454 PROVERBS A good kip (kept woman) better than a bad marriage. A little is betta than nuttin. A no ebery day rain come light. A pound ob fretment, no pay for a gill of debtment. A word bettah dan a wink fo a blind horse. Absence of body better than presence of mind. According to your act you get you wack (Youre dealt with according to your ways) After cloud, clear wedda (weather). After laughter cometh tears Ah no wanting a tongue mek cattle cant talk (Its not wise to say what one tink) All cassada got de same kin, but all na hab de same tase. All good night no mean goin to bed. Alligator lay egg, but him no fowl. Alligator nyam crapaud fo bellyful, an drink fo sweet mout. Always try de water befo you jump in it. Ants know hard time acome dat mek he does carry plenty food fo put in he house. Anybody trouble me, I no see him, but me tell him howdye if we meet a pass. Back can wait, but not belly. Bad luck a obeah. Bad name nebber kill rat. Bad pasture mek sheep shabby. Bad picnic an young mule a one. Bad ring nebber die. Bad ting hab no owner. Bald head soon shake. Barkin save a bitin. Bat trus heself to me to mek he hang a raftertop. Beautiful woman, beautiful trouble. Beauty without grace is like a rose without torns or smell. Because parrot mek noise dem say a he one eat banana. Bef face an behin back no a one. Before wedding it is me dear, after wedding it is you brute. Beggah dat beg from beggah nebber grow rich. (Beggar) Beggar a look for work, but a-pray for no get am! Behind back hab no ear. Belieb half what you see, nuttin what you hear. Belly - full tell hungry - man kip - heart Bellyful bruk pot. Bellyful man tell hungry man Keep heart buddy. BessieH Betta fe be lion-hearted gan pig-headed, Betta fo see someting, before someting see you. Betta fo watch banbox full ob cockroach dan watch wan gal. Betta for dem larf afta you when you right dan cry ober you when you wrong. Bettah a go a heaven a pauper dan Hell a Rectah. Bettah fo beg dan to borrow. Bettah fo keep one cat dan fifty mouse. Better belly fe bus dar good tings pwoil. Better fe short ob pence dan short ob sense, Better man belly bus than good food waste. Big house hab big tory. Big promise mek fool many. Big ship need big water. Big story choke darg (dog). Big word bruk no mans jawbone. Big yeye choke mangy cat. Bird sing sweet fo he own he nest. Bit-bit make poun. Black fowl can lay white egg. Black man tief, him tief half bit, bucra tief himself whole estate. Blind man see neighbours faults. Boat sail too fas go under water Bottle no hab toppa belong to cockroach. Brag is bery good darg, but holfast is better. Braggin ribah bebber drown somebody. Brick pon brick mek house. Bull frog say him a man, but he buil house pon sand. Bull horn nebber too nearby fo bull head. Bull loose a pasture, man no boun for walk close to he. Bush heb yeye. Buy beef you buy bone, buy lan you buy rock tone. Buy you own nyam (food), nyam according to you pocket. Calabash a float a trench but cant float a ribbah. Calabash outside green but him belly white. Cane no grow like a grass. Cant help no do for purpose. Cat foot dof, but he cratch fo true. Chain fall down, bench get up. Cheap bargain tek money Choose a wife on a Saturday, nebber on a Sunday. Clothes cover character. Cock grabble, hen grabble, picnie grabble, then dey cant sleep hungry. Cock mout kill cock. Cockroach ha no right in fowl house.(You no right to meddle in others business) Cockroach nebber hav de right before fowl. Cocobeh follow yawes (Troubles do not come singly.) Com-com-sah (to carry favour) worse than obeah. Come see me is one ting; come live with me is another. Constant dripping wear away stone. Cousin fowl mek bery good soup. Cow dat belong to butcher, he nebber say him bery well. Cow hab no bisness in horsa-play. Cow say Tan up don mean rest. Crab know e back no strong so e no go under rock Crack ball nebber men. Cruppo no jump yhem picknie walk (Children usually follow their parents footstep Cry-cry picknie nebber hab night. Cut copse fo monkey to run. Darg (dog) bark nebber frighten moon. Dark night hab no gubnah. Dat time roach had dance, he no ask fowl for