Phyllis Shand Allfrey
Reading Time 1 mins Dominican Phyllis Shand Allfrey, 1907-1986, poet, journalist, editor, novelist and politician, was the only woman to hold a Cabinet post-Minister of Labour and Social Affairs – in the Grantley Adams’ led Federal Government of the West Indies,1958-1962. Ms Shand held the ministerial office in the face of much heckling from some of her ministerial colleagues, who believed the woman belonged in the kitchen. Before going to Port-of -Spain, site of the federal government, Ms Shand published The Orchid House in 1953, a novel that has won the status of ‘Caribbean classic’. Shand, founder of the Dominica Labour… Read More »Phyllis Shand Allfrey
RIP Calypsonian Rootsman (Yafeu Osei)
Reading Time 1 mins By Clevil James Calypsonian Rootsman (Yafeu Osei) passed away from complications with diabetes on Friday August 20 at his home in Trinidad. Rootsman, born in Tobago 64 year ago, started singing as a student in elementary school, where he won a competition in 1967. In 1976 he made the decision to fulfil his dreams and become a professional calypsonian. Rootsman, although skilled in calypsoes on social commentary, was better known for his soca numbers like Parkway Rock, Rach Meh-Rack Meh, Soca In The Palace etc. etc. Rootsman has received numerous honours from all over the world… Read More »RIP Calypsonian Rootsman (Yafeu Osei)
BDN Ajamu Interview [an update]
Reading Time 3 mins BDN Ajamu Interview [an update] Update: In light of his capturing the Calypso Monarch for an historic 9th times, Big Drum Nation went back to the maestro for an update with the single question: What contributed to your remarkable success in the 2015 Grenada Calypso Monarch competition? Ajamu [August 12]: What I think contributed to my success in this competition was experience and the will to not disappoint those who put their trust in me that I can get the job done. But most of all was knowing that my kids were really looking at me to be the best… Read More »BDN Ajamu Interview [an update]
BDN Editorial
Reading Time 2 mins“Universities are tuning out thousands of reporters. They are quite bright and they don’t have to rhyme.” – Slinger Francisco (Mighty Sparrow). Big Drum Nation wishes to extend congratulations to the thousands of our cultural artists, performers of all stripes, administrators and revelers that have worked assiduously for many months in making a successful Spice Mas 2015. Our heartiest congratulations go out to King Man Ajamu on being our Calypso Monarch for the second consecutive year and for an unprecedented nine times. Special recognition also goes out to Rootsman Kelly (first runner up), and Baracka (the youngest participant and… Read More »BDN Editorial
Carnival: A Mass Plays Mas’ [Caldwell Taylor]
Reading Time 2 minsDraft: Not for Quotation, Citation or Distribution Link to part 1 THE JAB JAB AND COMIC LICENCES ? [Part 2 of 2] “The molasses Negro [Negre Molassi] wears nothing. His whole body and face is smeared with an atrocious mixture of soot and molasses” – Lafacdio Hearn, after viewing Martinique’s 1887 Carnival. See Hearn’s “Two Years in the French West Indies” published in 1890. Jab in Haiti “A band of bare-chested horned men whose bodies are covered with sugar-cane syrup mixed with soot and charbon [charcoal] In Haiti these Carnival characters are called lanceurs de cord”. – Novelist Edwidge Dandicat in “After the Dance: A Walk… Read More »Carnival: A Mass Plays Mas’ [Caldwell Taylor]