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alexk
Guest
The unfulfilled promises made by politicians, the prevalence of drugs and the murderous ways on young Trinidadian men that calypso icon David Rudder passionately sang about in Madman’s Rant over two decades ago, still exist today.
Rudder, whose life’s work has always been an advocate for betterment against the many trials and tribulations faced by Trinidadians and Tobagonians, said society has not changed significantly since 1996 when he sang the song.
Rudder, who also actively speaks out on national issues on social media, sat down for an interview at the San Fernando City Hall on Wednesday after being awarded a commemorative plaque, declaring him an honorary citizen of San Fernando. He also received a token of a stone taken from the historic Naparima Hill (San Fernando Hill).
“Madman’s Rant, the song, is almost 30 years old but people are listening to it and saying ‘that is what’s going on.’ It means that even today, it is relevant. It also means that in some way, we haven’t moved on because if we are still relating to a song like that. We have to double-down on our work. These problems still exist today,” Rudder said.
Another one of his song, Madness, he said was believed to be a party tune, but it was a prediction of T&T’s future where the fete was a connotation for T&T’s society. Even this too prevails today, he said.
He said that even though T&T will celebrate 184 years of the abolition of slavery, Afro-Trinidadian men and women still have not achieved emancipation.
Trinidadians, he said, tend to bow to other forces and when outsiders look at the country as a leader, it tends to fall into the background. He said that for the country to be progressive, it needs to set trends and standards for others to follow.
Even though the Emancipation Act came into effect on August 1, 1834, giving slaves freedom from British planters, Rudder said that only some members of the young Afro-Trinidadian community are making progressive contributions to society.
Rudder, who is carded for a two-hour concert performance at Naparima Bowl, San Fernando tomorrow has over 250 recorded songs. He plans to reintroduce songs, some 20 and 30 years old, which he believes are still relevant to today’s life.
San Fernando mayor Junia Regrello said the concert was a response to the need for high-quality entertainment in the City.
Tickets for the auditorium are sold out, however, $100 tickets for the amphitheatre are still available.
Regrello said tables, chairs and other infrastructure will be put in place to create a party atmosphere for the outside audience. During yesterday’s Statutory meeting, comedian Tommy Joseph was also presented with a token for his contribution as an entertainer.