For Sale: the Griot's message is creating a stir for Carnival 2026 in Trinidad, and we want to hear from you! This song has sparked plenty of reactions with its sharp political satire and bold commentary on race, loyalty, and election strategy. I pulled together the main themes to make the conversation easier to dive into.
I have already received text messages about the song with some asking that I don't post it. Don't post it? Well, we now have two posts about the song, how about that? Look, this is what Calypso does, it is our culture and you don't have to like or dislike the song... one man's food is another's poison. So, take a deep breath and be thankful that you are here to form an opinion. Better yet, we open our comment feature so that you can share your opinion about the song. We will post all opinions.
I’m curious to hear how others interpret the message, the metaphors, and the political and social critique woven into the lyrics.
Main Points from the Song Transcript provided by YouTube Player:
- Conversation before an election where elders discuss political strategies and concerns.
- Claim that one party cannot win alone, leading to talk of forming alliances and negotiations.
- Theme of “Africans for sale” used metaphorically to criticize political manipulation, vote‑buying, and exploitation.
- Accusations of buying support cheaply, suggesting some voters can be swayed with small incentives.
- Commentary on “safe seats” and the idea that certain communities are loyal to specific political parties.
- Portrayal of internal division, described as “crab in a barrel,” implying people pulling each other down.
- Targeting specific regions like Tobago, Maruga, and various constituencies as part of political strategy.
- References to historical identity, including mentions of slavery, African ancestry, and cultural roots.
- Critique of political opponents, suggesting they offer money or food to gain votes.
- Expression of loyalty to her own supporters, promising change and rightful recognition if returned to power.
- Frustration with economic issues, including references to money being hidden or currency changes.
- Boasting about securing support, claiming certain groups or unions were “bought” at a low cost.
- Refrain emphasizing the metaphor of buying Africans, used repeatedly to underscore political corruption and exploitation.
So, there you have it. Does the message of this calypso resonate with you, or does it challenge your view? Set the tribal politics aside for a moment. We love to say we want unity and progress, yet too often we shrink under partisan pressure and fall back into choosing sides. We can’t demand better and still cling to the same divisions. Be brave, be bold — share your thoughts in the comments.
Production Notes/Music Credits:
Song Title: Big Sale
Artist/Performed by: Victoria Cooper
Written by: Victoria Cooper
Arranged and Produced by: Julian Nelson @Julio Productions
Origin: Trinidad, Republic of Trinidad & Tobago.
Genre: Calypso 🎶
Empowering Caribbean Creatives
We present the music here for your listening pleasure and promotional purposes only, adhering to the "Fair Use" Musical Content Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976. Kaiso Dial/Calypso Music Blog © 1990 by Santiwah is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/.
♫Please press the music player button below to listen now (small triangle in the Music player/TV Frame).
0 comments:
Post a Comment