Sparrow Take Over: Essays on the Bard’s Art
A landmark celebration of the Mighty Sparrow’s enduring legacy and Trinidad and Tobago’s rich cultural heritage.
This comprehensive collection brings together acclaimed academics and writers to explore the artistry, cultural impact, and lasting influence of Slinger Francisco, better known as the Mighty Sparrow, the undisputed “Calypso King of the World.”
The collection abounds with beautiful, arresting archival photographs of not only the Mighty Sparrow performing, but features photographs of people, places and events of the time.
Sparrow Take Over is divided into five sections:
Sparrow in Context: Writers: Professor Gordon Rohlehr, David Cuffy, Professor Hollis Liverpool, Keith Smith, Anu Lakhan
About Love and Money: Donna Yawching, Marina Salandy-Brown, Professor Pat Mohammed
Decolonisation and Politics: Dr. Ronald Noel, Professor Hollis Liverpool, Pat Ganase, Ira Mathur, Lennox Grant, Gillian Moore, BC Pires, Professor Vivien Goldman, Donna Yawching
Commercialism, Calypso and Respect: Professor Gordon Rohlehr, Professor Hollis Liverpool,
Sparrow’s Mischief: Professor Pat Mohammed, Pat Ganase, Dr Rudolph Ottley, Lennox Grant, Sonja Dumas.
Sparrow Take Over celebrates…
- Scholarly excellence: Features extracts from the works of the late Dr. Gordon Rohlehr. His articles include “The Emergence of Sparrow,” “Sparrow as Poet,” and “Commercialism and Calypso”, essential reading for understanding calypso’s evolution.
- Diverse perspectives: Contributions from leading voices including Professor Pat Mohammed, who examines Caribbean gender dynamics through Sparrow’s lens in the pieces “Who Takin Advantage ah Who: Sparrow and Caribbean Man/Woman Relations”, “Phillip My Dear, The Audacity and Insightfulness of Sparrow “and “Lying Excuses – Sparrow and the Masculine Trickster”, alongside insights from Donna Yawching, David Cuffy, Anu Lakhan, Ira Mathur, Marina Salandy-Brown, Dr. Ronald Noel, Pat Ganase, Lennox Grant, Dr. Rudolph Ottley, Sonja Dumas, Gillian Moore, Sonja Dumas. Professor Hollis Liverpool provides insights into his colleague and friend, The Mighty Sparrow.
- Rare visual treasures: Over 60 years of previously unpublished archival photographs, including intimate images of Sparrow with his mother, early backup singers, and the legendary CLR James, captured by renowned photographers Kingsley Lyndersay and Mark Lyndersay.
- Cultural significance: As Professor Vivien Goldman notes, Sparrow “has succeeded in translating his witty island authenticity to the world, in a one-man demonstration of the role that culture plays in uniting humankind.”
This full-color, large-format (8.5″ x 11.5″) edition combines rigorous academic analysis with stunning visual documentation, making it both an authoritative reference and a beautiful tribute to one of the Caribbean’s greatest cultural ambassadors.
An indispensable addition to any collection focused on Caribbean culture, music history, or postcolonial studies.
Sparrow Take Over is perfect for…
- Calypso enthusiasts and music lovers
- Students and scholars of Caribbean studies, ethnomusicology, and cultural history
- Persons interested in Caribbean literature and cultural preservation
- Collectors of Caribbean cultural artifacts
Sparrow Take Over is available at bookstores in Trinidad and on Amazon.
Trinidad bookstores…
Paper Based, Alcazar Street, St Clair
Metropolitan Bookshop, Ariapita Avenue, Port of Spain
Blue Edition, St Vincent Street, Tunapuna
Scribbles and Quills, Gaston Street, Chaguanas
School and Office Supplies, Western Main Road, St James.