to come. Dawg ha money he buy cheese. De bird ob field mus hab weed. De first time ant tase molasses, he mash he kin in it. De same knife dat cut goat troat can cut sheep troat. De sea engot no back door! (If you get in, theres no guarantee youll get out) De ship nebber sail too far from the block. De stick which knock the wild goat will come back and knock the tame one. De way puss walk, a no so he jump. De wisest of man is sometimes a fool. De worse olivin better than de bes o dead. Dem dey and bad egg an penny (There are worthless, good for nothing people) Dey take you out-a yo parents house a June rose.When dey done wid you you..... Don brek down de bridge you mus cross. Dont talk cattle on cattle back. Dress dung to your teeth (Nicely dressed). Drunk or sober, study your bar (Always keep a cool head). Duck and fowl feed together, but dem no roost together. Dutty water cool hot iron. Ebery darg (dog) know he dinner time; puss him four oclock. Ebery shut-eye na sleep. Ebery time fowl lay egg e try to tell the whole world. Eberyday der debbil no help tief, one day God help watchman. Empty bag cant stand. Empty vessels make most noise. Every bully have them cooler (meets his match)(Mongoose on snakes) Every day a fishing day,but no other day a catching day(Tings not always bright) Every day bucket go to well; one day rope mus cut. Every dog is lion in he own backyard. Every good fungi no meet good pepperpot(Not ev.person meets a suitable companion Every skin teeth na laugh. (All smiles may not be genuine) Eye fraid work. (At first glance a job might seem difficult than itin fact is.) Faraway fowl hab fine fedders. Firs laugh a no laugh, a large laugh a de laugh Force make water go up hill. Workers started to stand up for themselves Fowl say him go to bed early for fear of confusion. Friend in court better than money in de pocket. Frog nebber gargle he troat till he tase fresh water. Fry de big fish first, de little ones after. Fu true, fu true (its the truth)- Every dog have dey day- Dog cheap(Very cheap). Furder in the copse better de shady. Gi nigga a inch an dem tek an ell,gi dem a ole grey horse an dem ride he Gib a ting an tek back a ting, dat a bad mans play-ting. Give Jack e jacket (Give credit where credit is due). Goat no go to war, but him send his skin. God pay debt without money. God-amighty nebber shut him eyes. Good friend better dan money dey a pocket. Good fungee nebar meet good pepperpot. Good me do, tanky me get. Good nature mek nanny goat bawl out ob door. Good owner musnt hab tingy oberseer Good sometime easy for fling way but hard fo pick up. Good wife bettah dan station waggon. Greed choke puppy. Guinea bird keep company wid fowl when his foot bruk. Guinea-pig say he no want tory, dat a mek he hab no long tail. Half a loaf of bread,beg smody buy it, but if you wan whole loaf buy it youself Han come, han go. (You help me and I will help you) Han go a buff - go a nigger house Hand go, hand come. Handsome woman, handsome roque. Hang yo kokatoo where you can reach um Hansome face an good luck a no all one. Hen grea fo hatch duck egg, but she no grea fo tek duck picnea fo swim. Hen nebber mek chicken too hot. Higher monkey climb de more he show he arse. Hollow gourdie mek de most noise. Hungry belly an full belly no walk one pa. (road). Hungry belly may no know soup no sweet. Hungry man got no massa. I believe that planting sucker follow the root If bad name could kill ratta, all ratta would go dead. If bee didnt hab ting, he would not keep his honey. If big breeze blow wat anchor, wha you tink ob fowl fedder (feather). If crab no walk he no get fat;if he walk too far he fall in de pot. If man can dance, him say de music no good. If man no walk at night, he no know dat puss hab cockeye. If niggah hate you, he gib you basket for carry water, but if you clever you pu If nightingale sing too much him kill him mumma (jealousy). If you call tiger massa, he willin to nyam wid you. If you cant be a figure dont be a naught. If you cant get turkey, satisfy with cock chicken. If you heb glass window, nebber trow stones. If you heb no door fo shut, shut you mout. If you keep you