By Abigail Headley
Osei Clarke’s journey to victory in this year’s Calypso competition involved dedication and hard work as he faced the challenge of preparing for not one, but three separate contests this year.
Clarke, whose stage name is OKC, took on the Calypso Monarch, Soca Monarch, and Chutney Monarch and was faced with tough obstacles, including financial difficulties, but credits his success to his team. “… I must say a major shout out to my entire team; KTM, KKR, Cool Jazz. At the end of the day, we pulled it off. So even though it was a tough journey, we did it, we made it,” he told Stabroek News last week.
The young Calypso king’s winning performance at the competition was inspired by a patriotic theme, aiming to unite the audience as defenders of their “Promised Land.” The formal military attire, worn by himself, and the Golden Arrowhead-patterned skirts worn by the dancers added a sense of national pride to the performance.
“So, it was all about patriotism. It was all about making every single member of the audience a defender [and] a protector of the ‘Promised Land’,” he explained enthusiastically.
His winning song highlights the beauty and opportunity of Guyana, encouraging listeners to appreciate their homeland.
“It’s basically a calypso song about my land, your land where we all live. And in the Bible… when you hear [about] the promised land, it is a place that everyone wants… [that] everyone is seeking after, everyone’s fighting for it, everyone’s going there because it is the best place. And right now, on this planet Earth, I think that Guyana is that place. If we haven’t reached there yet, we’re on our way to that place. And everyone is coming here from all walks of life, which makes this place the Promised Land,” he said.
“… My song is all about highlighting, you know, the only people that mainly don’t acknowledge Guyana as the Promised Land is really Guyanese, because we migrate more than anything else [and] while we leave the country, looking for opportunity, others come here and get the opportunity that we could have been having. So, my song was basically about highlighting those things and highlighting us to know that this is our place. We got to make the best use of it because it is ours.”
During the interview, OKC described his unique Calypso style as a fusion of upbeat and up-tempo music, different from the traditional 75 to 80 BPM Calypso. He emphasised his dynamic stage presence, including gestures, movement, and interaction with the audience and dancers. OKC also noted that while there were a few Calypsonians in the competition who had a similar style, it was not quite the same as his.
Winning the Calypso Monarchy means more to the 22-year-old than any previous victories. As a member of a family with a legacy in calypso music, OKC said he felt a sense of pride in continuing that tradition.
“I have been Junior Calypso monarch before, I have been Junior Soca monarch before. But this feeling is an entirely different feeling. Because when I won the juniors, you know, I was the best Junior in the country. But now that I have won the senior competition, this would have made me the best senior calypsonian in the country. So, it’s an entirely different feeling; it’s a great feeling. I love this feeling because this has been a title held in my family before… the late Lady Nema – she was a two-time Calypso monarch – she’s my great aunt. To finally bring the title, bring the crown back home is a great feeling for me,” he enthused.
Already an inspiration to a few in his circle, the young artist’s advice to aspiring musicians is to never give up on their dreams and to pursue their goals with passion.
“The advice I would give them is to never quit, never give up if this is your dream. Keep pushing after it. You know, it’s never too late and it is also most definitely never too early…I started doing music professionally at the age of 19, so it is really never too late… Know the path you want to pursue and go after it 110%,” he advised.
In addition to his music career, OKC is a physical education and sports teacher at the Guyana Education Trust College and a television presenter/producer at the National Communications Network (NCN). Born and raised in a suburban area of Guyana, OKC’s upbringing shaped his love for physical activities and nature.
“I love sports: cricket, football, [and] a little bit of boxing. I also love swimming. Basically physical activities across the board… I grew up in Pattensen, Turkeyen… Where I grew up there was no road [and] we used to play on a place called the “dam”. When I was younger, we were involved in a lot of wild stuff like catching snakes, climbing trees, catching caimans, fishing…,” he recalled.
Clarke plans to hold on to his Calypso Monarch title for as long as possible, defending it in future competitions and expanding his music internationally. Looking ahead, he also plans to use his platform to promote calypso music, especially among younger audiences. He hopes to inspire the next generation of calypsonians to keep the art form alive.
“I plan to keep the relevance of myself in the Calypso arena always, always throughout my career. This is a prestigious title like I would have said earlier. It is a national title. I am also a solo artist. I would have placed second in this year’s Soca Monarch competition. I have been working with international producers, such as Mr Mark Wright, Mr… Bishop, a writer [who has] been writing for Olatunji, Marsha, Destra, Peter Ram… My team, we are working really, really, really hard to get stuff done to get some more international stuff out there. Because we want the world to know that Guyana has got damn good artists and OKC is on the front line,” he concluded.
The Calypso king expressed gratitude for the opportunity to share his story and passion for Calypso music. With a bright future ahead, he is determined to continue making his mark in the music industry and inspiring others along the way. jersey with his stage name inscribed.
