in

Love ItLove It

MEET Black Stalin : Calypso King from San Fernando

Calypso is the most popular music genre in The Bahamas and throughout the Caribbean.  (I’m not 100% sure about the entire Caribbean, but since my husband and father are both Bahamian, I definitely know it is a type of music that is listened to by most people from that country.)

My husband introduced me to an entertainer called “Black Stalin”. His real name Leroy Calliste.  He is a well known singer (or calypsonian) in the islands. He’s not from The Bahamas; he is a militant Rastafarian from Trinidad and Tobago, born in a city called San Fernando.  In 1999, this performer was given the title “Calypso King of the World” and he has lived up to the title for quite sometime. You’ve got to listen to the words of the song, “Burn Dem”. The lyrics are loaded with historical references, calling names of corrupt people from all around the world with the New Testament scriptural concept of the Apostle Peter being at the Gates of Heaven not letting certain people enter heaven because … well! … they know what kind of life they lived.

The song sort of reminds me of Dante’s Inferno. (We had to read excerpts of this poem in high school. Seems there were quite a few historical figures who weren’t allowed to “enter in”.) Inferno (Italian for “Hell”) is the first part of Dante Alighieri’s 14th-century epic poem “Divine Comedy” which tells Dante’s journey through Hell, guided by the ancient Roman poet Virgil.

The song “Burn Dem” has tremendous power for conjuring all kinds of visual images in my mind.  If you listen to it, you’ll start visualizing all kinds of images.  No kidding!

Final Note:  Though I may not agree with his militancy, his religion, his lifestyle, or some of his music, I do admire him for the fact that he calls his wife “First Lady”.  (Read it in an article published by westindianculture.com; however, the article is no longer published online.)

Related Link:   Webb,Yvonne. “Stalin’s Family Welcomes Proposal to Honour Him.” Trinidad and Tobago Newsday, Newsday, 25 July 2018, newsday.co.tt/2018/07/24/stalins-family-welcomes-proposal-to-honour-him/.

* * *

  • Question of

    Are you familiar with calypso music?

    • Yes
    • No
  • Question of

    Have you ever heard of Black Stalin?

    • Yes
    • No
  • Question of

    Have you ever visited San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago?

    • Yes
    • No
  • Question of

    Have you ever read “Divine Comedy”?

    • Yes
    • No

Report

What do you think?

4 Comments