The MAAFA (African holocaust of Slavery and colonialism) created the most heinous circumstances ever known for human existence. The many African who were brought over to the Caribbean, brought with them a heartbeat in their soul. The beating of the drum and their singing always remained part of their African identity despite the murderous circumstances. It is claimed that the Europeans who settled in the Caribbean region 1600, 1700 and 1800's, periodically called upon African slave singers to entertain their masters, guests and favorite slaves. Since many of these slaves had been brought from West Africa, the songs were very similar to their indigenous songs of praise and derision. The songs were composed extempore, telling of the daily experiences of the slaves and occasionally including verbal wars (picong) between two or more slaves. Its origin can be attributed to Kaico (West African), Caliso (Venezuelan topical song), Carieto (Arawak dance and song) or Carousseaux (French festivity). This controversy has surrounded the derivation of the word calipso (now calypso) since its first use in 1900 to refer to the different Caribbean carnival song.

Socially, calypso, like steel band, experiences several attempts to suppress it. In the 1800's there were references to the "vilest songs in which the names of the islands are introduced"; "indecent obscene songs in patois, sung publicly at carnival time". Of course, all the protesters belonged to the privileged class. Several people were actually convicted for singing these songs, thereby breaking a law passed in 1868 prohibiting the singing of any profane song.

And I submit that calypso is part of that literature that is part of that culture. So that calypso is a product of Caribbean people's struggle with the elements of their island jails and with colonialists past and present in a quest to survive in an environment of orchestrated repression. This makes calypso the very soul of Caribbean people, the very thing that the Caribbean man owes his existence today to. This makes calypso, according to Hollis "Chalkdust" Liverpool "a central stabilizing beam, holding many poles and walls of our myriad societal building together." Yet, despite the fact that the calypso has played a pivotal role in the creation of the present day Caribbean man, it has not been able to escape the onslaught of certain sectors of the public and some so called calypso exponents. Whose songs have been used as a stimulus for indiscipline and anti-social behavior. This forces consideration of the effects of calypso. Calypso, as a musical from, does have tremendous effects - physical, intellectual, emotional and social- on people. L.Gilman and F.Papente confirm that music "can improve a listeners eye sight as much as 25%" and that "sounds are dynamogenic or that muscular energy increases with the intensity and pitch of the sound of stimuli". This is perhaps why in a calypso tent one of the most difficult things is to keep the audience seated and subdued even without Invader urging them to jam down and wine. Even when people listen to the worst of the calypsonians, there is the tendency to tap the feet- a simple physical reaction to the calypso.

The calypso also has emotional effects. The fact that, almost always, it is slow tempo, docile calypso music that is played on the radio on Sundays is testimony that one does not need "loud" bacchanal calypso when one worships and gives thanks and praises. And in the party it is not the " Get Outta Hand and Behave Bad" calypso that draws lovers together. As a matter of fact, it pushes them further apart and creates a gulf between them only to be narrowed again by songs by Obstinate:

Some people think
That loving
Is only happy living
Hugging and Kissing and
Sweet Romancing
But when you face reality
Life is not a honey tree
It's not a honey tree
Lovers do fight
And make up at night
And sometimes they cheat
But making up is sweet

What a moving composition especially, to distressed lovers. The calypso does not reflect only "the outstanding social events that have occurred in our society", but it does a lot to "propagate our way of life." There is an interesting link too between calypso and morality. Many have accused the calypsonian of singing smut and promoting immorality. This is an accusation that is heard less and less with time, for calypsonians have over the years sought to clarify that issue in song. By pointing out to detractors that this is not the case and by actually singing a lot more calypsos urging people to "take it to the Lord in Prayer" for example. Calypso leads the way in the fight against drugs. It leads the way in the promotion of responsible sexual behaviors and it continues to chant down corruption.

Despite all that have been said, for calypso to be truly effective, it must have a particular appeal. It must be a "good" calypso for, according to Comrade Mzala "the greatest impact made by an art work is when it influences the feeling and the imagination of the recipient without his being conscious of it. Naked, crude and overt purpose in art actually denies the work its aesthetic value and sometimes goes even further to arouse prejudices and suspicion."

Contributions by Kentry Jn Pierre.