Calypso

The Calypso roots can be found in the music of West Africa (Kaiso is the root name of Calypso originating from Nigeria). Following the West African pattern of praise and satire calypso became an inseparable part of Carnival life. Transplanted to the Caribbean calypso became a tool for criticising the British establishment. Over the decades it has become respectable while never losing its fighting folk origins, something echoed in the names of the artists - Atilla the Hun, Panther, Striker, Sniper. The godfathers of modern calypso are The Mighty Sparrow and Lord Kitchener who dominated the scene up until the 1980's.

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