Vincymas 2022 gets going in earnest with the National Calypso Monarch Semi-Finals tonight, at Victoria Park. It is expected to commence at 8:00pm.
Three Calypso Tents – Graduates, On Tour and Upstage Experience – were down for preliminary judging, and when the final round of judging was complete, twenty-two calypsonians were selected for the semi-finals in which each will render one song.
Those selected were:
- From the Graduates: Glenroy ‘Sulle’ Caesar, Maxwell ‘Tajoe’ Francis, Kingsley ‘Hero’ Roberts, Cleopatra ‘Cleopatra’ Hendrickson, Koskinski ‘Busta Ski’ Adams, Damian ‘Boney Man’ Noel, Glenroy ‘Homey’ Delpesche and Phylcias ‘Nubian Empress’ Alexander.
- From On Tour: Elvis ‘Abijah’ Abby, Marvo Morgan, Robert ‘Patches’ King, Derrick ‘Man Sick’ Alexander, Grantley ‘Ipa’ Constance and Alvin ‘Zion-I’ Dennie.
- From Upstage: Fitzroy ‘Bro Ebony’ Joseph, Gosnel ‘GC’ Cupid, Joanna ‘Nubian Princess’ Christopher, Shena Collis, Alpheus ‘Observer’ Duncan, Omani Cupid, Kristian ‘Lil Kris’ Christopher and Cecile ‘Lil Bit’ Murray.
The semi-finalists include four former Calypso Monarchs: Glenroy ‘Sulle’ Caesar (1997, 2005), Elvis ‘Abijah’ Abby (2002), Grantley ‘Ipa’ Constance (2006) and Maxwell ‘Tajoe’ Francis (2011.
Ten will be selected from the Semi-Finals to challenge reigning Monarch Shaunelle Mc Kenzie, whose reign dates back to 2019, the last occasion on which the competition was held.
In an effort to ‘hype’ the Show, the Carnival Development Corporation has promoted it under the tag, “Ting Nice Agen’, and have provided for two foreign-based artistes to appear as guest performers: Union Island born France-based recording artiste Wetty Beatz, and Trinidadian Calypsonian Edwin ‘Crazy’ Ayoung.
Reigning Monarch Shaunelle will also make a guest appearance.