Lindener Lester ‘De Professor’ Charles was yesterday morning crowned the 2016 Calypso Monarch when the competition concluded at the Demerara Park before an attentive audience.
Charles, 40, was given judges’ nod for his song “We Nah Put Yuh Back Deh,” just after the stroke of midnight; a decision that was well received by the audience.
This is Charles’ fifth win in the competition that he has entered 11 times.
Dressed in a green and yellow, frilly, child-styled outfit and matching floppy hat, ‘De Professor’ appeared on stage with a cardboard companion, which when revealed to the audience was a rodent dressed in a suit and tie. He then began with a short monologue, telling the rodent that it would not be voted back into power, before beginning to sing. By this time, his fans in the audience were hyped and began to sing along to the catchy song.
‘De Professor’ dethroned last year’s monarch Manoel ‘King Perai’ Pereira, whose “Fight Down” failed to impress the judges.
Coming in at second place was Kenroy ‘Mighty Believer’ Fraser who performed “De Coalition,” which was a crowd favourite. Camille ‘Lady Tempest’ Goliath sang to “Raise Our Voice Against Abuse” and secured third place, while fourth was to Roger ‘Young Bill Rogers’ Hinds with “This is What I Dream”.
Other enthusiastic performances from the 2016 Junior Calypso Monarch T’Shanna Cort – “I Have Hope,” Abigail James – “Guyana Smiling Again” and John ‘Ras Marcus’ Marcus – “Deh Now Looking fuh Cup” were also crowd favourites.
After ‘De Professor’ was determined the winner, he returned for an encore performance.
Speaking to Stabroek News afterwards, he said he was very elated. “It like a whole weight came off my head. I got to do nothing else but thank the heavens. I really prayed because the competition was so tight, so the only help could be divine intervention.”
He said that when he had heard his competitors sing, they were so good that they made him tremble with fear.
‘De Professor’ said he had faced some challenges in preparing for the competition, like getting the music how he needed it for his calypso, and managing work and family during rehearsal sessions.
He added that there was a point when he thought the Calypso art form was dying, but when he looks around now he sees the youth being a part of it and finding interest in the art. He said it was slowly being revived and it’s just for those in authority to lend a helping hand towards this genre of music.
The newly crowned Monarch also told this newspaper that when he returns next year to defend his title “…I promise I’m returning with a bang!”
