Global Highlights: A View From The Caribbean Diaspora

A Conversation with SVG 2010 Calypso Monarch

This is the third of a series of interviews on Saint Vincent and the Grenadines carnival. Joy-C who walked away with the coveted 2010 Calypso crown for the second year talks openly about her journey to this point: Vincy Calypso Monarch for two consecutive years (2009 and 2010) and prior to that she reigned for four years as Calypso queen between 1999 and 2002. Her personal story, which she has often sung about, include her life-struggles of drug addiction, the deadly disease of cancer and coping with grand-motherhood.

Joy-C, who is Vincentian but lives in Trinidad and Tobago, has proven in her renditions, the importance of longevity of calypso, particularly the policy-triggers that they often are. For example, when explaining the messages in her 2010 renditions of The Cries of the Grands and Think, it is clear that she has a lot to offer decision makers in the areas of public health, not only in SVG but in the CARICOM. In the former, she highlights the need to pay more attention to the children whose parents have migrated for a better life and the impact this has on their emotional health. She also shares her opinion on the issues of sex education.

With similar frankness, this majestic artist expresses her concern about the future of calypso and has made some very interesting observations about this art form. She also shares some suggestion to ensure the longevity of calypso in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. For the young and budding calypsonians, she advises that they listen to the older ones.

As with every success, Joy-C acknowledges and thanks a number of individuals for their unwavering support and among the list is her physician, a number of politicians and calypsonians. She gives special thanks to the Saint Vincent and Grenadines Police Band and members of the calypso tent and mas’ band with which she is affiliated: On-Tour and Players, respectively.