fingernail clean you can put it in gentlemans dish. If you lie down with dog you get up wid fleas. If you lub good fo yourself, you mus lub good fo you frien. If you nebber put on ledda (shoes) you will nebber feel de pinch. If you ride de harse (horse), you mus pay to shoe him. If you try to play warri with God you will get no seed (See meaning) If you want to hear how de story go, wait til quarrel come. If you want to know how ole woman tongue long, you mu pull she jigger out. In for a penny, in for a pound (Go to the limit and bear the consequencies) Is not every shine teeth a good laugh (Not all that smiles with you mean well) It isnt one time dog want bone (Youll need something else again) Jackass say dis world aint level. Jill-pot turn down, pot-bottom turn up Jumbie know who foo freiken a foreday morning(Keep off peoplewith exagg.behavior Jumbie know who foo friken a foreday morning(Keep off people w/exag. behaviour). Jury gone upstairs. (Nothing is in the house for me to eat). Keep you secret in you own gourdy. Kill mooma gie pickney -pickney nyam umarf.But kill pickney gie moonma-mooma.. Koo de pah (Look at the road or path) Lazy niggah mek good driver Lil pepper burn big mans mout. Little as darg (dog) flea be, he can mek big man jump. Little axe cut down big tree. Live horse an get grass (Live according to your means) Lizard nebber plant corn, but him hab plenty, Long time is bery long rope Man got too much tongue, him pay him daddys debts. Man nebber know de use of water, till him tank dry. Mans neighbour bettah dan far off bruddah. Market place awomans Court House. Marriage he teet and bite hot. Marry you darter when you can, you son when you choose. Me lub picnic, but me know nyam wid dem. Me na cut me nose foo spoil me face (I cant give away what I need for myself) Mek friend when you no need dem. Mek sure better than cockshure. Mischief come by the pound an go by the ounce. Monkey know what limb to jump on (Consider your actions carefully) Monkey nebber so drunk to go to sleep front a darg (dog) kennel. Monkey see monkey do (We are copy cats) Moon run fast, but day ketch um. (One day your evil will catch up with you!). Mouth open, story jump out. Muzzle dog no catch rat. Na ebery big head got sense. Nannygoat nebberscratch him back till e see stone wall.(Await the proper opport Nebber ask goat for trustee for breadfruit tree. Nebber call centipede name. Nebber mek you sail too big fo you ship. Nebber mek you sail too big fo you ship. Nebber min how cockroach drunk, he nebber pass fowl yard. Nebber tek a man by he looks. Nebber trow away you walking stick till you cross de river. Never drive fly from odder mans cow skin. New broom sweep clean, but de ole broom know de corners. Nigger dat don eat pepper an salt, doan trust he No all horse get firs jump a-win race. No cuss alligator long mout. Till you cross ribber. (River). No fisherman say he fish stink. No hang you cattacou where you carn reach it (Dont live above your income) No man too old for ole maid. No mek sweet mout fool you. No mind mek ship run ashore. No put youself in a barrel if matchbox can hold you. No trow away you belly and tek trash tuff um(Dont give up certainty for uncert No trus pigeon in a cornfield. No wait foget day tomorrer, tek time an get there today. Nohang you clothes pon wan nail. Nonsense man eat soup wid fork,rice wid pin, eat parch corn an lik him finger. Not fo want otongue why cattle dont talk Nuh count ya chickens before dem hatch(Dont celebrate your gains before realis Nuh stick your nose in a eye hole.