THE Msgr. Patrick Anthony Folk Research Centre (FRC) has released its latest contribution to the documentation of the history of calypso in Saint Lucia.
A new publication entitled “The Reign of Terra: The Mighty Terra and the Modern Calypso Movement in Saint Lucia” has been published by the FRC in August 2021. The book tells the story of the growth of Mc Griffin “Blakes” Theodore, the Mighty Terra, as a calypso writer, composer and performer during the period 1956 – 1966, the decade immediately preceding the attainment of Associated Statehood in Saint Lucia in 1967.
The Mighty Terra won the calypso monarch title eight times in Saint Lucia and once in Ottawa, Canada. In his calypsos Terra addresses the social and political and day-to-day issues of that era.
The book also explores the evolution of the distinct characteristics of the Saint Lucian calypso art form.
This important volume is also a cultural history of Saint Lucia at the turning point of the sixties when social, economic and political changes were taking place. It offers a view of the changing rural landscape, the development of Castries as an important Caribbean capital and the influence of St. Mary’s College in the lives of young men like Theodore who would be among the first significant cohort of Saint Lucian university graduates.
“The Reign of Terra” is being released at a critical juncture in the history of calypso and cultural events in the country, when all public performance events, including popular calypso shows were suspended in 2020 due to the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic on lives and livelihoods. It presents the list of performers, monarchs and performing venues from the early days of calypso to the recent finals of 2019. The early clubs and performing places, the bands of the era, names of early calypsonians, are given detailed treatment. Many of the lyrics of Terra’s songs are included, with a list of his winning calypsos and the year in which he won the monarch competitions. In just over 100 pages it is an encyclopedic work.
It will also give to the calypso fraternity and their supporters an important historical record of the roots and beginning of the modern calypso era in Saint Lucia.
The book was researched and compiled by Embert Charles, who for the past thirty-five years has written on calypso, and was the founding editor of Lucian Kaiso, a magazine on calypso also published by the FRC. It is a part of a calypso research programme of the FRC.
The publication was made possible with financial assistance from many agencies and individuals including LUCELEC, UNESCO National Commission, First National Bank, J.E. Maxwell & Co Ltd and the Cultural Development Foundation. The Voice Press printed the work.
The FRC is at present panning an event to formally launch the book which is now available for sale at its offices in Barnard Hill, Castries.