Sokah2Soca

There is so much talk going around these days about the integrity of the Trinidad Calypso talent pool and the nations that some of the great ones are really from. 'Trini 2D Bone' means a lot to us... a lot more to many who came and settled on the island and made it home. Watch the interview then move on to the post I wrote below. Please leave your remarks via the comment feature of this post.

"Hush yuh mouth boi... doh say dat!" There was a time in Trinidad and Tobago, according to Trinidad and Tobago Calypso Monarch Pink Panther, that many individuals from 'up de islands' never wanted anyone to know that they were not Trini. They did not want anyone to know that they were from Grenada or even St. Vincent even though there was a strong migration of people from these islands to Trinidad during the early settlement period. 

Not too long ago, during the 60's, 70's, 80's and even the 90's this was kept a secret! Not everyone hid the fact that they were not born Trinidadians and a good example is the Calypso King of the World, 'The Mighty Sparrow'.  There was that memorable moment when a vexed Sparrow told the crowd to kiss his 'Grenadian Ass'. Not all of them have spoken the truth and many have still chosen to remain quiet about the land of their birth.

Recently we had a revelation. Winsford Devine who once interviewed on Trinisoca.com stated the following:

WINSFORD: "I was born and grew up in Morne Diablo, South Trinidad. I migrated to Port of Spain when I was about twenty-six years old. I attended the Morne Diablo R.C. School. I spent one year at a technical school in South and then I dropped out. That is it in terms of my basic education, barring what I did for myself after that, I was self-taught".

Then Mr. Winsford Devine recently went on Facebook and spoke the following words:

Winsford Devine: "We have some distinguished people who are of Grenadian birthright, like the Honourable Karl Hudson-Phillip, Mr. Austin Lyons (Super Blue), Ms Ella Andal, Mr Emerald Phillip and this writer (i.e. Winsford Devine), if I am to be called distinguished with this in mind i wonder if a ''trinbagonian'' can be a winner in ''grenada'' likewise".

At one time he stated that he was Trinidadian by birth (born in Morne Diablo) then just recently hinted that he is Grenadian. I guess one can say that Pink Panther preached the gospel truth in that interview. In other words, we have a lot of 'closet Grenadians' pretending to be Trinidadians by birth. 

Now does any of this matter? It should not, but there are many people out there who simply like to discredit Trinidad and Tobago, no let me correct my statement, not Trinidad and Tobago but discredit Trinidadians as just a bunch of talent thieves. However, I have to ask, why is it that these people blossomed in Trinidad? Why not Grenada or St. Vincent or some other island? Well, in my humble opinion, it is the cosmopolitan make up of Trinidad that provided the 'fertile cultural soil' that made it all happen. That rainbow mix of people and cultural diversities together brought so many talented people together and provided the cultural growth that gave us this wonderful talent. Calypso, Steelpan and Limbo all came to fruition because the 'Gods of Culture' saw it fit that Trinidad was the place for it all to happen... and damn it did!

Love us or hate us Trinidad is the place that it all happened; it did not happen anywhere else and that is a problem for many people who constantly point their fingers and call us Trickidadians and every derogatory word one can affix to a born or naturalized Trini. 

If you really want to make it as a Soca artist or a Calypso artist Trinidad is the place to do it. This year the music was phenomenal and the amount of songs produced was record breaking. We have to give thanks to the pioneers from whatever island they came from and blossomed in sweet Trinidad and Tobago. So I say thank you to Sparrow, Valentino, Bomber, Power, they say Super Blue is Grenadian too... so thank you Super Blue and the man who just came out of the identity closet Winsford Devine for writing so many wonderful Calypsoes. From the island of St. Vincent we have to say thank you to Chalkdust, Ellsworth James and Ellsworth also said that Duke was also from Vincy land. So thank you all for doing us proud and flying the red white and black national flag. We thank you and are proud of your accomplishments.

Please be advised that the music is presented here for your listening pleasure and for promotional purposes only ("Fair Use" Musical Content Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976). Lend me your ears... Enjoy!
Please press the play button (below) to listen (small triangle in circle).