Calypso is a style of Afro-Caribbean music which originated in Trinidad and Tobago.
The islands had a core population of descendants of African slaves and workers and remnants of the indigenes, while colonial masters changed rapidly bringing settlers from France, Spain and the United Kingdom, together with their music styles. According to another version, the French brought Carnival to Trinidad, and calypso competitions held at Carnivals grew in ...
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Calypso is a style of Afro-Caribbean music which originated in Trinidad and Tobago.
The islands had a core population of descendants of African slaves and workers and remnants of the indigenes, while colonial masters changed rapidly bringing settlers from France, Spain and the United Kingdom, together with their music styles. According to another version, the French brought Carnival to Trinidad, and calypso competitions held at Carnivals grew in popularity, especially after the abolition of slavery in 1834.
While most authorities stress the African roots of calypso, in his 1986 book Calypso from France to Trinidad, 800 Years of History veteran calypsonian The Roaring Lion (Rafael de Leon) asserted that calypso also descends from the music of the medieval French troubadours. The name was originally kaiso, which is now believed to come from Efik ka isu 'go on!' and Ibibio kaa iso 'continue, go on', used in urging someone on or in backing a contestant.
Over 100 years ago, calypso further...
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