Trinidadian calypsonian The Black Stalin died at his home in San Fernando early morning on Wednesday 28 December 2022, it is reported. The five-time Calypso Monarch was 81 at the time of his death.
Born Leroy Calliste in San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago Black Stalin was such a significant voice not only for the Caribbean but for African people and for colonized people globally. Black Stalin was part of a generation of Caribbean artists such as Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Chalkdust, Brother Valentino, Ti Manno, and others who expressed ideas such as anti-colonialism, Caribbean unity, and Pan-African unity in their music.
Black Stalin will be remembered for adopting the name of a brutal dictator to reflect his style of music. He was also popularly known as the “Black Man” because the themes in many of his songs addressed black pride and black identity. Black Stalin came to the forefront of the calypso industry in Trinidad at the time of the Black Power movement.
Independence in 1962 failed to achieve the type of liberation that the black masses in Trinidad had hoped for. This led to the 1970 Black Power uprising in Trinidad. Black Stalin’s music was a reflection of the politics of this time.
Black Stalin was a strong proponent of Caribbean unity and explained that Marcus Garvey’s movement was the biggest unifier for the region. Black Stalin also reminded his listeners of the historical struggles that black people endured.
