Latest update February 13th, 2025 4:37 PM
Latest News
- Brutus withdraws second lawsuit filed against the state
- GPHC fires senior doctor over stillbirth
- Despite not paying taxes, Exxon boss says profit sharing and royalty is same as giving Guyana tax
- ExxonMobil makes application for 8th oil project
- After Putin call, Trump says negotiations to end Ukraine war will start ‘immediately’
Calypsonians boycott NCN
We speak about what we read in the news and we give our take on it. When you do that, you hear the music is not suitable for air play. Well, we have decided that we will not be submitting our tracks. It is disheartening that we can’t get the music to be played on the radio but that is the reality we live with. And we are not going to fool ourselves that the government has had a change of heart about anti-government music.”
This year’s Calypso Competition has come and gone, and there has been absolutely no air play on national radio of most of the songs that made it to the final last Friday night.
As is customary, the songs will be placed into “The Cabinet of relics”, maybe only to be brought out and used on “certain occasions.”
But while the calypsonians labeled the non-playing of their songs on the so called ban imposed on some of last year’s calypsos, this year’s scenario may not have been entirely the fault of the National Communications Network (NCN).
Several of the contestants have expressed that they refused to submit their tunes to be played on the government’s radio out of fear of severe censorship.
Robeson Benn, Public Works Minister
They insisted, “We would not waste our hard earned money to record a song only to fool ourselves that it would be played on the radio.”
Last year’s songs from the Adult Calypso Competition which were deemed “anti-government” were banned from the radio, following concerns raised by Public Works Minister, Robeson Benn.
After hearing the lyrics of a particular song, Benn said he found it to be “abusive, and libelous or rather slanderous.”
According to previous reports, He was also quoted as saying that he is of the belief that such music should not be “played through the government’s radio station.”
Benn added that he felt uncomfortable with the content of the music as it contained certain baseless remarks.
He however denied ordering the banning of calypsos.
In light of last year’s situation, several Calypsonians, who participated on the 2014 Calypso Competition with songs that are critical of the government, contended that they would not be wasting their money to record the songs and take it to the National Communications Network for air play.
Seven of this year’s 10 finalists had voiced their frustrations about the state media.
One Calypsonian said, “Kaiso music is all about social commentary. We speak about what we read in the news and we give our take on it. When you do that, you hear the music is not suitable for air play. Well, we have decided that we will not be submitting our tracks. It is disheartening that we can’t get the music to be played on the radio but that is the reality we live with. And we are not going to fool ourselves that the government has had a change of heart about anti-government music.”
Aaron Blackman
Another Calypsonian urged, “We need an autonomous body that can fight for our cause. It is that kind of censorship that says a lot about the mindset of this government.”
The Calypsonians then charged that the purpose of Calypso is to speak on the truth of the matter through a song and that the government’s decision to ban the music from air play shows that they only have a false sense of respect and appreciation for the genre.
When this publication contacted the President of the Calypso Association, Aaron Blackman in relation to the issue, he said that he does not know the status of the ban on the anti-government music but said, “NCN has indicated that they will play some of the music but I’m not sure which ones they will play.”
Moreover, calls made to those in charge at the NCN proved futile.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
An Open Letter to the election observer missions
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News-Later this year, you will arrive in Guyana as protectors of the integrity of our democracy.... more
OAS Secretary General Election and renewed OAS Consensus
Antiguan Barbudan Ambassador to the United States, Sir Ronald Sanders By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- The upcoming election... more
Weekend Cartoon
