2. The Birth of Calypso
Calypso began in a country
called Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago is a
Carribbean island off the
coast of Venezuela
It started in the 17th century
by West African slaves who
were brought over to the
Island
3. The Origin
These slaves worked on
sugar plantations
They used calypso to mock
the slave masters and
speak amongst themselves
Calypso was previous
spoken in French creole but
it later changed to English
as the language became
more prevelant
5. How it became Popular
When the French Martinique planters began to
colonize in Trinidad a very important celebration
became popular amongst the slaves
This was called Carnival, a celebration before Ash
Wednesday, a Christian Holiday preparing for
Easter
Slave owners would not allow slaves or laborers to
participate in this celebration, so the people created
their own kind of carnival
6. The First
Recording of
Calypso
The official recording was
created by Lovey’s String
Band in 1912
They recorded it in New York
and the song is called ‘Mango
Vert’
7. Canboulay
Canboulay was the
people’s carnival, it is what
made Calypso what it is
today
Canboulay would soon
become the official
Trinidad Carnival which is
known all over the world
During carnival they
played calypso music and
to create this new music the
brough out a new
instrument, the steel pan
8. The Steel Pan
The steel pan was created by
slaves who wanted to create
music
Because they didn’t have
access to other kinds of
instruments, they used oil
drums and pans
This instrument was derived
from calypso and is the
newest percussion
instrument today
Today, a very important part
9. Panorama
Today a very immportant
part of Carnival is Panorama
Which broadcasts the best
pan bands in a calypso
competition
10. The Calypso Movement
Soca music spoke of repression, rights, love,
empowerment, and current news
They were often forcefully silenced by the
parliament
Out Calypso came many subcultures, the most
famous being Soca music
11. Soca is the new Calypso
Soca was a subculture
created by named Garfeild
Blackman
He is named the ‘Father of
Soca’
His goal in his music was
to bring East Indian and
African groups together
He fused calypso with
indian instruments
including the dholak, table,
and dhantal
12. Soca Today
Soca is the most popular music of Trinidad today, it
stands for the ‘Soul of Calypso’
It is mostly revolved around partying and having a
good time, which correlates to the whole idea of
Carnival.
During carnival, there is a competition called Soca
Monarch which rates the best Soca artist
Soca has replaced calypso in carnival, calypso is
now seen as an older, more political type of music
but it is always recognized
13. Machel
Montano
Machel Montano is the most
famous soca artist to date
He wins Soca Monarch
almost every year
One of his most famous songs
is “Epic
14. Chutney
Out of Soca came a new
kind of music, Chutney
Chutney puts a heavier
influence on the East
Indian part of Soca music
Chutney music speaks of
the same thing as Soca but
it is sometimes in Hindi or
English
15. The End
Calypso has created a world of music for Trinidad and it continues to
grow. Thanks for watching.
