<Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> Calypso is a style of Afro - Caribbean music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago during the early to mid-19th century and eventually spread to the rest of the Caribbean Antilles and Venezuela by the mid-20th century . Its rhythms can be traced back to West African Kaiso and the arrival of French planters and their slaves from the French Antilles in the 18th century . </P> <P> Calypso drew upon African and French influences, and became the voice of the people . It was characterized by highly rhythmic and harmonic vocals, which was most often sung in a French creole and led by a griot . As calypso developed, the role of the griot became known as a chantuelle and eventually, calypsonian . As English replaced "patois" (Antillean creole) as the dominant language, calypso migrated into English, and in so doing it attracted more attention from the government . It allowed the masses to challenge the doings of the unelected Governor and Legislative Council, and the elected town councils of Port of Spain and San Fernando . Calypso continued to play an important role in political expression, and also served to document the history of Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago . </P>

The history of calypso music in trinidad and tobago