(Dont give yourself undue tasks,you cant do) Nyam (eat) some today, leave some for tomorrow. Nyam some, lef some till tomorrow. Obeah mans daughter always pretty Old fire tick no hard fo kindle (Old friends are easy to reunite) Old guitar make very nice tune. Ole grudge, fresh lick. Ole rat eat new cheese. Ole woman want to cry, she say a smoke a dim she eye. One dry stump a cane piece no fo laugh when cane piece ketch fire One han cant clap (We need to help each other) One one full basket One rotten sheep will poil de whole flock. One smody can quarrel. One time: nebber done. One, one full basket (Good things come slowly) Only food put puss to watch milk Only shoe know if stocking heb hole. Only when you mash ants you know what in he belly Orange yeller, but you don know if him sweet, Padlock you tongue, or it lock you up. Parson carn preach wid dirty collar, for all yeye dey pon him. Parson christen he own pickney first. (Everyone looks to his interest first!). Patience man drive pickaxe Patient man ride jackass. Pay de doctor and praise de Lord. Pay today, trus tomorrow. Peacock hide him foot when he hear about he tail. People min hungry and hungry make rata a-bite baking stone Picnic pig say to dem mammaWha mek you mout long so, Mamma say Wait chila Plantain sucker follow de root (Children follow the example of theirmothers) Plantain sucker tek atta de root Play wid monkey, but no play wid he tail. Play wid puppy an puppy lik you mout. Play wid puppy, puppy lick yo mout; play wid big dog, big dog bite you. Prayer need not be long when Faith strong. Pretty pol say he a dandy man. Prevocation mek dummy man talk. Puss an darg (dog) no heb the same luck. Puss hab no han but he take he foot fo lick he face. Puss may look like a King, but he rader rattah. Puss nyam rattah, tell him say rattah tail tink. Quick cent betta dan slow dollar! Ram goat may he soonah dead,before afternoon sun catch. Ram-goat no cry fe he skin, he cry fo he livin. Rattah nebber mek noise in a puss ear. Rice what bubble in de pot, lie flat on de plate. Ripe pear no know him danger til mout catch him. Rock a bottom riber nebber feel how sun hot. Rock ston dey a bottom ribber nebber know what rock tone pon roadside a feel. Rum done, fun done. Run from coffin an you butt up wid jumby Salt nebber say himself sweet. Same cry at Murro is at Briggins (Troubles are the same all over) Same stick beat wild goat beat tame one. Sarfley, sarfely ketch monkey. Saucy smody always trouble. Say some and lef some (Do not tell all you know) Scornful dawg eat dirty food (The proud are bought low) Sebn years no nuff fo wash freckle off a guinea-hen back. See an be blin, hear an be deaf. See de candlelight befo you blow out de match. Seven year no nuff fo wash freckle off a guianea-hen back. Shapes & methods at Seaview Farm have African origins.Punctations African design Sheep an goat no all one. Ship wont heed to the rudder, rock bound to pick him up. Shut mout no ketch fly. (Nobody can blame you for things you never said). Sickness come pon top a sore toe (Troubles follow each other) Sickness ride horse come an tek food to go way. Since beg pardon come a fashon, lil boy mash big mans foot. Sleep hab no massa. Some Antiguan proverbs are stemmed from West Africa Some do well, some catch hell (Some get along financially, while othets starve). Some fowl dont want feddah, dem want corn. Some whiskey burn you pocket, some yo troat. Sometimes tandin collar tan top a empty stomach. Spider an fly cant mek bargain. Stan furr, see better Stan stiff and die strong. Still tongue keep wise man head Stone under water no know when sun hot (You live too much a pampered life) Sugar barrel nebber mash out. Sweep you own front door, before you sweep fo me. Sweet tongue hide black heart. Sweet wood blaze, but him no keep fire. Tan safely bettah dan beg pardon Tark ob de debbil an you hear he wings. Tek care is de mudder of safety Tek time, walk fast. Ten suit a de tailor betta dan one suit a de law. Thanky today is not thanky tomorrow. Thanky no buy half bit of bread. The death of wilks make soldier crab get shell The further you walk in the bushes,better shady you find(More U dig,more U find) Tief from tief mek God-Almighty laugh. Tigar (Tiger) sleep but he tail shake. Time longer than rope (You cant beat time). To get the egg you ha foo stande hen cackling(Bear w/rebut til U get what want) Tomorrow is de border line ob de fool. Too much bed make head dull. Too much good buoy can buy jackass. Tree look eber so soun till woodpecker know what fo di wid him. Trouble dey a bush, anansi bring a dey a house. Trouble mek ole woman trot. Trouble mek puss run up prickly pear. Trouble nebber blow shell when dey come. Trouble never set like