BARBUDA'S FIRST CARIBANA - Antigua & Barbuda

Calypso
profile
Fitzroy Calypso Fitz Christian
Many golden treasures like Fitzroy
Christian and other journalists who
are calypso/steelband lovers and
who were quite prominent in the
1960’s and 70’s are still around
today. Yes, they are alive, listening
and reflecting on the good old days.
Nestled somewhere in the New
York metropolitan area for over
two decades, Fitzroy Christian, a
prolific calypso/steelband writer will
tell you that he loved both art forms
at a time, and in the days when
benna – from Quarkoo to Ratwell,
to Styler, Black Shirt, Roaring
Lion, Tiger, Sparrow, Melody and
Kitchener – was not seen as a
legitimate or acceptable artform/
cultural expression, and when
calypsonians and steelbandmen
were considered social outcasts
(in the Antiguan context). Today,
Christian is still in love with the art
forms, even though they are now
grudgingly accepted as an integral
and important part of society’s
cultural infrastructure. I guess it
was a no-brainer when in 1964
Fitzroy Christian joined the Antigua
Star newspaper as a journalist
and used that platform to promote
calypso and steelband within the
latitude that was granted to him by
the then editor, George Joseph.
Thus was born Calypso Fitz, a
persona distinct and separate from
Fitzroy Christian, whose purpose
was to write about all things
calypso and steelband, and nothing
but steelband and calypso. The
deliberate interchange of which
activity leads the duo, is only
mentioned because he has not
decided which he loves more, if
indeed that is possible.
Almost sounding like a confession,
Calypso Fitz admits, “I used
the Antigua Star newspaper to
give voice and exposure to all
calysonians and steelbands.”
He continued, “for me it was
enjoyable work. Well, not work
exactly, it was more of a labour of
love, an enjoyable journey that I
hoped would have ended with our
calypsonians and steelbandmen
being truly respected, recognized,
and honoured for their contribution
to our nation-building and national
identity.” He promoted both art
forms, so that virtually every
calypsonian from King Short Shirt
to King Swallow, King Creole, Lord
Glass Bottle, Lord Lee and Rupert
“Baba” Blaize, Calypso Joe to
Mighty Skeetch (one of the very
early songsters along with King
Styler, Black Shirt and Destroyer,
had his time. The leaders of the
steelbands and the bands’ activities
were also given lots of ink. So too
were the bands that “backed up”
the calypsonians during Carnival.
Promoting the art forms also
included working with George
Joseph and band leaders to form
the first Steelband Association in
Antigua with eight bands. Calypso
Valerie Harris-Pole
Fitz today is proud to have been
a part of the team who sought
sponsorship for the steelbands, and
produced a standardized contract
for them that was used when
negotiating for their performances
at hotels and other venues. He
said, “through my writing, my hope
is that I may have helped to give
some humanity, some acceptance,
to our artistes on whom the “upper
crust” in the early days sneered
down their noses at as seasonal
entertainment to be tolerated
and humoured.” Just about the
same time, attempts to organize a
Calypso Association were made,
but nothing materialized until quite
some time later.”
Calypso Fitz also revealed that he
always had, and still has to a great
degree, problems with the various
Carnival Committees and their
lack of respect and recognition for
calypsonians and steelbands. He
made no bones positing that, “the
yearly battles and confrontations
between the Carnival Development
Committee (CDC), irrespective
of the official leadership, and
the two groups (calypsonians
and steelbandmen), are a living
testament of how far we have yet
to travel before true acceptance,
respect and recognition will come to
calypsonians and steelbandmen.”
Calypso Fitz is still waiting.
come celebrate
our
come celebrate
our
golden jubilee
golden jubilee