Reading Time 4 mins September 16, 2024 Lately, I’ve contemplated national mottos, those of North and South America and the Caribbean. I thought that forging a collective identity was a significant component of nation-building in these parts. To my mind, all of these countries in the New World were populated by some combination of indigenous natives and immigrants from Africa, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and just about anywhere else. They were smashed together by European colonialism and its genocide, slavery, racial oppression, and immigration. As such, I expected all, or most, would have had a motto addressing the central… Read More »FORGING A COLLECTIVE IDENTITY: TOGETHER WE ASPIRE — KIM JOHNSON

Reading Time 1 minsJuly 27, 2024 “This is my land, that’s why I am fighting for it,” Abu Bakr “We are still depending on demonstrations, placards, and the ballot box to get people out of office,” Black Stalin Given the historical nature of Attack With Full Forec, Ancil Antoine’s reflections on 1990–of which he was a central actor–Anthony Pantaleon takes another look, suggesting that “the most important aspect of this book is… Yasin Abu Bakr’s miscalculation that because there was political and economic discontent in T & T, all societal actors, including the security forces, would embrace… his ragtag band… Read More »“ATTACK WITH FULL FORCE,” REVIEWED/BDN INTRODUCTION

Reading Time 2 minsJuly 27, 2024 ‘Curiously, the author did not consider Bernadette James’s death as the trigger that inspired the Jamaat to attempt to overthrow the Government of T & T.’ Ancil Antoine, the author of Attack With Force, was one of the military leaders involved in suppressing the insurrection undertaken by the Jamat Al Muslimeen, led by Imam Yasin Abubakr. Antoine aimed to document the T&T Regiment’s role in “detonating” the attempted Coup. He outlined the political and economic context and provided an excellent overview of the regiment’s history. However, it would have been more informative to discuss… Read More »‘ATTACK WITH FULL FORCE’, by Ancil Wayne Antoine/Anthony Pantaleon

Reading Time 1 minsJuly 24, 2024 Not since 1968 has the potential of dire problems in the Democratic Convention been more volatile. Though coronation is in the air, there’s still the potential for an upsurge. In getting to the heart of the issue, we present three viewpoints, Kanene Holder’s “Bigger Than Biden,” and Camonghne Felix’s “Uncommitted Voters are Not Apathetic: The Democratic Party is“, both written before Biden’s withdrawal from the ‘The Presidential Derby,’ and “Duff Mitchell’s “Peeping Below the Surface of Biden’s Decision,” written after Biden withdrew from the race. The heart of the matter is whether Biden–like the… Read More »introduction/BDN Editors

Reading Time 3 minsJuly 24, 2024* “If the Democrats were indeed about ‘democracy,’ they would have been honest, proactive, and transparent.” This is not about Biden. This is about the truth, common sense, fear, loyalty, and the future of America, but not for the reasons you think.  “Democracy is under threat”.  This is Biden forcing Democrats to do a public loyalty test to double down on why he should stay, against all common sense, fear, and logic. This is the Democrats holding the news cycle hostage instead of proactively managing the campaign and the future of the party.  Biden is… Read More »Bigger Than Biden/Kanene Holder

Reading Time 2 mins July 24, 2024 Mystic Prowler – Below The Surface ( Kaiso ) For the past eight years, the name Donald Trump has been a constant presence, for better or worse, impacting the globe and residing on everyone’s lips daily. This makes it all too easy for a slip of the tongue, like when Joe Biden said he selected Trump as Vice President because he knew SHE was qualified to be the President. Where are the experts who can analyze how easy it is to slip up with the name Trump, especially when there’s misguided pressure to… Read More »PEEPING BELOW THE SURFACE OF BIDEN’SDECISION/DUFF MITCHELL

Reading Time 2 minsJuly 26. 2024 “The [Butcher] family’s legacy is a national success story and a World Record, showcasing the power of talent, passion, and dedication.” As the world converges on Paris today for the 2024 Summer Olympics, the Caribbean region is poised to make its mark on the global stage with the largest contingent of athletes from regional nations as they compete in an unprecedented diverse range of events. From the sprinting powerhouses of Jamaica, Bahamas, and Trinidad and Tobago to the emerging talents of BVI, Grenada, Dominica, and St Lucia, Caribbean athletes will display the region’s rich… Read More »The Butcher Family of Trinidad and Tobago: A Legacy of Sporting Excellenece/Compiled by Rick Butcher

Reading Time 1 minsJuly 9, 2024 Big Drum Nation joins millions worldwide in recognizing ‘Sparrow Day,’ Slinger Francisco’s 89th birthday. Renowned for his lyrical prowess and charismatic persona, onstage and offstage, time after time, Sparrow has been acknowledged by his many fans as the embodiment of the people’s aspirations. His accolades extend beyond Trinidad and Tobago, where he received the prestigious Chaconia Gold Medal in 1993 and the Order of the Republic in 2023, to international recognition, such as Chief of the Yorubas (Chief Omo Wale of Ikoyi) during Nigeria’s Festac in 1977. Cementing his legacy throughout his six-decade career, Sparrow… Read More »BDN Celebrates July 9th as Sparrow Day!

Reading Time 8 minsJuly 9, 2021 Happy Birthday, Slinger Francisco, aka Mighty Sparrow! On this, his 86th birthday, Big Drum Nation is pleased to republish Winthrop R. Holder’s Reflections on “Soca Anthology: Dr. Bird- – The Mighty Sparrow.” – BDN Editors “That little poowatee man… A little piss’n tail, man.” Jean in Tony Hall’s Jean and Dinah: A Lordstreet Lime “… they fighting for progress to stop.” Mighty Sparrow “The year introduced a calypsonian who was destined to be the most popular for most of the rest of the century. His contribution in 1956 made an impact that no calypso before or after… Read More »Celebrating the Genius of Slinger Francisco: Reflections on the Sparrow Anthology–Winthrop R. Holder

Reading Time 7 minsJuly 9, 2022 ‘Irony has only emergency use. Carried over time it is the voice of the trapped who have come to enjoy their cage.’ (Lewis Hyde).  Slinger Francisco, the Mighty Sparrow, has been pronounced dead in the past so many times before that he will surely pinch himself on his birthday, July 9, to reassure himself that he yet breathes and lives. The trajectory of his career, beginning with Road March and Calypso King titles in 1956, is nothing short of amazing. He has since won both Road March and Calypso King titles eight times, has… Read More »SPARROW’S TWO SONGS OF SOLOMON-Ken Jaikaransingh