Lead Editor – Newsgathering
The late Slinger “Mighty Sparrow” Francisco will be honoured with a national Celebration of Life on October 16, with the public invited to pay their respects during two days of viewing ahead of the ceremony.
The Ministry of Culture and Community Development announced yesterday that public viewing of the calypso legend will take place from 10 am to 6 pm on October 13 at the Southern Academy for the Performing Arts (SAPA), San Fernando and on October 14 at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA), Port-of-Spain.
The Government, in collaboration with the Francisco family, is organising the state-assisted funeral and Celebration of Life for Francisco, known worldwide as Mighty Sparrow and widely regarded as the Calypso King of the World.
According to the ministry, the tribute will honour Sparrow’s immense contribution to Trinidad and Tobago’s cultural heritage, Caribbean music and the generations of people influenced by his work at home and abroad.
Sparrow’s body was repatriated from New York on October 6. He was received at the Piarco International Airport by his son, Cyril Sancho Francisco, accompanied by Minister of Culture and Community Development Michelle Benjamin and ministry officials.
The ministry has asked members of the public to refrain from taking photographs or recording videos during the public viewings, in keeping with a request from the Francisco family.
The October 16 programme will begin at 10 am with a procession from Independence Square in Port-of-Spain, proceeding along Frederick Street before culminating at NAPA.
The procession will comprise three segments: a National Farewell at Independence Square, a People’s and Cultural Farewell along Frederick Street, and a Ceremonial Farewell at NAPA.
Members of the public, school representatives and stakeholders from the Carnival and cultural sectors are expected to participate. Selections from Sparrow’s extensive musical catalogue will be played throughout the procession.
A tribute programme will follow at NAPA from 1.30 pm to 3.30 pm, featuring steel orchestras, moko jumbies, traditional mas performers, cultural presentations and other commemorative tributes.
The ministry said arrangements are also being made for members of the public to view the Celebration of Life from the Grand Stand at the Queen’s Park Savannah. Further details are expected to be announced.
Meanwhile, the public can continue signing the condolence book, One Last Note… for the King of Calypso, until October 15.
The book is available from 10 am to 4 pm at the Ministry of Culture and Community Development’s offices at the International Waterfront Complex, NAPA (until October 14), SAPA, the Shaw Park Complex in Tobago, all 14 municipal corporation head offices, and Trinidad and Tobago’s diplomatic missions in New York, Miami, London, Washington and Toronto.
A virtual condolence book is also available on the ministry’s website, mccd.gov.tt.
Sparrow died in New York on September 27 at the age of 91. His family said he passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, following a brief illness.
