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Osei ‘OKC’ Clarke …The underdog who captured the Senior Calypso Crown
—looks forward to winning streak
By Francwa Fortune
Kaieteur News-Twenty-three-year-old Osei Clarke popularly known by his stage name, “OKC,’ is a Guyanese artiste, who has competed in several competitions since 2007.
Clark and has placed in all genres of the performing arts and is a physical education and language instructor at a private institution. He is also a television presenter as well as the reigning 2024 Calypso Monarch of Guyana.
Calypso winner Osei ‘OKC’ Clarke
His first inspiration came from his mother who is a singer in her church. He said her constant support and encouragement pushed him into the performing arts.
Clarke shared that his first competition was back in 2007. He competed in his school’s Mashramani competition in dramatic poetry and placed first and was named national poetry champion for that year.
In 2021 he broke the barriers when he entered the Junior Calypso and, winning in both categories and making history since he was now the first junior to ever win bo Soca monarch competitionsth titles.
In 2024 after winning the Senior Calypso Competition and placing second in the Senior Soca Competition, as well as having an excellent showing in the Senior Chutney Competition, Clarke’s musical career took a turn for the better.
He was given numerous opportunities to perform at the State House for President Irfaan Ali, as well as performing at the conference centre for the CARICOM Summit. He did not stop there, he was given the opportunity, as the reigning Calypso monarch, to perform in Trinidad and Suriname twice.
Clarke released his Senior Soca entry for this year called ‘Bashment Overload’ on January 14, 2025. The inspiration came from a preparation for carnival back in August 2024, when the song was written for Guyana’s carnival celebration. However, the artist and his producer decided that “we need to do a bashment song for mash, since it is not so popular in Guyana.”
Osei ‘OKC’ Clarke …The underdog who captured the Senior Calypso Crown
He told The Waterfalls “Previous years I’ve been looked at as an underdog in this competition.” He excelled in the junior categories and has been excelling in the seniors in all musical genres that he entered.
Clarke mentioned that his journey to the crown last year was not easy. He was faced with several challenges. His major challenge was acquiring sponsorship from companies, because he was not as recognized as some of his other competitors. He was not given as much support, and so he had to work ten times harder to acquire all that he needed to compete. He overcome his challenges by preparing himself mentally as well as watching motivational videos and performances of his favorite artistes, Voice and Olatunji, which gave him the courage to go on.
Clarke revealed his long term goal for his musical career is to take it internationally and perform on stages such as Marshal Monday, vibes with Voice and second Sunday.
However, he is currently laying the foundation, to take over Soca music and become the face of Soca music in Guyana. Caribbean countries are also opening doors for him to secure his dream of becoming an international artiste. Additionally, he wishes to collaborate with famous Guyanese artistes like Timeka Marshall and Adrian Dutchin and perform and collaborate with Olatunji Yearwood and Voice, who are both Trinidadian musicians.
(Osei ‘OKC’ Clarke …The underdog who captured the Senior Calypso Crown)
- “OKC, Guyanese Artiste, Junior Calypso, Mashramani competition, Osei Clarke, Sattaur, Soca monarch competitions
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