Kelvin Pope, known in the Calypso world as ‘Mighty Duke’, is a legendary Calypsonian whose work spans a period of over fifty years. Born in 1930 in Point Fortin, south Trinidad, ‘Duke’ grew up in a period that was marked by striking workers who challenged the colonial authorities by protesting against working conditions, wages, racism and exploitation in the oilfields. Growing up in this turbulent period would have a lasting impact on Kelvin Pope and the music that he would create in years to come. His serious Calypsos reflect a spirit of resistance that is still very much alive up to this day. Influenced by Calypso stalwarts like ‘Lord Syncopator’, ‘Mighty Spoiler’, ‘Mighty Cypher’ and ‘Lord Kitchener’, ‘Duke’ has, over the years, become renowned not only for delivering social commentary, political and witty, humorous songs with equal skill, dignity and lyrical mastery but also for his stately stage presence and for being one of the best-dressed Calypsonians to this day. The only Calypsonian to win the National Calypso Monarch Crown four times in a row, Kelvin Pope’s body of work includes “Black is Beautiful”, “Teach the Children”, “Brotherhood of Man”, “Mathematical Formula”, “Treat Your Woman”, “Land Of Love” and “Pan In Yuh Ruckungkertungkung”. His focus has not been limited to local issues as he has demonstrated the importance of a global awareness in his interest in the liberation struggles in Africa. With such songs as “How Many More Must Die” and “Apartheid” he was a vocal critic of apartheid in South Africa.
On Thursday 27th September, 2007, Kelvin ‘Mighty Duke’ Pope shared some of his perspectives and life experiences with TriniSoca.com.
Continue to: ‘The Mighty Duke Speaks’
The election race is on and understandably some politicians will get carried away with the moment. What is not understandable or acceptable is the verbal abuse of citizens as demonstrated by the Congress of the People’s Ganga Singh.
On the heels of Flow cable announcing increased internet speeds for lower rates we have TSTT launching Blinkbroadband (
TSTT’s dial-up and high-speed internet service was down for several hours yesterday, October 01, 2007, into late last night. We are unable to ascertain if this disruption was island wide.
Diego Martin Central Mp Ken Valley has been rejected as a candidate by the PNM Screening Committee.
Last week, looking at a television clip of two jokers from Laventille hugging and dancing with UNC officials, celebrating the “strengthening” of Basdeo Panday’s new alliance to fight the PNM, I was almost reduced to tears. A few nights before that sorry sight, Bas was on a platform begging Winston Dookeran to join forces with the fast-fading UNC in order to defeat the ruling PNM at elections which should be called sometime before mid-December. Matters not how he couched this umpteenth attempt to woo back Winston, it was undisguised political vagrancy.
The Jena 6 are six African-American high school students from Jena, Louisiana who were arrested and charged with attempted second degree murder and conspiracy to commit second-degree murder after their alleged involvement in an assault on a white student. That the students were charged for what amounts to a schoolyard fight is news in itself, but what is more troubling is that the District Attorney, Reed Walters, chose to charge the students as adults.
Suspended Chief Justice Sat Sharma insisted yesterday that he did nothing wrong when he spoke about the Basdeo Panday integrity trial to Chief Magistrate Sherman Mc Nicolls last year.