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July 19, 2021
“Everybody give praise
Rally, rally ‘round the West Indies
Now and forever
Rally, rally ‘round the West Indies
Now and forevermore.”
David Rudder, “Rally Round the West Indies,” 1987
Imagine one book that engenders community pride causes Granny and Daddy to reminisce with joyful tears and pushes readers to jump out of their chairs dancing and singing to the music pounding silently in their heads. How can that be?
History of West Indies Cricket Through Calypsoes does it all. The author, Nasser Khan, taps two significant passions of the Caribbean; cricket, and calypso; and juxtaposes them to illustrate almost 100 years of intertwining. Khan organizes 215 cricket calypsoes into categories, including “Players,” “World Cups Celebrations,” “Politics /Social Commentary/Satire,” and “Humor/Double Entendre Innuendo Calypsoes.”
We are treated to the history of West Indies cricket, a list of male and female cricketers, and profiles of both cricket legends and prolific cricket calypsonians. There is also all manner of statistics that will thrill even the most ardent cricket fan.
But it’s the lyrics of our favorite cricket calypsoes that inflame the memories–no more mumbling parts of oft-heard tunes. Instead, we can sing along verbatim! Additionally, since Khan allows us to study the written form of the songs, we are increasingly impressed by the artistic and nuanced descriptions of cricket matches and notable events sung by calypsonians.
Nasser Khan, the author, presenting History of West Indies Cricket Through Calypsoes to Sir Garfield Sobers.
“Three cheers for Captain Sobers
Win or lose, the spectators are always pleased.
With the greatest team on Earth, who else but the West Indies.”
Mighty Sparrow, “Sir Garfield Sobers,” 1966
And for our eyes, the visuals of posed and action images of musicians and players pique and expand the interest of young and old.
All assist the author, government, and sponsor, NAGICO Insurances, to achieve the stated goal of increasing the literacy of children in the Caribbean, and the diaspora, through this undertaking via the Youth Literacy Education Initiative. Content matters. Provide children a subject area they love, and they are more likely to read.
A remarkable side effect of the book is facilitating intergenerational communication. Children seek more answers to what they read in this book by inquiring of Grandpa and Mum, who, in turn, share their personal stories and recollections among their family members. Thus, the book becomes a treasured collector’s item that encourages people to overlay their lives on the timeline of cricket calypsoes.
Nasser Khan’s book is a multi-faceted WIN!
To order the book via Facebook, search “Nasser Khan Laventille,” for more books by the author, click here. Email: publicationstt@gmail.com
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Carlyle G. Leach has spent time in business, education, and the non-profit sector. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and two sons.