Calypso began in the 17th century when West African slaves in Trinidad and Tobago used the style to mock their slave masters and communicate. It was originally spoken in French Creole but later switched to English. Calypso grew popular during Carnival celebrations, where slaves would hold their own festivities called Canboulay. At these events, calypso music was played and the steel pan instrument was developed from oil drums. Calypso evolved into soca music in the late 20th century, fusing calypso with Indian influences to bring different ethnic groups together. Soca now dominates Trinidad's music scene and annual Carnival celebrations.

1. The Evolution of Calypso
By Danielle John-Palmer

2. The Birth of Calypso
 Calypso began in a country
called Trinidad and Tobago
 Trinidad and Tobago is a
Carribbean island off the
coast of Venezuela
 It started in the 17th century
by West African slaves who
were brought over to the
Island

3. The Origin
 These slaves worked on
sugar plantations
 They used calypso to mock
the slave masters and
speak amongst themselves
 Calypso was previous
spoken in French creole but
it later changed to English
as the language became
more prevelant

4. The Basic Rhythm of Calypso
It varies but stays around this beat

5. How it became Popular
 When the French Martinique planters began to
colonize in Trinidad a very important celebration
became popular amongst the slaves
 This was called Carnival, a celebration before Ash
Wednesday, a Christian Holiday preparing for
Easter
 Slave owners would not allow slaves or laborers to
participate in this celebration, so the people created
their own kind of carnival

6. The First
Recording of
Calypso
The official recording was
created by Lovey’s String
Band in 1912
They recorded it in New York
and the song is called ‘Mango
Vert’

7. Canboulay
 Canboulay was the
people’s carnival, it is what
made Calypso what it is
today
 Canboulay would soon
become the official
Trinidad Carnival which is
known all over the world
 During carnival they
played calypso music and
to create this new music the
brough out a new
instrument, the steel pan

8. The Steel Pan
 The steel pan was created by
slaves who wanted to create
music
 Because they didn’t have
access to other kinds of
instruments, they used oil
drums and pans
 This instrument was derived
from calypso and is the
newest percussion
instrument today
 Today, a very important part

9. Panorama
Today a very immportant
part of Carnival is Panorama
Which broadcasts the best
pan bands in a calypso
competition

10. The Calypso Movement
 Soca music spoke of repression, rights, love,
empowerment, and current news
 They were often forcefully silenced by the
parliament
 Out Calypso came many subcultures, the most
famous being Soca music

11. Soca is the new Calypso
 Soca was a subculture
created by named Garfeild
Blackman
 He is named the ‘Father of
Soca’
 His goal in his music was
to bring East Indian and
African groups together
 He fused calypso with
indian instruments
including the dholak, table,
and dhantal

12. Soca Today
 Soca is the most popular music of Trinidad today, it
stands for the ‘Soul of Calypso’
 It is mostly revolved around partying and having a
good time, which correlates to the whole idea of
Carnival.
 During carnival, there is a competition called Soca
Monarch which rates the best Soca artist
 Soca has replaced calypso in carnival, calypso is
now seen as an older, more political type of music
but it is always recognized

13. Machel
Montano
Machel Montano is the most
famous soca artist to date
He wins Soca Monarch
almost every year
One of his most famous songs
is “Epic

14. Chutney
 Out of Soca came a new
kind of music, Chutney
 Chutney puts a heavier
influence on the East
Indian part of Soca music
 Chutney music speaks of
the same thing as Soca but
it is sometimes in Hindi or
English

15. The End
Calypso has created a world of music for Trinidad and it continues to
grow. Thanks for watching.