CALYPSO MUSEUM IN THE MAKING
Vision of George Maharaj
Plans are afoot to launch a Calypso Museum in Trinidad and Tobago according to Calypso Historian Author, Archivist and Collector, Mr. George Maharaj. He possesses the only known calypso research centre and is the author of Roots of Calypso Volumes one and two. (website at www.rootsofcalypso.com)
George, a cultural, sports and political activist is also well known for organising the annual Calypso Lime in San Fernando during the carnival season. He has been residing in Canada for almost 40 years and has established several cultural and sporting organizations in Toronto.
George stated that “the most important aspect is that I have the artifacts to place in the museum and I am certain that we could get much more when we start to advertise. I have also contacted all the major calypso collectors world wide for donations for the museum and got some very good responses.”
Knowing how the tide can easily change George added “I do not want this idea to lose interest so I am depending all interested parties to continue this move with me.”
Although there are no official financiers on board, George does not intends to seek any assistance from the Government at this time and emphasised that he is more relying on the private sector and concerned individuals.
“We will need money to cover the cost of payment of a curator and staff, payment of water and electricity, the purchase of some air conditioners, phone, a sound system, office equipment, computers, a museum designer, a website, a landscaper, etc”.
He added that “the building must have a gift shop for the sale of t'shirts,pens of the museum, books on calypso etc. It must be attractive to tourists also.
“The outside of the building will also have a Calypso Wall of Fame as well as a Walk of Fame and the back of the building will be our Kaiso Liming Spot”
George has extensive collection of Calypso if not the largest collection in itself. He started to research and collect calypso records since 1980 and now has over 5,000 original vinyl records, the vast majority on calypso with some steelband, combo and limbo music. He also has hundreds of printed materials, audio tapes, video tapes, photographs, posters and artifacts on calypso.
He was influenced to start collecting and researching calypso because there was no one in Trinidad and Tobago doing the job and felt that people needed to know their history and have it documented as a country.
George plans on returning to Trinidad in order to fullfil his dream. He concluded by saying “I am working on phasing out my 40 years of deep roots here in Canada to return in January for at least four years.' The museum should be up by mid 2012 if all goes well.
George, a cultural, sports and political activist is also well known for organising the annual Calypso Lime in San Fernando during the carnival season. He has been residing in Canada for almost 40 years and has established several cultural and sporting organizations in Toronto.
George stated that “the most important aspect is that I have the artifacts to place in the museum and I am certain that we could get much more when we start to advertise. I have also contacted all the major calypso collectors world wide for donations for the museum and got some very good responses.”
Knowing how the tide can easily change George added “I do not want this idea to lose interest so I am depending all interested parties to continue this move with me.”
Although there are no official financiers on board, George does not intends to seek any assistance from the Government at this time and emphasised that he is more relying on the private sector and concerned individuals.
“We will need money to cover the cost of payment of a curator and staff, payment of water and electricity, the purchase of some air conditioners, phone, a sound system, office equipment, computers, a museum designer, a website, a landscaper, etc”.
He added that “the building must have a gift shop for the sale of t'shirts,pens of the museum, books on calypso etc. It must be attractive to tourists also.
“The outside of the building will also have a Calypso Wall of Fame as well as a Walk of Fame and the back of the building will be our Kaiso Liming Spot”
George has extensive collection of Calypso if not the largest collection in itself. He started to research and collect calypso records since 1980 and now has over 5,000 original vinyl records, the vast majority on calypso with some steelband, combo and limbo music. He also has hundreds of printed materials, audio tapes, video tapes, photographs, posters and artifacts on calypso.
He was influenced to start collecting and researching calypso because there was no one in Trinidad and Tobago doing the job and felt that people needed to know their history and have it documented as a country.
George plans on returning to Trinidad in order to fullfil his dream. He concluded by saying “I am working on phasing out my 40 years of deep roots here in Canada to return in January for at least four years.' The museum should be up by mid 2012 if all goes well.
