Dr. Sir McClean ‘King Short Shirt’ Emmanuel, who received an honorary Doctor
of Letters award from the University of the West Indies Five Islands campus on
Saturday, is urging the 2023 graduating class of the university to adopt some of his
attributes.
Speaking at the commencement exercises at the UWI FIC, Sir McClean noted that
he feels divinely chosen and blessed to carry the mantle of Antigua and Barbuda’s
culture for more than sixty years. He described the calypso art form as having the
ability to raise the nation’s consciousness and bring awareness to the masses in
Antigua and Barbuda, the Caribbean, the Afro-centric diaspora, and globally.
“Calypso has been the voice of the downtrodden, the oppressed, the economically
disenfranchised and powerless. It has been my honour to be the ‘standard bearer’
of genuine Antigua and Barbuda music for these many years,” he told the captive
audience at the graduation exercises.
Sir McClean also described himself as a proud product of humanity who has
embodied such attributes as determination, commitment, diligence, attention to
detail, and being results-oriented. “These are some of the traits that I urge this
year’s graduating class to adopt as they chart a course forward toward Antigua and
Barbuda and the Caribbean’s development,” he remarked.
The calypso giant expressed appreciation to many persons in the community who
contributed to his successes over the years. Most notably, he singled out his wife,
Lady Esther, and his ten children, for their unwavering support over the years.
Sir McClean/King Short Shirt has towered over the Antigua and Barbuda and
Caribbean calypso art form, for many years. He has won the calypso monarch title
more than any other calypsonian, and when he traveled to Trinidad and Tobago in
the 1970s to perform, his songs were so popular that the authorities in that country
introduced new rules to bar him from winning the coveted Road March title.
Some of his more memorable songs include Lamentation, Tourist Leggo, Raycon,
Illusion, Awake the Youth, Nobody Go Run Me, Jamming and We Are the Ones.
Tributes have been pouring in to congratulate this national treasure on this
auspicious achievement. The Antigua and Barbuda government led the way
offering heartiest congratulations to Sir McClean. Scores of well-wishers were also
present in the audience as a show of support for Dr. Sir McClean ‘King Short
Shirt’ Emmanuel.
