Mastersinger

One of the most remarkable men in Trinidad is a thin, leathery mulatto known as Attila the Hun. Born in Port-of-Spain 58 years ago of a Venezuelan father and a West Indian mother, he claims, to have been singing calypso songs for half a century--"long before they took it out of the backyard slums and put it on Frederick Street." His Rover Calypso Tent, made of sheet iron and boards on Frederick Street, the town's main street, is the island's calypso center.

A master of satire and quick wit, Attila has made the calypso, often called Trinidad's "living newspaper," a potent force in local politics. Under his real name, Raymond Quevedo, he has been elected on the Labor Party ticket to Port-of-Spain's city council.

Last week, with the annual pre-Lenten carnival at hand, Attila the Hun journeyed to Port-of-Spain's Mucurapo Stadium to compete with other island troubadours for the unofficial title of Trinidad's 1950 calypso king. A crowd of 3,000 sweating Trinidadians--black, white and East Indian--sat jampacked under the glaring lights. A steel band, hammering biscuit tins, old oil cans and brake drums, made the place hotter with ear-splitting overtures. Then judges were picked from the audience, and the calypsonians started in. Besides Attila there were old master-singers with such names as the Roaring Lion, Growling Tiger, Mighty Dictator, Small Island Pride and the Blind Sensation.

Politics and sex were the topical, tropical themes. The audience shrieked, howled, giggled and roared with delight at the syncopated innuendoes of the Mighty Dictator's unabashed Banana Song,Young Kitchener's eye-rolling Me Grandfather's Clock and a mildly sexy number called If You Love Your Man and Your Man Loves You, Lady, Enjoy Yourself. But the biggest roar, and the judges' nod, went to politically attuned Attila. His Give Up the West Indies, Britain said just what the crowd wanted said:

In England the people live happily, They get doctor medicine and dentist

free . . . While down here three-quarters of the

population Dying out from disease and malnutration . . . I'm warning Great Britain, don't leave

us for long Or they'll wake up one morning and

find these islands gone. If they won't help us in our difficulties, Why don't they give up the West

Indies?

Though the stadium triumph had still to be ratified in this week's carnival street-dancing, it was a cinch that Attila, who had won six times before, would be the victor again. Attila had further increased his popularity by boldly protesting against the police department's censorship of calypso songs which ridiculed unpopular local officials. Sang Attila, in the last verse of his prize song: I don't think I am so loyal today,

I don't mind this island being taken

by the U.S.A.

For one thing at least I feel confidently, We would sing our native songs in tranquillity.

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