ANTIGUA CARNIVAL

Ten calypsonians will be in the hunt to stop three-peat Calypso Monarch Keithroy “De Bear” Morson from winning a fourth crown in a row, to rival the record set by Toriano “Onyan” Edwards, from 1997 to 2000.

Already, the excitement in the high-stakes contest increased with the addition of a tenth contender to attempt to dethrone De Bear, bringing the field for Sunday night to 11, an increase of one.

And now, Carnival Sunday night is set to regain its former glory when two titans who are among the international standard bearers for calypso will engage in what is being called a vintage showdown on the same stage.

The man who has 15 calypso monarch crowns to his name, Sir McClean “King Short Shirt” Emmanuel, will battle fellow calypso royalty, Sir Rupert “Swallow” Philo, who won four crowns.

The veterans who are retired from competition but not the stage will engage in a four-song tune-for-tune showdown.

“The legends will select four songs each from their repertoire – two social commentaries and two-spirit-of carnival songs. One man will sing and the other will rebut. The calypso giants will draw to see who goes first,” said Chairman of the Wadadli Beer Calypso Sub-Committee Dion Simmons.

“This will add energy and excitement to the night and it will also allow the public to see two of the greatest calypsonians in the world – men who helped to highlight Antigua and Barbuda to the world – go toe-to-toe, reminiscent of yesteryear,” Simmons added.

The initiative is the brainchild of the Calypso Sub-committee and the Management of Kennedy’s Club Limited, official distributors of Wadadli Beer, title sponsors for the competition.

“We believe that the showdown will stimulate added interest in the show for patrons. Both calypsonians have been on the performance circuit since they stopped competing, and that is always a draw. We think that the notion of a contest of sorts between two of the greatest contenders to have ever graced the calypso stage will give the show the lift organizers and patrons have been seeking for some time,” Marketing Manager at Kennedy’s Neil Cochrane said.