Local calypsos to return to NCN airwaves

Feb 16, 2016 News

After an absence of more than two years, local Calpysonians will have their music played on the

King Perai

local airwaves; at least on the state-owned radio network.
Beginning today the music of the 10 finalists in the National Mashramani Calypso Competition will be given airplay on the National Communications Network.
This assurance was given yesterday by NCN’S Assistant Manager (Radio), Michela Abraham-Ali, in response to queries by this newspaper.
This year’s Mashramani Calypso Competition has already completed its semi final stage, with the finals set for this weekend. There are concerns that the songs are not being played on the local airwaves; at least not on NCN.
Calypso lovers had begun to wonder if the state-owned National Communications Network was continuing the policy it had adopted under the previous PPP/C government of not giving the music airplay.
The PPP/C, through one of its Ministers, had banned the playing of calypsos, most of which were critical of the administration, a move that was condemned by the calypso fraternity both in Guyana and abroad.
But, according to Abraham-Ali, this is certainly not the case this year.
She explained that the NCN is gearing up to begin playing the music of all 10 finalists for this year’s Calypso competition, beginning today.
“We have intentions of playing all equally. They will be given frequent rotation. On any given day you

De Professor

will hear all ten calypsos that made it to the finals,” Abraham-Ali told this newspaper.
Local calypso buffs believe, though, that the belated move to play the music with just one week to go before the finals is not doing the Calypsonians any good.
“In Trinidad and the other islands, they begin playing Calypso and Soca months before their actual carnival. It gives people a sense of what to expect from the musicians,” a local calypso lover stated.
Abraham-Ali explained that as at yesterday, NCN had received the recording of only five calypsos that are part of this year’s competition, but only three of these made it to the final.
She said that efforts were made to record some more from the semi final that was held in Linden last weekend.
However the recordings were not of the right quality for airplay.
“I was given a commitment to get in the rest and we are supposed to start playing them today,” the NCN Assistant Manager said.
An official from the Department of Culture told this newspaper that it’s the individual Calypsonian’s responsibility to get their music recorded and make it available for airplay.
Already tongues are wagging with the little bits and pieces of this year’s calypsos that are given some airtime on a few radio stations and on the internet; and judging from the quality of the compositions, this year’s calypso finals should be a sold out affair.
Fans can look forward to music from the 10 finalists, who include Young Bill Rogers, De Professor, Ras Marcus, Mighty Duke, Mighty Voter, Queen Daria, Mighty Believer and Abigail James.
This year’s Junior Calypso Monarch, T’shanna Cort, and former Monarch, Lady Tempest, (Camille Goliah) who is making a grand return to competition make up the 10 finalists who will be trying to dethrone reigning Calypso champion “King Perai.