sun. Trouble on sea no got back door. Turtle say he no de tory dem a mek, so he walk out. Two bull can stan a one pass (place). Two man crab cant live in de same hole. Ugly face no mean ugly heart. Wa bun nose mek eye run water Wa eye no see heart no grieve (What one doesnt see, doesnt bother one) Wa fly min do before ollady eye run water? (See meaning) Walkbout fool better dan siddown fool. Watchman sometime a de bigger tief Wha de use ob you shawl when you character gone. Wha mout say backside pay fah (Sometimes one talks things to one own hurt). Wha sweat a mout, sometimes hot a belly. Wha you lose in de jig, you gain in de reel. What come off de hill fall in de valley. What is fun for a dog is death to a mongoose What na kill, fatten. What pussy lef dog well want. What sweet in de mout is sour in de belly. When bottle coma, you tick an all get drunk. When bull an bull meet, dey call watty Bro. When bull darg (dog) seek him wear puppy darg breeches. When chair fall down, bench get up When chicken tie up cockroach wan explanation. When cowtail cut off, God amighty brush fly. When crab know he back soft, he stop under rock. When darg nyam egg, he nebber stop. When dog mawger (thin and skinny) him head big. When fish come outta sea an say whale has sore eye an runny nose, you believe. When fowl drink water, him say Tank God, when man drink water him say nutting When fowl merry, hawk ketch him chicken. When fowlscratch up toomuch dirty,he run de risk ob findin his grandma skeleton When han full, him heb plenty company. When hog nyam potato, him nyam kin and all. When horse no dere, jackass tack firs place. When horse see dead in he eye, he dont care where he trow de rider. When man dead, grass grow at he door. When man hab trouble, voman tak it mek larf. When man know he chairback notrong, his shouldnt lean back. When me done wid sardine me no meddle with the tin (Reviving relationship,danger) When mischief maker meet, de debbil (devil) go to dinner. When niggah happy him tell gubnor good morning. When puppy get plenty milk, he make up he face at soup. When puss gone, rattah tek house. When puss hab money, he buy cheese. When rain fall an sun shinin , a den de Hebbil licken he wife. When ram foot bruk, he find he massa door. When ribber come down stone mouth full. When sheep mek dance, goat heb no brainess dere. When sun go down fowl nebber grabble for he chicken,he den grabble for he self. When tief tief from tief, God laugh. When turtle come out ob pond, an tell you alligator hab sore yeye, belieb him. When you go fo dig one grave, na dig one - dig two. When you got money door open, when you no get, door shut. When you hab plenty, member rainy day. When you hang clothes outside, look out for rain (Be careful at all times). When you heb de debbil to deal with, feed he wid a long spoon. When you own louse bite you, he bite fo true. When you pot full, cover nyam some. When you put han in flour barrel it goes to wrist,when neighbors to you elbow. When you quarrel wid you friend den you know how much dem know bout you. When you sleep with darg (dog), you ketch him fleas. When your neighbour beard(or house)catch fire,wet fo you Where goat tie, a dey dem feed (People act according to their surroundings) Where you see sugar, a dere you see fly. Where you tie, you feed. (Can insinuate, thieving from your employer) Where you trow water it run, but where you trow blood it settle. Wherever smoke there, fire there White mans meat is black mans poison (Higher society gets away with it!}. Why look in de dark wid fire-stick, when it ha broad daylight to do it. Wilful waste makes a woeful want (Ones extravagance leads to desperate want). Wise captn carry me fallas dan sail. Woman tongue like harse (horse) a-trot. Woman tongue sweet fo true. Wuk older than you. You can hide from tief, but you cant hide from liar. You do more barking dan wa bitin (You talk more than acting) You eber see puss refuse butter? You eber see puss run up prickly pear bush? You go drink water before you reach a pan (Get pregnant while you very young) You have to learn to such salt (You have to learn to sacrifice). You kill me cat, me kill you cat (What you do to me, Ill do to you) You kill me cat, me kill your cat (You hurt me, I hurt you back). You know Arthur? (Im not talking to you). You muslearn to see anno see (See things and say nothing). You nar lib too shave you beard. (You will die young). You nebber see pop-gun kill alligator.