A series of interactive workshops on the calypso art form, hosted by Mas Makers Massive in collaboration with Carnaval San Francisco and the Alliance for Cultural and Traditional Arts. The date of the symposium coincides with Carnaval San Francisco and and will support our to be held at Laney College Theatre, 900 Fallon Street in Oakland.

Master Artists and leading calypso scholars will present a series of interactive workshops,to explore the multifaceted history and aesthetics of the African rooted carnival arts tradition of calypso from the early twentieth century to the present as follows:

“Tamboo Bamboo to Steelpan” –An examination of the roots of calypso in drum dance songs, stickfighting and other folk traditions and how rhythms were incorporated into music once African drums were banned.
 

“Griot, Chantuelle and Calypsonian” -details the history of the art form, the language of calypso, lyrical structure composition and gender issues;
 

“Soca, Rapso and Chutney”- documents rhythmic innovations, the African-American musical idiom of blues and soul and East Indian cultural influences that were outgrowth of calypso
 

Part II

culminates on Saturday with our

2nd Annual

Vintage Calypso Competition

 guest performances/ adjudication or present the prizes to the winners

Finalizing details with Chalkdust and Brother Resistance, Other artists involved in the presentation are

• Tigress, formerly of United Sisters
• Val Serrant
• Michael Manswell &
  Something Positive Dance Company,
  
• plus invited local pannists and drummers