Calypso, Carnival, Steelband: Expressive Cultures of the Caribbean Diaspora

On Sept. 26 to 28, Founders College will be hosting a series of events in honour of the late Professor Christopher Innes, in collaboration with the Toronto Mass Bands Association, the Organization of Calypso Performing Artists, the Ontario Steelpan Association and the organizers of the Notting Hill Carnival in the U.K. The events will feature, in addition to scholarly discussions and panels, a series of art performances, including steelband and calypso concerts, day activities and multimedia exhibitions.
The events will feature calypso and panel discussions that explore the origins, achievements and the current state of calypso, carnival and steelband in a global context. The aim is engage in a dialogue on the major influences in the development of carnival in different diasporic locations, the various ways that the public has been involved in carnival expression, government authorities’ responses to the spontaneity of carnival, and the ways calypso as a style of music has influenced community and identity.