Calypso is a style of
Afro-
Caribbean music which originated in
Trinidad at about the start of the
20th century. The roots of the genre lay in the arrival of African slaves, who, not being allowed to speak with each other, communicated through song. This forged a sense of community among the Africans, who saw their colonial masters change rapidly, bringing French,
Spanish and British music styles to the island of Trinidad. The French brought
Carnival to Trinidad, and calypso competitions at Carnival grew in popularity, especially after the abolition of slavery in 1834 . While most authorities stress the African roots of calypso, in his 1986 book Calypso from France to Trinidad, 800 Years of History veteran calypsonian
The Roaring Lion (Rafael de Leon) asserted that calypso descends from the music of the medieval French
troubadours.
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