(Dont send a boy on a mans errand). You no expect anything from one hag but one grunt (see meaning) You play wid tar you mus black your finger. You play wid tar, you must black your face. You see eberybody a run, tek time. You shake man han but you no shake he heart. 76 LOCAL EXPRESSIONS (Past & Present) Cant mash ants-Too dainty to even step on something as non-threatening as ants. I can tell its Warneford coming by the way he trow he foot!. I have a shilling in hiding to have a pant built. I saw him driving like a naked soldier (Fast like a US soldier from the WWII US base, alone in a jeep). Me na hab no fridge, means a person does not hold on to anything. Naked rum (Straight rum) Naked soda, Naked water (no land in sight at sea). s, th, y not pronounced, eg tory, de, noung. (1843). There were naked guesses at the wedding! So many guests (nothing but..) Tongue no hab no bone + Long grass carry news!. (Why) - People like peas (A large crowd) - You drop someting (You forgot to greet). ...apprenticed as a carpenter and walking for confirmation. 1840 c. A description of an albino or Dendo at Mayers estate called Wonder. 1843. A beetle is the baton clothes were washed with against rocks near ponds. 1843.The negroes make rope and baskets which are called Catacous. 1843. A beggar was a bottom-foot buckra. A gesture of shock/surprise of what heard, eg.Quarkoo, look amuddy! Aboo - A chalk like stone used to write on slates at school. All ah dem backbita (They are all slanderous ill-speaking people). Bakkra - white plantation owners, whites. Bassa bassa=fooling around. Antroba= trober (plant). Bawl plenty - weep for a long time. Big seed - hydrocele (accumulation of serous water in the scrotum). Blue Tuesday - after a public holiday people took off the Monday. Breeze off - take a rest. Bull work - hard physical work. Butt up with - to come in contact with. Cocobay - leprosy. Coffee woman - fortune teller. The people believed in superstition & the rituals. Compliments of the season given for a donation. Long life & crosperity! (sic). Cum cum saw= Just come, thinks he knows it all. On-a-me=An na me (Its not me! Dem a fu kip a arms lent (To avoid coming in contact with a person). Dip mouth in - to intervene. Dotish - subservient. Down wet-up - to throw water at. Dress to you teeth - Me na know wey dat dey (Dont Know where it is). Drop the ball - to be replaced. Dunkey pumps - A kind of lamp made by the people. Fu true, fu true (its the truth)- Every dog have dey day- Dog cheap(Very cheap). Get licks - get blows. Glee turns to pain - from joy to sorrow. Grow potato-Under your neck you can grow potatoes after not having regular baths. Half-land - work a ground with half share to owner (usually 2/3 to massa!). Happy-go-lucky = as luck would have it! Hard enough - strong enough. Hashum - corn roasted and ground with sugar. He neither drank nor smoked and was very mannersable. Kooka bendal - uncovered place for the disposal of human waste and filth. Man min naked and hungry - privation for so = Desperately poor and hungry. Massa king and king do no wrong! Me done see betta days! Me go gibbet you - me go kill you. Me na know wey dat dey!(I dont know where it is!) Mek me show you(Let me show y Mek me show you - Jus cross dey! - Wan ton ah people (A lot of people). Melle around town - talk of the town. Melle man - well informed about other peoples business. Montula - If you bother me you wont even get to walk the last mile to Montula. Moonlight bright like a gooback = moon shines like the Bible (Good Book). Negus (named after Col. Negus) called Sangaree, spirits and wine a Swizzle. In 1843, old people were called: Daddy, Grandy. Mid-aged: Uncle,Auntie, Young: Buddy, Sissy or See. Old time people say Needle and pin, when man marry trouble begin! Planters kill king and rule country = Planters were all powerful. Pond water - a crapaud and animal waste water, man use it and survive. Rush - Miss Jenkins made gone cakes.She sure had the rush (was popular) Sarbice to oneself - recover from blows. See how town tap - see how St Johns was like. Sha-sha - corn bread.