Features
Yvonne Webb
LION Queen Terri Lyons roars into Naparima Bowl, San Fernando, on November 20 for her first concert, aptly titled ‘I am Lion’.
The reigning monarch of Calypso will be joined on stage by her iconic sire Austin Lyons – SuperBlue – for an anticipated high energy performance.
Other soca and calypso icons, as well as gospelypso and chutney/soca performers will also share the stage, while Lyons will dabble in all the different genres.
The concert will also pay homage to the ancestors who have gone beyond greatness and on whose shoulders it rests.
In a recent interview, Lyons said she was excited and promised fans they won’t be disappointed with what she has in store for them, including a sneak peek at her 2023 bid.
“My concert is my journey. Everyone knows in this business – in fact in any business – there is always a struggle, whether we like it or not. It makes us stronger.
“This is my first concert, and I’m putting my heart and soul into it and I hope people come out and show their support.
“I’m very excited, especially having my father on the same stage with me. It’s an honor to have a parent there with you.”
It’s a privilege, she said, that the family of the late Explainer (Winston Henry), who died last month, will never experience again.
“Condolences to the family of Explainer. He was one of the icons that had to be on my show. However, he needed more for the manifestation of God.
“But we’re going to pay tribute to him and Black Stalin and the late Shadow, because those are the people who had a huge impact on my career. Besides being icons, they were like fathers to me. They raised me, they contributed to what I’m doing now. Who I am – I’m Lion. Before I write a song, I have to listen to these guys.”
Her two winning songs in the 2020 monarch competition were Obeah and Megan, My Dear.
She explained, “Obeah was actually a spinoff of Shadow’s original Obeah, and Megan, My Love, a spinoff of Sparrow’s Congo Man – ‘never eat white meat again’.”
“I have to pay tribute to the people before me who we sometimes forget and who contributed so much to our culture and inspired me.”
Speaking about the country, she said San Fernando is the middle ground for her, as she has roots in Point Fortin and Port of Spain.
All her songs, she said, were recorded in San Fernando and her son also plays mas in San Fernando.
“So San Fernando has always been a staple for me.”
During the Calypso History Month in October, Lyons, who started singing around the age of nine, also visited several schools in the city, including San Fernando Boys’ Government Primary School, St Gabriel’s Girls’ Government School and Rushworth Street for girls.
At each school, she spoke to the children about the history of the art form while trying to instill in them the importance of loving their culture and continuing what she, her father and others are doing.
“My aim is to stimulate the minds of young people to make them interested in their indigenous culture so that the legacy continues.
“Whether it’s dance, calypso, soca, chutney or pan, we want to keep the kids interested, because if we don’t, the culture would just disappear.
“If God forbid something should happen to me today or tomorrow or any of our cultural icons I want to know that the culture is in good hands.”
The November 20 concert is part of a month-long celebration of San Fernando being granted city status 34 years ago, on November 18, 1988.
Mayor Junia Regrello said the calypso diva could not have chosen a better venue, as it has such a rich cultural background and has played an important role in the evolution of the indigenous art form. He said he was delighted when Lyons approached him a few months ago about the San Fernando concert and promised support for her inaugural show.
Showtime is 6:00 p.m.
