

This familiar phrase grew in popularity on Dimanche Night (Carnival Sunday)
during the 1980’s and 1990’s when, one can argue, the Calypso competition in
Grenada reached its zenith.
After the Master of Ceremonies introduced an Artiste it was quite common that
the next utterances would be the voice of said Artiste with the salutation, “Good
Night Queen’s Park”.

For those unfamiliar with the origin of the phrase, it was coined from the fact that
the Calyspo finals were held on the main field of the recreation area known as
Queen’s Park. Queen’s Park was that area from the main road on the west, just
before the Green Bridge to the Park School and Wesley College on the east and
bordered by the St. John River to the south and the Darbeau Hills to the north. In
fact, it was one Ms. Lucy Darbeau who gifted the area to the people of Grenada
to be used for recreation. At a point in the history of the area it was divided into 4
playing fields but it was the main area with pavilion etc. that became a regular
venue for the performance and delivery of some of Grenada’s greatest
compositions.

Post-independence saw an explosion of those fierce calypso battles at the Park,
producing some of Grenada’s most infectious hits and most cherished calypso and
carnival memories.
With the political and social turmoil leading up to Independence, on Thursday
February 07 th , 1974 it is quite understandable that the carnival celebrations
scheduled for Monday 25 th and Tuesday 26 th of February that same year had to be
cancelled.

The first Calypso competition after Independence was won by Lord Slim from
the Calypso Rama calypso tent from Beaulieu, St. George, on Sunday February 9 th ,
two days after the first anniversary of Grenada’s Independence.

The 1976, 1977 and 1978 competitions were dominated by a youngster from
Laborie, St. George. The wins by Cecil Belfon, calypso sobriquet the Flying Turkey,
were significant beyond the history-making hat-trick of wins. The victories and
their accompanying songs introduced a new generation to Calypso and
encouraged a new movement to writing and singing.

Calypso now took on a more
intellectual and lyrical tone and moved away from the perception that was a
‘saga-boy’ pastime, pursed by those who just wanted to dress fancy, sing and
dance and not look to a more constructive way of making a living. Flying Turkey
and his triumphs dispelled those notions and made Calypso and the competition
much more mainstream.

Turkey won his third Calypso title in May 1978. In that
year the Independence anniversary and Carnival Tuesday were both on the same
day – February 07 th . Prime Minister Eric Gairy was not going to allow a Carnival
Tuesday celebrations to get in the way of his Country’s 4 th anniversary of
Independence celebrations and so carnival took place for the first time in May.

Unfortunately more political upheaval got in the way of the Carnival celebrations
in 1979. The February 26 th and 27 th carnival celebrations were cancelled just three
weeks before the infamous Grenada Revolution on Tuesday, March 13 th , 1979.
In 1980 carnival was once again held in the month of May, amidst uncertainty as
to whether or not there will be any carnival at all. This time it was under the new
People’s Revolutionary Government and a Policeman (Survivor) from St. John
walked away with the Calypso title.

The uncertainty ensued in 1981 and there was constant chatter as to if and when
Carnival will be held. The indecision led to one of the most popular recordings of
that era, “We Want We Carnival’, by Randolph Thomas – Timpo.
‘When we hear this talk all about, East, West, North and South
It sent us in despair; when we hear no carnival this year’
These are the opening lines of the monster hit that gave Timpo both the Calypso
and Road March titles.

‘Look we want we carnival, we want we bachannal
If we doh get jump up this year, it go be dam unfair
Come on Mr. CDC give us we festivity’
The chorus to the afore-mentioned hit that ruled the airwaves in 1981.

One of the features and successes of Calypso during that period was the Calypso
Tents and one of the most successful and dominant tents in the late 1970’s and
early 1980’s was Kalypso Kastle. Timpo belonged to the Kalypso Kastle. He
boycotted the competition in 1982 (not defending his crown) in solidarity with his
tent that were, in their estimation, being treated unfairly by the then Carnival
Development Committee.
Another tent, Black Roots from St. Patrick, enjoyed the reign of the Merry
Monarch with African Teller emerging victorious in 1982. Black Roots continued
its winning ways with Lady Cynthy becoming the first female Calypso Monarch in
Grenada in 1983.

Part 2 will focus on the return of Flying Turkey and the emergence of Ajamu and
Inspector.

A Made In Grenada Publication ©