(Once given to Gov.Strickland on a historic site tour). Shoot hard labour - to work hard at physical labour. Smady - somebody. Sugar in its liquid state was called Sling. Tango - meat from old cattle Wagy - clothes...hand-me-downs Wah mek? (Let me show you). People like peas (A vast crowd). 1843. We hab, but ah we no know who we go (Will suffer because afraid taking chances). Windward & Leeward means east and west. One fires a stone. Men servants were boys. Wipe foot from - not go back to. Yu nuh no you ass from yu tail (You dont know what you are about). HISTORY OF CALYPSO In the 18th century, in the French colonial islands, slaves were barred from taking part in Carnival celebrations. They celebrated secretly in their backyards. African drumming, dance and song depicting their African Culture vibrated from their backyards. Le vrai- (singing the truth) was the slaves hilarious way of mocking their masters in song. FROM BENNA 1834 to CALYPSO 1985 Benna derives from a West African word for song-dance that the slaves brought to the West Indies. It was a lively melody set to simple repetitive lyrics that dealt with a specific topic. Introduced during post slavery life, which was little different from that which existed before, emancipated slaves had to find an outlet, other than throughBenna dealt with the bawdy, the scandalous, the cruel and occasionally the humorous. Benna provided slaves with a common voice. In the 1900s, benna evolved to becoming the newspaper of the people and provided an often illiterate population with rapid transmission of information. The earliest traceable record of Benna song states - Emancipation day is past, massa done cut naygra ass. In the 1940s and 1950s, a fearless character, John Thomas called Quarkoo, sang Benna. He composed and sang on the spot. His songs gave details of events ranging from the gruesome murders and courthouse trials to scandalous husband/wife infidelities of the upper and middle classes in the society. Some of the lyrics to his songs landed him in prison. Today, calypsos are used as a basis for critique and open commentary, mainly political and social. The use of double language, metaphors and folklore has protected the performer from censorship. In the 1960s, tourism and the influx of North American visitors to our shores recognised the need for organised entertainment in the new hotels. The first calypsonians performing in hotels were Dadian, Black Shirt, and Skeetch. Accompanied by a string band consisting of two guitars and a bass made from an empty oil drum with a string attached, they sang about Slap in han- a song about a woman being slapped by an unseen hand. Many persons thought that this was a sign of obeah. 1957 saw the first Carnival in Antigua, and Styler won the first annual Calypso King competition. The mid-fifties heralded the emerging national consciousness expressed in calypso. A series of political and union victories against the colonial administration and sugar syndicate were expressed in calypso as patriotism, love of beauty of country. The 1967 Calypso competition reflected this with Beautiful lovely Antigua by Swallow, Prosperity by Lord Lee and Antigua where land and sea make beauty. 1957 -1965. Lord Canary and Zemaki performed the best music of this period, whose rivalry laid the foundation for the Swallow/ Short Shirt confrontations fifteen years later. 1964-1988 King Short Shirt and Swallow battled for the Calypso King of Antigua honour. King Short Shirt had won the crown fourteen times including three hat tricks. 1985 saw the emergence of The Burning Flames winning the road march with their composition of Styley Tight. An electronic band made up of four persons, playing standard calypso rhythms associated with the three-note bass-pan of the early steelband.
Posted on: Sun, 18 May 2014 14:44:57 +0000
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