Young calypsonians are being urged to stay in the game after they mature out of the Junior Monarch competition.
Minister of Culture, Creative Economy and Sports, John King was giving a pep talk to the 16 finalists of the Scotiabank Junior Monarch Competition this morning before they battle it out at the Garfield Sobers Gymnasium tonight, when he indicated that a number of junior calypsonians unfortunately do not advance into the Pic-O-De-Crop competition when they outgrew the junior competition.
“A lot of our young people are not translating into the major competitions which are the Pic-O-De-Crop and other things as grown adults or young adults,” said the minister, who reminded the youngsters that they were the future of the art form.
“It is important that the art form of calypso continues, this is where we tell our stories, this is where we understand who we are, not only for ourselves but for the rest of the world.”
As he reminded the finalists of the seven to 12 and 13 to 18 categories of the historic importance of calypso in capturing momentous events that have transformed Barbados, King emphasized that the art form contributed to the development of societal thought.
“Once we have young people who are interested in and who are willing to sing about the issues and willing to put themselves on the line, not only is it that calypso as an art form grows, but society at large grows, because it says you are invested in the land you are born.”
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